Induction hobs have become the new hit in the town, thanks to their convenient nature paired up with a smooth induction process. Instead of starting with the ring around the surface, an induction hob directly heats the pan’s bottom. So, this ultimately saves energy to the maximum. Since these hobs are easy to use, you might have seen their demands skyrocketing overnight.
However, one fear that people have in mind is that usually, induction appliances cost a fortune. This is true in a way since gas hobs might consume 0.90 kWh energy. However, the induction one may reach up to 4kW to start with. Though this may sound pricey, it’s just the tip of the iceberg; we’ve got more for you in the sections below. Keep scrolling!
Does A Gas Hob Outweigh An Induction Hob?
Now, this is something that has stirred a lot of debate in the market. It is because what first attracts the customers towards the induction hobs is the ease they provide. Later on, when they see the hob’s power consumption on the label, it seems rather disappointing when you can have a gas hob that seemingly costs less. We have used the word “seemingly” here because the backstory of the induction hob tells a different tale.
When you use a gas hob, it’d first consume a lot of power to heat the ring around it, which in turn heats the pan. A bird’s eye view makes it clear that the power you provide to the gas hob declines up to 40-45% till it reaches the pan.
On the other hand, when it comes to the induction hob, there’s no ring around it. As soon as you turn it on, it generates a magnetic field that starts working at the bottom of the pan. In this way, the whole power reaches the object to be heated and maintains its efficiency to 95% that seems quite a deal. It may cost you an arm and a leg in the beginning, but the long-term results are worth it. The greater is the power supply, the lesser time the hob takes to cook the food which casts a positive impression on energy consumption.
How Much Power Does An Induction Hob Consume?
We know this is the biggest concern that has brought you here. To cut the long story short, there’s one aspect of the induction hob that we tend to underestimate most of the time. It is that just because you are fed up with clichéd hobs, you don’t have to go for a giant 3300 watts induction hob that might come as too big for your domestic needs. There are 200 watts induction hob with the same features you might find in the expensive one out there. If you live by yourself, this sort of hob will come to the par with all your kitchen needs.
Apart from this, let’s talk about the people who are always looking forward to throwing summer parties and Halloween dinners. You might need an induction hob with a 7-inch burner that works with 1200 to 1800 watts. Moreover, if you want to go over the top, you can go for the induction hob with 11-inch burners that might consume up to 3700 watts. Let us clarify, that it’s the highest setting. Hence, the crux of all these figures is that you can cut the power consumption in half by opting for the hob with smaller burners.
Is There Any Difference Between A 1200 Watt And A 3700 Watt Hob?
When you are out in the market and come across two induction hobs with different power consumption, you might find it mind-boggling. The reason is that most of the time people think there isn’t much difference between the two and you can opt for any one as per your requirements. This is partially true, but let us tell you the one concrete difference that characterizes all these induction hobs.
It is that if you have an induction hob of 3700 watts, this means that along with the larger burners, you do have a bonus point. Your induction hob can cook the same food in a shorter duration as compared to that of a 1200-watt hob. Yes, this does sound nice but let us tell you that the heavier induction hobs consume greater power.
For the people looking for an induction hob that consumes less power, 1200 to 1800 watts would be an ideal range. However, for those who are into cooking or want a bigger induction hob for their restaurant, 3700 watts are the limit you have to choose from. Hence, simply put, greater watt consumption means that the induction hob can cook faster in a shorter time, but with greater energy expenditure.
Are Electric Cooktops Better Than Induction Hobs?
If we keep aside the gas stove, the electric cooktop is something that seems like a potential rival for the induction hobs. It is because it has similar convenient features and does possess a tinge of modernity to perk up your kitchen. The conflict arises when we compare the two and find out how drastically different, they are from one another. For instance, an electric cooktop works by heating the whole cooking surface. It might not take that long to heat up. Nonetheless, the energy that is wasted on heating the whole burner puts a question mark on its efficiency.
On the other hand, the induction hob waits for you to put the pan on its burner. Then, it gradually generates heat through the magnetic field that doesn’t penetrate to the surroundings. This keeps all that energy waste at bay and helps to compensate for the excessive power consumption. Although this one may sound insignificant, another significant difference is that an electric cooktop can be dangerous to touch. On the contrary, you need not fear coming in close contact with the kitchen essential like an induction hob.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of our discussion. Induction hobs deserve every bit of the hype as they are safe to use, user-friendly, and full of convenient features. They might consume greater power. However, it pretty much sorts out when it takes a comparatively shorter time to cook the food. When it comes to beginners, induction hobs tend to be a more reliable option. As they have a simple configuration which you can master overnight. Likewise, for professional chefs and restaurateurs, induction hobs can be an excellent choice to cope with a larger number of orders in one turn.