A question often put forward to our kitchen designers is which hob should I choose for my new kitchen; gas or induction hob?
The answer to this is dependent on a number of factors. The space and budget you are working with play an important role in your decision making, alongside other elements that are commonly overlooked. From sustainability and safety, to cleaning and cooking style, we’ll take you through the advantages and disadvantages of both options.
gas hob advantages
Lets talk price! Gas hobs are usually cheaper to purchase and run compared to it’s electric counterpart – a standard gas hob is usually around half the cost of an induction to buy and run. However, we all know with the way the economy turns, gas prices are equally on the rise.
Alongside being more cost effective, most professional chefs when asked have a preference for gas over induction due to the control and responsiveness of using a good old fashioned flame. If you’re a fan of wok cooking and flash frying, a gas hob is likely to be the best choice for your new kitchen.
gas hob disadvantages
One of the main hurdles in using a gas hob is that they require gas mains, which sometimes modern buildings might not have (some can run from bottled gas with additional LPG conversion kits/jets).
Another is accuracy – although gas hobs are faster at heating up, surprisingly this doesn’t equate to being faster than induction hobs at cooking. The answer for this is because induction hobs are more efficient in their heat distribution.
Cleaning can often be seen as the bane of gas hob cooking due to its numerous grates, griddles and burners. That being said, new and innovative designs are continuously released which require less time and maintenance for their upkeep.
Environmentally, unfortunately for gas hobs it’s a no brainer. Not only are they less efficient than induction hobs, but also the future use of gas as a source of heat is becoming more and more uncertain.
Both these short and long term considerations make induction hobs the more sustainable option.
induction hob advantages
Known for their more sleek and minimalist aesthetic, induction hobs are a subtle yet key component of a modern kitchen. Available in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs, this flexibility allows you to decide if your induction hob will serve as the focal point of your kitchen or to instead blend into the background.
Safety is what really separates the two hobs. Families with young children naturally gravitate towards induction hobs due to the fact it’s the pan that heats up, rather than the hob. This means there are no hot surfaces that small children can accidentally touch and burn themselves on.
Couple this with child-lock safety features that means the hob can’t be turned on by mistake, and the induction hob wins hands down when it comes to safety as a priority for your new kitchen.
The environmental impact of choosing an induction hob over gas was highlighted earlier. With induction being powered by electricity, this opens up the opportunity to power your hob using renewable energy sources.
Compared with gas hobs powered by natural gas, a fossil fuel that emits greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately contributes to global warming. Because of this, the UK government is taking action and has committed to phasing out the installation of gas hobs and cookers by 2025 in new build homes.
induction hob disadvantages
Costs!
This could involve having to purchase a new set of pans that are suitable for induction hobs (either stainless steel or cast iron). Glass, copper, aluminium, ceramic or anodised cookware will need an induction plate built into the base for them to be compatible with induction hobs.
As mentioned before, the up front price of an induction hob is around double the price of a gas hob. Rewiring the kitchen could be an additional cost should you be looking to move from gas to induction.
gas vs induction hobs, which is the winner?
For those on a budget who prefer the traditional method of cooking and enjoy the control that comes with a gas hob, then transitioning to induction might be the wrong choice for your new kitchen.
If sustainability, cleanliness and safety are at the heart of your decision-making process then it’s worth considering the electric alternative.
Still not sure? Start a conversation with our designers who will understand how you live and cook and provide advice on the best option for your home.
