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One of the biggest barriers to entry when buying an induction hob is the added expense of having to buy a completely new set of pots and pans for your new induction hob. Yet, there is another way…by using Induction hob convertors – but what is an induction hob converter?
Induction hob converters take away the hassle of you having to buy induction-friendly pans. Want the benefits of quick, precise cooking but don’t want to completely restock your cookware? An induction hob converter disc or two might be just what you’re looking for.
Why should I buy an induction hob converter?
Induction hob converters save you time, money and hassle – and let you get into induction cooking without the need for you to buy a whole new set of magnetic pans.
If there were to be a drawback to owning an induction hob, many would agree that it is the price that comes on top of buying and installing the hob – buying a whole new set of pots and pans.
As you know, induction hobs work using magnetic fields. The coil underneath the surface of the hob creates the magnetic field, which needs to be completed by connecting directly to a magnetic base. Sadly, not all pans have magnetic bases! So, unless all of your pans are made of cast iron or magnetic stainless steel, then the chances are that you have to buy a new set of cookware.
Simply put, induction hob converters are almost like completely flat pans that you place on induction zones. Their bases are magnetic, and their tops are designed to be able to hold various cookware, whether they have magnetic bases or not. That way, you can easily cook your food in your non-magnetic pans while still using your induction hob.
How do induction hob converters work?
Converter discs connect to the induction hob, completing the magnetic field. Therefore, the induction hob heats up the converter as if it were an induction pan.
Then, the induction hob converter uses the heat that it has gathered from the induction hob and transfers it through to the pot or pan that is on top, thus heating up the pan. Therefore, they will heat up any pot or pan, no matter its material.
Are induction hob converters expensive?
Generally speaking, you can buy an induction hob converter for about £15 to £20. Moreover, you can easily find them online or in kitchenware shops. There are a wide variety of induction hob converters to choose from, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find one to match your budget and even the style of your pots and pans.
Many people choose induction hob converters simply because the costs of completely new cookware can escalate – and may not be convenient to purchase. What’s more, induction hobs alone can be very expensive – meaning if you haven’t yet budgeted for a new set of pans, converters may hold the key.
Are induction hob converters worth the money?
Yes – providing you are happy to continue cooking with your existing pans, induction hob convertors really do help you make the most of that fantastic, instant heat. However, there are a few things to consider – for example, some feel that using induction hob converters may actually waste more time than you anticipate. Are induction hob converters really that inefficient?
One of the most appealing factors to induction hobs is that they can heat up and cool down quicker than standard cooktops. That is due to the fact that the heat passes directly through the hob into the cookware.
Standard hobs need to heat up the hob first and then the pan, thus causing a delay. However, by using an induction hob converter, you may lose even more time. Yes, the heat should pass directly through the converter from the hob – however, it will take longer for the converter to heat up whatever pan or pot is on top of it.
Therefore, you will end up potentially using more energy and time, thus losing one of the best qualities of the induction hob.
Moreover, given that many of us want to save time and therefore put the hob on as high as possible (and heating up the converter as hot as possible), you will also need to consider how much heat the converter will retain. Many of us tend to forget that the heat that the converter is transferring tends to stay in the disc for quite some time.
By heating up the converter to such a high level and leaving it scalding hot for the time you need, you risk damaging your induction hob.
Therefore, there are always going to be a few pros and cons you will need to keep in mind. Yes, you’re saving money, and yes – your cooking is still efficient – but in the long run, you might find it better value to just upgrade your cookware.
