Cooktop - Hotplates or Induction

Hi all

Which one is a better performer - Hotplate or Induction ?
Came across a place which we are interested in and it needs some touch up to all over the place before we move in. So trying to figure out extra costs now. It currently has hotplates but quite old/damaged so need replacing anyway.

There is no gas connection. So i assume it'll be costly to get that otherwise would've preferred Gas stove.

Anyone had any experiences with all of them ?

 

I've had all of them... induction is in a completely different league to a normal electric cooktop.

A few things to consider with Induction cooktops are:

- Get one that allows zones to be linked so you can use any part of cooktop & use larger gridles or pots anywhere in zones
- only ferrous based cookware work ie. Not aluminium
- a separate power line from switcboard needed with isolation switch & own circuitbreaker

I highly recommend induction cooktops as they're great to use, have no surfaces switches, heat regulation is instant, they have no latent hotplate heat when switched off or turned down & can boil a pot of water in 2 min flat.

 

+1 for induction.

I had a Neff induction in our PPOR and absolutely loved it. We've since moved across the country and are in a rental, when we buy a house here I'll get another Induction cooktop.

I've heard that Asko inductions are quite good, but have never used one myself.

 

EU Appliances - Kitchen and bath appliances | kitchen,built-in,freestanding,taps,sinks

Great prices just buy extra warranty

 

Only if you buy the induction specific pans that leave an air gap between top and pot (sits on little feet/balls)

 

Other thought, should you ever decide to go "off grid" the current draw will likely be too large for batteries to cope with.
I remember one of mine required 2x 15 amp connections due to power draw on "boost".
But it was awesome

 

Our current one.
Had been going to recess it into the bench and seal, but it looks great as is.
Yes, the draws are totally usable, it isnt very deep.
Most require "ventilation" out the front for cooling, this one uses the air in the cupboard, so no vents required.
NOTICE this one is 4 pans wide
Awesome as you dont have to lean over or around like normal cook tops

 

A bit over 40mm thick (pen for sizing)
Its a SMEG
3 years on and very happy (it is showing some light wear now though)

 

Any residual heat is actually from the pot/pan not the cooktop, so any heat on the surface is via conduction from the pot/pan into the cooktop surface hence once pot/pan is removed any residual heat dissipates very quickly unlike a traditional cooktop with heating element.

 

My dad said to not use an induction cooktop the same time you use an oven thats directly under it unless the cooktop has adequate ventilation.
@Stoffo.. main thing I see in your pic is the awesome view behind. Gorgeous.

 

What?? The red car and the clothes line? The wood pile or the concrete pipeline (enclosed water views)?

 

Yeah, I heard from someone that had one that they had to get all new pots and pans.
Can be a bit of an expense for the good stuff.

 

Thanks for the recommendations guys. Looks like Induction it is. I am looking on bunnings website, there are some with decent prices.

 

@teetotal - have a look at winnings/appliances online/seconds world/ appliance specialist over budget builder suppliers Bunnies.

 

Have you had a look at the appropriate cookware as well, or have you already got the right stuff?

 

Good point, haven't looked at that yet...might be worth checking that out first. It may cost more to replace all cookware than the cooktop....I have to be careful as i am on budget.

 

Is Bunnings stuff not really upto the standard ? They have by far the best prices...I know quality may not be good enough but i only need something that can last 4-5years until I move to a better PPOR, longer than that doesn;t matter.

 

Yep, I know someone who got an induction cooktop but didn't realise. They had a lot of nice cookware that was made mostly useless, and had to buy all new stuff.

 

IMHO You're better off dealing with someone who specialises in kitchen appliances and catering equipment rather than builders supplies, gardening and timber.

 

Good Guys, Harvey Norman etc. all have a reasonable range. I put one in this year & found that a decent Induction cooktop would be around 2k (or just under) plus install by electrician (~300-500). We did an oven upgrade too as it wasn't much extra for the electrian to do at the same time.

As for cookware, a lot of good quality cookware is fine. We only had a couple teflon pots/pans that won't work as they were crappy aluminum. Our main Scanpan set works just fine.