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A small revolution is happening regarding kitchenand pans will need to be made from steel or iron,
cook tops, as induction hobs are slowly developingrather than traditional Pyrex or aluminium. The
into a serious contender to the traditional gasrequired equipment is readily available from both
hobs. The environment and modern lifestyles willthe high street and from online stores, and there
surely demand the newcomer to become moreare different levels of quality with a wide range of
prominent.prices to suit.
As society turns to a more environmentallyThe hobs themselves are also more expensive
friendly attitude in the face of further globalthan both the traditional gas hob and standard
warming issues, a new technology is becomingelectrical ones. However, the technology involved
more and more prominent in a bid to save thein using them to cook is one of the reasons why.
planet. The art of induction cooking might haveAs previously stated, the hobs themselves
appeared to have been lost, but as gas anddon’t heat up; they simply provide a
electric hobs begin to find their grips on thesource for the pan to heat up. Beneath the
market loosened, induction hobs have appearedceramic surface lies sophisticated set of
as the catalyst of this slip.electronics that make up the element, which in
Cooking purists will always hold gas hobs veryturn power a coil to produce a high frequency
close to their hearts, and it is unlikely that anyelectromagnetic field. This action does not
other hob will ever change that easily. Thegenerate heat, but it is the circulating electric
traditional method of heating up a pan and cookingcurrent that occurs when a ferrous object comes
with it is simple, especially with the high degree ofin to contact with it that does. As a result, even
control over the heat available to the chef.though the ferrous object will invariably transfer
However, we are living in an ever-changing world,some heat to the cook top, it is by no means hot
where people are increasingly dependant onenough to burn, and will very quickly return to
technology to make tasks more convenient.normal temperature. Temperature control during
Induction hobs can do just that, especially as theycooking is also as good as instantaneous, as it is
are almost twice as fast as gas equivalents whensimply a case of altering the electric current.
it comes to cooking. Speed has been king for aThe future of induction hobs looks pretty secure,
long time, in many different aspects of everydayand could become even more readily available.
life, and now there’s an improved methodCurrently, German manufacturers such as AEG,
to allow for quicker cooking, saving more time inBosch and Siemens are the dominant forces in
general life.the induction hob market, and Smeg are also big
Induction hobs are also said to be considerablyplayers. Japanese companies are also beginning to
more energy efficient than gas hobs, using up todevelop induction technology that can be used
90% of the energy produced in comparison towith standard pots and pans, although this is
55%, making them more economical. This couldprobably a few years away yet, but the general
well be something of a false economy, seeing asconsensus is that induction hobs will fall in price,
the equipment required to use it is moreand will then be much more accessible to all. The
expensive. However, as induction cookingbenefits of induction cooking will also become
becomes increasingly mainstream, the prices willmore apparent as its popularity increases with the
tumble in accordance. Market experts believe thatpublic.
it is only a matter of time before induction hobsIn terms of maintenance, induction hobs are much
will begin to challenge gas hobs for market share,easier to clean than gas hobs. Because the heat
and over the next 5 years they expect inductiononly occurs with the pan, it means that spillages
hobs to double or even treble their 5-7% of thedo not get baked on top. It’s also a
market. Just like the DVD replaced the VHScontinuous surface, so there are no obstacles to
cassette, induction hobs look set to overtake andclean around. There’s no energy wastage
replace their gas counterparts.either, as the electromagnetic field transfers its
As we saw with DVDs, the induction equipment isenergy directly to the pan. The hobs also begin to
expensive in comparison to gas. In addition,cool down as soon as the pan is taken away,
regular pots and pans will not work on inductionmeaning that they are very safe to touch. In
hobs. Pans made from a ferrous metal arecomparison to gas, there are no emissions, and
required, in order to pass through the electrohence no fears about any gas leaks.
magnetic currents created by the induction hobs.Gas hobs are still very much the choice of the
Once the ferrous pan is in contact with themajority of people, but it seems that it is only a
induction hob, heat is generated in the pan, rathermatter of time before induction equivalents will be
than from the hob. The temperature can belooked upon as a serious everyday alternative to
controlled by adjusting the electric currents fromthe traditional option. The evidence of the benefits
the hob. All of this means that the hob itselfare there to be seen, but change won’t
won’t heat up, it will only be the pan sohappen quickly. As induction hobs gain more
there are safety advantages to be had too. Dopopularity, prices will fall, and perhaps they will
not be put off by the fact that ferrous pans arebecome the norm.