Kitchens, ovens and hobs...

[SavageHoutkop]

We've viewed a house recently and the kitchen is not quite to our liking, so if we were to buy we'd need to redo the kitchen. This has got me thinking about various kitchen related things....

Why have eye-level ovens taken off? Are they better than standard all-in-one type oven/hobs; or is it just ease of access? Don't you lose out in cupboard/counter space?

And second, why have induction hobs not taken off? Is it that gas is still cheaper than electric?

 

[fossyant]

Gas is best - instant heat, instant off, and they are relatively cheap to buy and run.

Ovens - rather have a built in one, low level than - all depends upon your space though !

 

[threebikesmcginty]

We're looking at this sort of stuff at the moment too.

Ovens at higher level are better for your back, don't know what else.
I like induction hobs, from what I can see they work using magic.

Think we might get both.

 

[GetAGrip]

Gas is best - instant heat, instant off, and they are relatively cheap to buy and run.

Ovens - rather have a built in one, low level than - all depends upon your space though !

+1

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Gas might be best but it's not available everywhere!

 

[Aperitif]

We're looking at this sort of stuff at the moment too.

Ovens at higher level are better for your back, don't know what else.
I like induction hobs, from what I can see they work using magic.

Think we might get both.

And, if you cook a meal on one, you get an induction course.
I used to design and fit / build kitchens in another life - it's was a very satisfying thing to see an idea in use.

 

[User482]

And second, why have induction hobs not taken off? Is it that gas is still cheaper than electric?

Induction hobs are very efficient, but gas is about 1/3 the price of electricity, so they're not really any cheaper to run (and the carbon impact is about the same). They are also restrictive on the type of pans you can use, and are likely to require a re-wire from your fuse box to your kitchen.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

are likely to require a re-wire from your fuse box to your kitchen.

Higher energy draw? Surely not higher than an electric cooker would use?

 

[subaqua]

Induction hobs are very efficient, but gas is about 1/3 the price of electricity, so they're not really any cheaper to run (and the carbon impact is about the same). They are also restrictive on the type of pans you can use, and are likely to require a re-wire from your fuse box to your kitchen.

why? can't see an induction hob pulling more than a standard electric cooker. (10.8Kw) a NEFF induction is rated at that. apply diversity factors as you would with a conventional cooker and the current draw will be around the same. A fan oven runs from a 13A plugtop these days ( at least 20 years) so can easily plug straight into the kitchen ring. if a new kitchen is being fitted its likely the socket outlets will be altered to suit new layout so will need upgrade works donne anyway , requirements for RCDs etc. also part p notifiable.

 

[Spinney]

With an eye-level oven:
If your grill is in the oven (which most are these days, or a separate mini-oven above the main one) you can keep an eye on things without having to keep bending down.

If two of you are cooking, one can be stirring etc at the hob while the other checks things in the oven without having to keep dodging out of people's way.

But as you say, not worth the eye level one if it is going to make you short of worktop space - so not for small kitchens.

 

[Crackle]

Gas is best - instant heat, instant off, and they are relatively cheap to buy and run.

Ovens - rather have a built in one, low level than - all depends upon your space though !

Induction is instant, astonishingly so but you will need a main back to the fusebox and 'trickery is still more expensive and if you don't have the pans....but for speed, controllability and cleaning convenience, it's the way to go. I've had two now in two different houses.

 

[User482]

why? can't see an induction hob pulling more than a standard electric cooker. (10.8Kw) a NEFF induction is rated at that. apply diversity factors as you would with a conventional cooker and the current draw will be around the same. A fan oven runs from a 13A plugtop these days ( at least 20 years) so can easily plug straight into the kitchen ring. if a new kitchen is being fitted its likely the socket outlets will be altered to suit new layout so will need upgrade works donne anyway , requirements for RCDs etc. also part p notifiable.

230V at 13 amps gives 3kW. Enough for a single electric oven (though not a double) but definitely not enough for an induction hob, which uses a high load at start-up. If you already have say a 30A supply for a conventional electric hob, you're probably ok.

 

[ushills]

And second, why have induction hobs not taken off? Is it that gas is still cheaper than electric?

We have an induction hob and it's great, instant heat and as responsive as gas, heats a pan quicker than gas as well. Apparenltly induction is the most efficient type of hob as hardly any energy is wasted heating the air or though heating elements. The hob is pretty much cool as well when turned off which is safe with kids around.

You do need ferrous pans though that a magnet will stick to the bottom of. Cooker wiring is usually man enough as well if you have an existing cooker point as they are designed to power and oven and conventional hob.

 

[ianrauk]

We have an induction hob and it's great, instant heat and as responsive as gas, heats a pan quicker than gas as well. Apparenltly induction is the most efficient type of hob as hardly any energy is wasted heating the air or though heating elements. The hob is pretty much cool as well when turned off which is safe with kids around.

You do need ferrous pans though that a magnet will stick to the bottom of. Cooker wiring is usually man enough as well if you have an existing cooker point as they are designed to power and oven and conventional hob.

+1 I ummed and aaghed over induction hob but definitely glad we got.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Just found this (while searching to see if our pots are induction) http://www.pots-and-pans.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Stellar_Portable_Induction_Hob.html