If it's time for a new stove in your kitchen, you may now be asking yourself which is better - induction or ceramic? While the ceramic hob was taken for granted for a long time, it is now increasingly being replaced by an induction hob. Anyone who hasn't dealt with the topic before will quickly start to think about it. Today's article on induction or ceramic is intended to give you some clarity as we will compare both types of technologies so that you can make a decision more easily when purchasing your new stove.
The name Ceran is actually not correct. It is a brand name that is incorrectly used to describe the hobs made of so-called ceramic glass. The hotplate is heated by halogen lights and infrared light, which can become hot enough to cook on. The heat is transferred to the ceramic on which the pot or pan stands. This technology became increasingly popular, especially in the 90s, because it brought several advantages that you should consider if you are wondering whether to choose induction or ceramic. On the one hand, you can use thisCerankochfeldregulate the temperature more precisely. On the other hand, the hobs heat up more quickly and cool down more quickly.
The simplicity is also not to be underestimatedcleaningof the hotplates, where there is almost no difference between induction or ceramic. Because they have a flat surface, there are no hard-to-reach corners and edges that make cleaning difficult. The easy-care surface is also not heat-conducting. The heat is transferred to the pot or pan by radiation in the area of the stovetop, while the area around the stove remains cool.
Ceramic hobs have been in use for many years, which is why the technology is now so well developed that defects hardly occur anymore when used correctly and repairs are unnecessary. Energy consumption is low with ceramic and can also be installed in the kitchen away from the oven, which is particularly advantageous if a high oven is desired or acooking areato be installed in a kitchen island. These are the benefits you can consider..
The disadvantage is the hot hobs, which make a decisive difference when choosing. Although they cool down more quickly than traditional metal hobs, they could pose a danger to children without additional protection. It takes a while for the residual heat to cool down. In addition, when cooking, you have to make sure that the cookware is positioned exactly on the stovetop. This is not difficult to implement. However, in the cook's haste, the dishes can slip. This in turn leads to heat loss because the heat is given off through radiation.
Induction hobs are a newer technology that has been increasingly preferred over ceramic since the turn of the millennium. However, is this decision justified? At first glance, judging by the appearance, there seems to be no difference if you want to choose induction or ceramic. But while the ceramic hob itself is being heated, the induction hob generates electromagnetic vortices. These then indirectly heat the cookware as soon as these vortices come into contact with the metal surface. So only the pot, or rather the bottom of the pot or pan, gets hot and not the hotplate itself.
It is often claimed that these electromagnetic vortices are harmful to health. But the truth is that this is the same technology as, for example, tape. However, people with pacemakers should inquire more carefully. Especially when using non-ferromagnetic cookware (more on this below), the magnetic fields are scattered, which could disrupt a pacemaker. The latest models have special shielding for this. Electromagnetic fields were discovered in 1831 and have been a faithful companion in human life ever since. If you are wondering whether you should choose induction or ceramic, you will also choose this technologyAdvantages but also disadvantageswant to find out.
There are disadvantages to cooking with inductionof course also availableas with other types of hotplates. One of the disadvantages you should be aware of when choosing induction or ceramic is that special cookware should be used. Although all metals that conduct electricity are suitable, it is best to choose ferromagnetic metals. These are metals that can be magnetized and can thus become magnets themselves. This includes iron, nickel and cobalt. They have the property of bundling the electromagnetic vortices, i.e. the energy, in order to be able to use it more efficiently. The cookware can either be made entirely of these metals or just have an alloy for the base of the cookware. You can test this with a magnet. If it sticks to the dishes, it can be used for the induction cooker.
If price plays a role, then ceramic hobs undoubtedly have an advantage. The induction high fields are approximately twice as expensive. It should not be forgotten that induction hobs are a relatively new technology. Damage occurs more frequently, which in turn is associated with high repair costs. Although you save a lot of energy costs, they cannot offset any repair costs. Regarding energy costs, it should also be mentioned that induction saves energy on the whole. However, standby mode usually uses 5 to 9 watts of energy. However, this problem also occurs with ceramic hobs with touch controls.
Since the induction fields generate a very high temperature, they have fans, which are unfortunately very loud in most cases and can be compared to the extractor hood. From a technical point of view, the fans are definitely an advantage in order to avoid damage to the electronics due to overheating. However, the additional noise when cooking can be quite annoying and is therefore an important consideration when choosing. If the fans are installed in the worktop, the noise can be reduced. However, this is not a guarantee. Noises sometimes arise during the induction itself, which can vary depending on the type of dishes.
Induction cookers have more complex electronics and are therefore slightly larger than ceramic hobs. This means that a greater depth should be planned for when installing it in the worktop. A drawer then either has no space underneath or has to be restricted in certain things. This could be a disadvantage if the kitchen is very small and such storage space cannot simply be given away. However, with a larger kitchen with sufficient cupboards and other drawers, this does not necessarily have to be seen as a disadvantage and a decisive criterion in the choice.
However, the disadvantage just mentioned is an acceptable fact when you consider the advantages. With induction, however, even 50% of the time is saved. This also leads to lower energy consumption, which is even reinforced by the efficient energy conversion. In addition, the high plates themselves do not get hot. This is safer and is particularly advantageous if children live in the house. The stove even turns itself off after a while. This is again an advantage if there are children in the house who could accidentally turn on a plate and guarantees lower energy costs.
This also allows you to place smaller pots on large plates without losing energy. This allows for more flexible use of the induction plates. If something boils over, it won't burn on the hotplate, which makes cleaning even easier than with the ceramic hotplate. However, glass ceramic is always used as the material.
If you can't decide, you can also choose a so-called Domino hob. Different hobs can be combined with each other. For example, you can install two ceramic hobs one behind the other in the worktop of your kitchen and integrate two induction hobs one behind the other right next to them. This means you can always spontaneously choose which fields you can cook on.
Diesbrings the advantageThis means that you can continue to use your existing, non-ferromagnetic cookware and do not have to choose between induction or ceramic. People often invest a lot of money in high-quality cookware. The fact that this becomes unusable when the stove is changed means that many consumers resort to the good old ceramic stove.
Ultimately, it's difficult to say which is the better option. BecomeAdvantages and disadvantagesComparing both variants, you quickly realize that this is an individual decision in which everyone has to decide for themselves which of the two plates is best suited for their own use. Many stores offer consultations on this topic. Such a conversation can certainly help a lot with the choice and should be considered. There you will also receive an exact price comparison and find out the costs for any cookware you may need.
