its induction, do you have metal fingers?

Induction is the safest form of cooking hob and incredibly efficient. Gas is one of the least energy efficient forms of hobs, the reason gas hobs are cheap to run is because gas is far cheaper than electric.

A basic guide can be found here.

No. Microwaves use a magnetron to create microwaves of the exact frequency of the vibrational energy of water. The microwaves cause water to heat up. If you put something in the microwave which has no water in it, it won't get hot (not recommended, damages microwave and there can always be trace water in anything). Older microwaves let some of this energy escape through the see-through window, which is why you shouldn't really stand next to them if you prefer your genitalia uncooked (though the risks here are overplayed). Induction works like a transformer, it induces a current in the (generally ferrous) pan which causes the pan itself to heat, rather than being inefficiently heated up via conduction or radiation. You can stick your hand on top then it can't induce that current in your non-metallic hand, so it won't burn you. If you've been cooking on it though the surface will still be hot from the hot pan.
Not true. Aluminium pans will not work, plus several other exceptions.

Even an induction hob gets hot. The heat is transferred from the base of the pan.

Was tempted with one of these for camping, but then realised that only certain metal pans work with them and the aluminium ones would not. :disappointed:

Still hot though (just make sure they will work with your pans).

Bit confused about what pans will be ok would a wok work with this?

warning. the touch screen is on the front not the top. which confused me because it looks like a large red power button. burnt finger tips. returned.

ordered, thanks

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Maybe he burnt his fingers on the pan then. Duh.

How safe is it? How energy efficient is it compared to gas hobs?

Even an induction hob gets hot. The heat is transferred from the base of the pan.

Yep they get hot. Duh. Same thing would happen if you touch the pan on after using a gas/electric hob. Pans have these things called handles to move them out of the way before you start fiddling with controls.

Induction hobs are safe and efficient. Around 90% efficiency vs 50 - 60% for gas or traditional electric / halogen. They also stop when you take the pan off. Although heat transfers from pan to hob, it's nothing compared to a red hot hob or a flame... No burnt on stuff to clean off from spillages.

and this is just powered by a plug socket? looking to get a few gadgets for the kitchen so this seems interesting. not sure if the OH will appreciate it though :laughing:

isn't that most pans then? i always thought these inductions hobs had special pans which you had to buy which would only work on the hobs. didnt know that any pan works so long as a magnet sticks to the bottom of it.

There are an awful lot of pans that are not magnetic, there are also a very small number of exceptions to the magnet rule that people have spoken about but generally if a fridge magnet sticks to the base (the underside that will be touching the hob), then they should work with an induction hob.

My original pan set from Sainsburys I think was not magnetic or induction, but my cheapo frying pan (Tesco Value I think) was both. B&M sell a set of Russell Hobbs induction pans pretty cheap.

Pans made in the last 5 years or so are more commonly induction compatible as a lot more people are using induction.

Pure aluminium / copper / ceramic pans won't work, but there are induction compatible versions of those with a ferrous core.

A trade off though is the energy isnt entirely wasted - i always find the house is very toasty on an evening if ive had all 4 pans on making tea for an hour.

Yes, but not ideal in the summer. But also if your electric comes from coal, oil or gas then the generation of electric and distribution to the house wasn't incredibly efficient to begin with. I assume green electricity is also fairly inefficient in generation as well but at least that isn't burning fuel then. So it is all a trade-off.

what's the point of induction if the surface remains hot!! the whole point is that you shouldn't burn anything as long as its not metal, dur! Also, all metals pans should work with a quality induction hob

look who's a know it all

They are safe as you can get....on energy efficiency. It a 2 kilo watt so on full power it is burning 2kwph so maximum it would cost about 26p per hour.....but when you bring to the boil it would use about 1p per hour.

Aren't these essentially an opened-up and power limited microwave? Makes me wander about health implications.

Why do people talk about efficiency . Surely the cost to generate the same amount of heat is more important. As gas is quiet cheap compared to electric for heating.

Microwave energy and magnetic field energy are different but some do carry a warning if using these with a pacemaker. ......

No. Microwaves use a magnetron to create microwaves of the exact frequency of the vibrational energy of water. The microwaves cause water to heat up. If you put something in the microwave which has no water in it, it won't get hot (not recommended, damages microwave and there can always be trace water in anything). Older microwaves let some of this energy escape through the see-through window, which is why you shouldn't really stand next to them if you prefer your genitalia uncooked (though the risks here are overplayed). Induction works like a transformer, it induces a current in the (generally ferrous) pan which causes the pan itself to heat, rather than being inefficiently heated up via conduction or radiation. You can stick your hand on top then it can't induce that current in your non-metallic hand, so it won't burn you. If you've been cooking on it though the surface will still be hot from the hot pan.
Not true. Aluminium pans will not work, plus several other exceptions.

1. It's much quicker than other forms of heating
2. It's clean - compared with gas - pans I've been using for 9 years are still virtually as clean on their bases as when they were new
3. It's inherently MUCH safer than gas - the heat is concentrated almost completely within the ring - so almost impossible to get a proximity burn and when you lift the pan away the heat is switched off
4 I don't have the facts to substantiate this - but it feels as if it's more efficient than other forms of heating - I find that it's possible to keep pans simmering on a very low heat indeed...

That's true, but it's also more fiddly than gas/normal electric. At least for our set, unless the pan precisely covers the hob, it won't work (so you can't ever use a saucepan on the big circle). If there's any dirt on either, it won't work. We have a new Bosch induction hob and I don't think I'd buy one again. Maybe it's partly the item rather than the technology, but there's something to be said for "turn knob, see fire, put pan on top of fire" rather than pressing buttons and trying to make the magic happen, which sometimes gets a little frustrating as there's no indication as to why it's not working. It's a lot of trial and error.

I have a gas hob, I tend to boil the required amount of water in the kettle then add to the pan, so is the induction hob cheaper to run?

Actually not one of my pans are magnetic, so glad I tested before purchase

A kettle is more efficient than an induction hob but the difference won't be huge.

Negative. I love induction but this is the worst induction hob you can buy. I have Habitat one with keep warm function and various other Temperature settings and child lock etc. There are other ones from tefal with food settings etc. Nothing wrong with induction but this hob is not fit for purpose, and only give bad experiences.

​All steel pans whether magnetic or not work with induction. I have been using induction hobs for last 10 years

Austenitic steel pans won't work. Didn't learn that in your 10 years did you?

​Electricity is made by burning

Not always, solar, hydro-electric, wind.

Sorry I can't let that slide, Look at the experiments done by David MacKay (who very sadly died recently). Conclusively demonstrates that taking into account generation of electricity, from an energy saving perspective that gas is the most efficient option for heating water. http://withouthotair.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/how-to-boil-water.html

I never said it was the most efficient option in terms of energy generation from start to finish, including the generation of electricity. In fact if you read my further comments later on, I did even say "if your electric comes from coal, oil or gas then the generation of electric and distribution to the house wasn't incredibly efficient to begin with" and further said that is probably also true in terms of efficiency on green energy supplies. What I said was that a gas hob is the least efficient form of hob, with an efficiency estimated at 50-55% and induction estimated at 90%, I stand by my comment.

Doesn't matter you then only need one of these and your existing pans will work fine........https://www.amazon.co.uk/VonShef-Induction-Converter-Diffuser-Stainless/dp/B00DOZXK4Q/ref=pd_sim_79_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=21Z54W3dkIL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&psc=1&refRID=MGT3741W2WVKTET8Z1YQ.............. All my pans are induction but sadly I don't need one of these and have way too many gadgets sat in cupboards that don't get used. I'll pass despite the fab price of this hob.

So why does it say "Surface remains hot after use do not touch" if as you say no heat is generated.

Thank you for the info' guide link - wow, really opened my eyes!

I did hear that gas hobs are very bad for the lungs, since we stand over the direct pollution source to cook! And, are generally very polluting of the air indoors (like all open flames, even though gas is seen as "cleaner" than burning wood etc).

Will def' be getting an induction hob when we refurb' the kitchen.

Thanks also to the OP.

Does anyone know if this Swan mini-version would work in a campervan, using lower-power campsite electric hook-ups?

Much appreciated, and I wish you all a pleasant afternoon.

#ironman.....lol

My parents have an induction hob but I find it a bit odd to use - when you turn it up full blast it'll only stay that way for a few minutes then it seems to lower the heat itself even when you have it on maximum. It does that for a few minutes then heats up again.

Any idea why or is their hob faulty?

Sounds like the internal circuitry is overheating. Does it have a fan which might have failed, or vents which are blocked?

​nope unless its a induction TEFel one which costs about £50

Sure, but that hasn't answered either of my questions.

Have you never heard of a heat exchanger, it is the effect you get when you put one hot object next to a cold one the pan gets hot and transfers heat to the area it is sitting on i.e. the hob.

This is the heat setting coming into play and is the same as in a normal electric hob the element gets up to a certain heat setting and then cuts in and out keeping the cooking temperature at the heat required by the operator in this case the cook. This effect can be seen on glass hobs were the heating element can be seen to glow and then go out all the time during operation of the hob plate, Simple answer as apposed to complicated electricians answer.

Go to "explain that stuff" put in how does a halogen hob work and it will tell you the same as I posted then you will have to believe me or go to a Sellers of electric hobs and he will tell you the same, it's called thermostatic control.

Yes, but that is not how induction hobs work. As already explained, the heat is not generated under the hob but in the pan. There is no mechanical thermostat reacting to the temperature of the element, which periodically switches it on and off under normal operating conditions; in fact, one of the advantages of an induction hob is that the power can be continuously controlled, rather like a light dimmer.

http://www.espares.co.uk/advice/0/2082/how-to-diagnose-a-fault-with-an-electric-hob

So, how's everybody finding this hob? I can see it would be great for boiling water, but so far I'm finding griddling and frying a struggle.

Oh dear - in what way?