Flex zone on an induction hob: what are the pros and cons?
More and more induction hobs have one or more flex zones: zones that can be linked to form one larger cooking surface. But what exactly are they for? And when should you or shouldn't you choose a flex zone?
What is a flex zone?
A flex zone is a cooking zone that you can combine with an adjacent zone. This creates a larger heating surface. Some hobs even have one large flex zone covering the entire surface.
The advantages
The big advantage of a flex zone is the larger cooking surface. Ideal for:
- An oblong grill pan
- A roasting tin
- An asparagus or fish pan
Without a flex zone, you can use two zones simultaneously, but heating the entire bottom of a large pan will not be optimal.
MAKUS Marble induction hob with grill plate on the flex zone
The disadvantages
A flex zone heats a pan slightly less efficiently than a separate round zone. Octagonal coils lie under the flex zone, like Tetris blocks, leaving small gaps without direct heating. In practice, you will barely notice this. Additionally, hobs with flex zones are often more expensive.
Do you use it in practice?
Not everyone uses the flex zone equally often. Those who do, use it mainly for larger pans. Using two flex zones simultaneously, both left and right, is rare in practice and is also less energy-efficient.
Makus's choice: partly flex, partly separate zones
At Makus, we deliberately opted for a combination of flex and separate zones. The 60cm and 80cm hobs have one flex zone and one separate zone – the best of both worlds. The 90cm hob with extraction has two flex zones, for maximum flexibility on the larger surface.
Merel: "I often use the flex zone for my oblong grill pan. It's great to be able to grill courgettes lengthwise!"
Finally
Are you unsure which Makus best suits your cooking style? Feel free to contact us. We are happy to help you think it through.
