Induction hob or ceramic hob: what's the difference?
Both induction and ceramic cooking operate on electricity, but they are quite different. They are sometimes confused with each other, which is a shame, because induction is faster, more economical, and safer. In this blog, you will read exactly what the difference is.
The electric hob: the predecessor
Do you still remember them? Those white bases with black circles, like in old holiday homes. The black elements were heated by electricity, which then heated the pan. Slow, inefficient, and dangerous. They stayed hot for a long time without you noticing.
The ceramic hob
The ceramic hob was a step forward. Underneath a black glass plate are elements that glow red when switched on. So you can see that the plate is hot, but it works slowly. Do you lower the setting? Then the element must first cool down before the plate becomes less hot.
The induction hob: how does it work?
With an induction hob, only the pan is heated, not the plate itself. The working mechanism is based on magnetism: the pan attracts electrons, which start moving in the pan, causing it to heat up. Do you switch on a zone without a pan? Then nothing gets hot. Do you remove the pan? Then the heating stops immediately.
Induction vs. ceramic: the differences at a glance
Electricity consumption. An induction hob consumes an average of 175 kWh per year (approx. €40). A ceramic hob consumes 225 kWh (approx. €51.75). So induction is much more economical.
Speed. Induction heats the pan faster and also cools down faster. With ceramic, the heating element must first heat up and cool down, which takes time.
Cleaning. An induction hob is easy to keep clean. With ceramic, food residues burn in faster because the plate stays hot longer.
Flex zones. Induction hobs can have flex zones, zones that you link together for a larger cooking surface. This is not possible with ceramic.
Safety. Induction is safer. It has standard child lock and the plate switches off automatically if there is no pan on it. A ceramic plate remains hot for a long time after it has been switched off.
Finally
Any questions about the difference between induction and ceramic? Please feel free to contact us. We are happy to help you.
