Seeing as we are now onto kitchen things, has anyone got or used an induction hob. I'm thinking of changing the work surfaces in the kitchen and will need to replace my freestanding cooker, long story which I won't go into. I'm considering one with an induction hob, no knobs so really easy to keep clean, and would like to know people's opinion of them. As the controls are electronic rather then a simple knob, are they easy to use? Are they really worth the extra money or should I just stick to the ceramic type I'm used to.

All I know is that you do need the right sort of pans or they won't work.

My mum has an induction hob and I love it. I will be getting one if and when I get a new kitchen. You do need to use the right sort of pan to make it work. I find the heat very controllable. It heats up very quickly and also can get hotter than a normal electric hob. Because of the way it works the hob itself does not get very hot, the heat is generated in the pan by a magnetic field, this means that when things boil over they do not burn so the hob is easy to keep clean. As you say there are also no knobs to catch the dirt. I find my mothers very easy to use.

We have an induction hob and it is good , the heat is very controllable . The only problem I have had is finding a suitable frying pan , I tried the JML ceracraft pan but everything sticks to it , I called the customer service and they say its caused by too much heat but if I turn it down any lower the food wouldn't cook . Sending the pan back for a refund . I have a great wok and other pans though . If anyone can suggest a good frying pan I'd appreciate it.

I find they are great for our house as they cool down very quickly which is great as our dogs are always jumping up at the work tops and I know they won't get burns on their pads . IMO they are worth the extra money , we bought ours from Ikea and didn't think it was much more than some of the others .

I have an induction hob now - had to change all my pans - but then had to get rid of some of them when I had the dishwasher as aluminium pans don't like the dishwasher.  I love my hob - takes a bit of getting used to - for instance boiling an egg is different - I have to have it on a higher setting then I would on a normal one and cook it for longer.  There is a power button that speeds up a boil. 

It does cool down very quickly and nothing really burns on it like the ceramic one where I always needed a scraper and cleaner.  I just wipe it with hot soapy water and dry it afterwards to bring up a shine.

My husband keeps turning it up too much with frying and has burnt my good pan - it was a Circulon I think is how you spell it.  It is the same with stir fry pans - my husband keeps turning the setting up too high and burns the food - fault of chef not hob!!!!   Oh and the controls are touch type - only problem there --- is if the surface becomes wet - it gives an error reading and you have to clean up and turn it back on again. 

Been using one for three years now and I love it. The heat is so controllable its amazing. Mines a Siemens and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I have one and I love it. Ikea sell compatible pans very cheaply.

Many thanks to all the replies. Still can't quite decide, I have a sort of soft spot for some of my pots and pans, sad isn't it! Three of them, some copper bottomed prestige pans were given to us when we got married forty years ago and are still going strong. I know they definitely won't work on an induction hob, so I will test the others with a magnet to see what's what, apparently the stronger the magnetic force the better they will be.

I have a ceramic hob with halogen plates.  Not got the benefits with the heat etc but very responsive and heats very quickly with any pans.  (Mine are prestige too and I would not get rid in a hurry)  All the benefits of being easy to clean too.

> Mine are prestige too and I would not get rid in a hurry

That is the problem :) When we had a new kitchen a few years ago we considered an induction hob, but as that would mean getting rid of virtually all my saucepans/frying pans etc it just wasn't a sensible idea :) :) I love ceramic hobs and didn't see that an induction hob was worth getting IMO :)

I know what you mean about favourite pans Jodi - I had a good set as a wedding present and when we did up the kitchen in our old house I turned down an induction hob because I didn't want to get rid of them.  I had my first dishwasher then too - found that the pans wouldn't wash in there so when we built our new house there was no problem saying that I would try induction.  Pans are languishing in the garage - still hanging on to them.

So glad to find there are people just as daft as I am, after all what are they, only saucepans, but they are dear old friends.
I have only found one knob free ceramic hob so far is by AEG who are also the only one that do a knob free induction freestanding cooker unless anyone knows different.

Still undecided. Sigh.

> after all what are they, only saucepans, but they are dear old friends

Not so much dear old friends with me, but I don't just throw things out if there is life left in them (even if I can afford to do so) :) :) My saucepans were bought in 1978 and are still in good condition although the knobs/handles are starting to go due to being put in the dishwasher so many times :) Having said that, my DIL has now got them and I have a new set :)

What's the problem with knobs on hobs ?? My last hob in the previous house didn't have knobs (I think it was a Bosch), but now I have a Rangemaster cooker which has knobs, although not on the actual hob (they're on the front of the cooker)

>What's the problem with knobs on hobs ?? My last hob in the previous house didn't have knobs (I think it was a Bosch), but now I have a Rangemaster cooker which has knobs, although not on the actual hob (they're on the front of the cooker)

They get so mucky. Having said that, have just been looking at reviews for knob less cookers and it doesn't sound as it they are all they are cracked up to be, so beginning to have yet another rethink.

i can take the knobs off mine to clean them...

My hob is Neff by the way - all touch controlled (it has a lock for children)  Have had it 3 years now. 

My induction hob is AEG, has child/dog proof lock and timer. It looks good as new after 15 years and very easy to keep clean. It heats up very quickly and the two front rings have a power option. I cooked Christmas dinner at my MILs last year and it seemed to take hours to cook the veg on her gas hob!

15 years!  Pleased to hear that it is doing so well!  Yes I have a child/ dog :-) proof lock and timer.  Also a ring in the middle which has just one setting - that is a normal electric one - to keep a plate or saucepan warm.  I use it when doing things like cooking bacon - or preparing fillings for omelettes.