Six things you need to know about Induction hobs

Induction cooking is becoming more widespread and with many clients choosing this method of cooking over gas powered hobs, here are some things you should consider when choosing a cook top.

1. Induction is one of the most efficient cooking methods available, combining speed and accurate control.  Induction hobs have a strong electromagnets positioned underneath the surface of the glass.  When a ferrous ( Iron) metal pan is placed on the hob, a circuit is created allowing a rapid and even transfer of heat to the contents of the pan.  Speed is one of the most noticeable advantages when using an induction hob.  For example, a pan of water will reach boiling point almost twice as fast as a gas hob. 

2. Many models contain a flex zone, this means the cooking area can be tailored to your needs making it easier to use oversize pans such as fish kettles, woks and casserole dishes.  This can be the whole of the hob or a designated area that can take a variety of pan sizes.  On certain models several pans can be placed anywhere on the flex zone and used at the same time making Sunday lunch or Christmas dinner a breeze.

3. Venting hobs are becoming more and more popular.  A venting hob is one that has powerful integrated extraction.  Usually placed centrally down the middle of the hob, this space saving, easy to clean technology means that cooking vapors and grease are extracted at the source resulting in greater efficiency.  More of our clients are choosing a venting hobs over the traditional wall, ceiling or downdraft extractors.

Another advantage of a venting hob is the flexibility provided when considering its positioning.  More traditional forms of extraction require the hob to be placed in front of a wall however, because a venting hob can be positioned almost anywhere in the kitchen, the designer can maximise the space and offer the client more layout options.

4. Cleaning an induction hob is quick and simple as it consists of one piece of glass.  Also, as there aren’t any heavy cast iron pan supports to remove, it is far easier to clean grease marks and spills.  The cooktop gets hot but won’t scald like a gas flame and any areas of glass around the cooking zones remain cool to the touch meaning spills tend not to get burnt to the surface.

Many of the extraction components of venting hobs are compatible for cleaning in the dishwasher making the cook zone a far more hygienic area.

5. Induction hobs offer excellent control as the cooking zones heat up remarkably quickly which is a major benefit for most busy households.  These hobs are also very responsive and will cool down rapidly if the temperature is decreased.  When a pan is removed from the cook zone, the circuit is broken and the heat will quickly dissipate.

6. Many models have in-built safety features and smart technology meaning the hob can recognise the smooth flat base of a pan.  This prevents things like metal spoons or utensils being heated by accident.  When in use, only the base of the pan heats up meaning that far more precise amounts of energy are used, making induction cooking cost effective and efficient.

Here at Contour we have a range of Induction, flex induction and venting induction hobs from premium suppliers including Gaggenau, Bora, Siemens and Neff.  If you would like a demonstration of our products, please get in touch and talk to one of our team.

Is this the end of the extractor hood?

We have been supplying BORA hobs for the last 18 months and we are now finding that more and more customers like the planning flexibility they offer, so much so that we can see a future where wall or ceiling mounted extraction could be a thing of the past.  Read on to discover more about the advantages of cooking on a BORA.

Fresh Air

The advantage of fresh air: cooking while surrounded by fresh air

The further cooking vapours travel before they are drawn off, the more odour and grease particles are distributed in the room, settling on furniture and penetrating textiles.
BORA puts an end to all that. Grease particles released during cooking are no longer allowed to spread throughout the room, but are instead trapped in the stainless steel grease filter resulting in a huge reduction in lingering cooking smells. After cooking, simply close the cover and the odours remain in the filter.

Clear View

The advantage of a clear view: no annoying head-height extractor hoods

BORA frees you from the constraints of conventional extractor hoods. No edges and corners at head height for you to bang your head on. No need to stoop while you cook. No vapours swirling around the kitchen – or condensing on your glasses.  This is of particular advantage in open plan kitchens allowing the space to look less utilitarian. 

Freedom in Planning

The advantage of planning freedom: setting the standard in new kitchen architecture

Besides the many technical advantages that you enjoy with BORA, it is above all the completely new possibilities for kitchen planning that BORA really knows how to impress with. You can do practically anything that you have ever wanted to: cook in front of a window or under the eaves, have a kitchen island without a bulky hood and more space for hanging cabinets in smaller kitchens and enjoy seamless minimalism... all because of the space gained by doing away with an extractor hood. Thanks to its compact dimensions, you still have lots of space in the floor units. This makes BORA the benchmark in new kitchen aesthetics.

Effectivity

The advantage of effectiveness: a focus on the bare essentials

Conventional extractor hoods work extremely hard for a comparatively limited result. Vapours and odours have to travel long distances before they are intercepted. Even then, it is not usually possible for all of the vapours to be suctioned away – more than half of them escape.
BORA cooktop extractors are a smart and highly effective solution. The best evidence of this is the head-height Cleanrate of 100 %. This is made possible by the intelligent use of the flow speed and innovative motor technology, which suction away the vapour at the precise point where it is created – without any detours or unnecessarily large volumes of air. And there is even a pleasant side effect: BORA also enables you to save energy.

Easy to clean

Easy cleaning advantage: why make things difficult when there is an easy option?

Cleaning extractor hoods is a problem in itself: complicated, time-consuming, often requiring the use of tools and producing doubtful results. And this is true not only when cleaning the inside of the hood, but also the large external surfaces.
BORA is different. Our innovative products not only provide real pleasure and quality of life while cooking, but are also extremely useful on a daily basis and easy to clean and maintain. All three moving parts can be dismantled quickly and easily by hand, without the use of tools. Then you just put the parts in the dishwasher – done.

Best Materials

The advantage of using the best materials: high functionality and long service life

Only the best is good enough for us when it comes to the quality of our products. High-quality materials which ensure a high degree of functionality and a long service life are united in a premium system with no compromises. Every metallic part of BORA cooktop extractors is made of pure stainless steel. Our HiLight and induction cooktops are made of glass ceramic material, which is free of heavy metals.
We promise that cooking with BORA will offer long-lasting delight.

To further explore the Bora Hob range please visit the Contour studio and ask for a demo or click here
 

SuperFreeze for speed

This recipe a great way of using up bananas that are slightly past their best.  For fast results, why not try the SuperFreeze function on your freezer if you have one.