Cooking on gas or induction: this is the best choice
Are you installing a new kitchen, or are you ready for a new hob? Then there is a good chance that you are in doubt between a gas and an induction hob.
Logical, because both gas and an induction hob have their advantages and disadvantages. But which hob is the best option for you and your wallet? Below are the lists of the most significant differences.
Induction is hot
Gas has long been considered the best option for cooking, but induction has been catching up for some time. For some year after year, there is an increase in sales of induction hobs in several countries. In gas hobs, on the other hand, we see a slight decrease. The reason for this change is due to the benefits of induction in terms of speed, maintenance, and safety.
Moreover, induction hobs often have extra functionalities added to make it even easier for the user to cook. In addition, it is very interesting to have flexibility in zones, whereby smaller zones can be expanded to larger zones. The subtle design is also becoming increasingly important because the fusion between kitchen and living space ensures that the hob is becoming increasingly visible.
Price tag
When looking at the price tag, a gas hob is by far the cheapest option not only in the purchase, but also in consumption costs. With an induction hob, your energy consumption is lower, thanks to the high efficiency.
90% of the energy generated is effectively used to heat the pan, while that is only 60% with a gas fire. Still, you end up paying more if you cook on induction because electricity is a more expensive energy source than gas. Do you produce energy yourself, for example, with the help of solar panels? Then it is more interesting to cook in electricity.
Future
Whether the price difference will continue to be in favor of gas in the future remains to be seen. This is mainly due to the climate objectives and their consequences for the tax on gas and electricity. But the new pricing on our electricity bill that will apply also plays a role in this.
Do you cook on an induction fire, and do you, for example, do the laundry at the same time? Then you cause a peak in your consumption, and your bill can rise.
Ease of use and hygiene
Apart from the price tag, ease of use and maintenance are often decisive factors in the choice between gas or induction. Induction clearly takes the lead in this. An induction plate heats up faster and cools down faster because the heat is created in the bottom of the pan as a result of the electromagnetic field that is generated. When you remove the pan from the stove, the induction plate cools down almost immediately.
This not only increases ease of use but also ensures that nothing can burn into an induction plate. For example, when your milk boils over, the sugars don’t get the chance to burn-in because the heat decreases so quickly. Besides, the glass of an induction hob is easier to clean than the nooks and crannies of a gas stove.
Safety
There is also an essential difference in terms of safety. Not only does the plate of an induction fire become less hot because the heat is generated at the bottom of the cooking pot, there is also no open flame that can burn you. Also, a gas stove sometimes releases some badly burnt gases. Fortunately, the impact of this is minimal.
In addition, the latest technological developments reduce risk. The electronics with which the more innovative gas hobs are equipped to offer more safety and convenience. This way, you can operate the spark ignition with a flick of the wrist.
Technology
There are undoubtedly technological developments with the induction cooker as well. In terms of evolution and technology, the induction hob is more advanced than the gas stove. Unlike gas, more functions can be added to an induction plate that makes cooking easier. Something like StartStop function to quickly pick up the wire after a short interruption, TempControl to keep the temperature even, or a keep-warm function that keeps your food at serving temperature.
Cooking result
Whether your food also tastes different when you cook on an induction or gas fire? This has more to do with the cook behind the stove than with the hob itself. The composition of your food does not change because it is heated in a different way. However, because you can control an induction hob more precisely, the chance that your food will burn or become overcooked decreases.
Conclusion
Which stove you ultimately choose depends on your priorities and needs. Is the price decisive for you? Then a gas hob is a logical choice. For whom ease of use and safety is more important, an induction plate is a good option. In any case, take the time to inform yourself at different suppliers so that you don’t burn your fingers on the wrong stove.
