Switching to induction is a good option if your saucepans and frying pans have a compatible base, or if you’re happy to replace those that don’t. Before ordering, compare the cut-out, the space beneath the worktop and the hob’s electrical requirements with your kitchen, then ask a qualified professional to check the connection. If you want to keep using cookware that isn’t compatible, consider a ceramic hob too. A mixed gas-and-induction hob also requires a suitable gas supply.
The visible width alone won’t tell you whether a new hob will fit where the old one was. Measure the cut-out and the space beneath the worktop, then check them against the instructions for the model you’re considering.
Check your saucepans and frying pans before choosing induction: UFC-Que Choisir points out that induction requires compatible cookware. This will help you work out which pieces you can continue to use.
The scope of the work matters just as much as your choice of hob. According to ANIL, changing a rented fixture requires the landlord’s written consent; in a block of flats, work affecting communal areas requires authorisation.
Start with the cookware you want to keep, then check whether each option can be installed in your kitchen. Preferring induction won’t solve an unsuitable cut-out or the need to change the connection.
| Priority | What to check | Your requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Cookware | For induction, check that each item has a ferromagnetic base, using a magnet if needed, then compare its diameter with the size of the hob zones. | I want to know which saucepans and frying pans I can keep before deciding whether replacing any of them should be part of the project. |
| Built-in fit | Measure the existing cut-out and the space beneath the worktop. Compare them with the installation dimensions in the instructions, rather than relying on the hob’s advertised width alone. | The new hob needs to fit in my fitted kitchen. I shouldn’t assume that two 60 cm models have the same cut-out. |
| Electricity | Check the power, voltage and connection method required for the exact model. Ask a qualified professional to compare these requirements with your home’s electrical installation. | Before ordering, I want to know whether my existing installation is suitable for the hob I’ve chosen and what installation will involve. |
| Cooking method | Compare an induction hob with a ceramic hob and, if you have a gas supply, a mixed hob. For the latter, check the gas type, the equipment required and the model’s installation requirements. | I’d prefer to keep using cookware that isn’t suitable for induction, or keep gas burners for certain uses while adding induction zones. |
| Permission for the work | Find out whether the replacement changes a rented fixture or affects communal areas. According to ANIL, these situations require the landlord’s written consent or authorisation from the property’s co-owners respectively. | If I’m renting or live in a block of flats, I want to clarify what the work will affect before having the kitchen altered. |
Cookware without a ferromagnetic base won’t work on an induction zone. You may therefore need to replace some of your saucepans and frying pans after installation.
Test the bases with a magnet and check the manufacturer’s information if you’re unsure. If you want to keep using cookware that isn’t compatible, compare ceramic hobs too, as well as a mixed hob if your kitchen has a suitable gas supply.
This refers to the hob’s overall size, but doesn’t tell you the cut-out it needs, the space required underneath or how it connects.
Measure the recess, check the instructions for the exact model and have its electrical requirements checked before arranging installation.
If the dimensions don’t match, adapting the worktop may be part of the replacement.
A gas-and-induction hob needs to be compatible with both your electrical supply and the type of gas available. For example, the Brandt BPI6413BM product information states that it comes set up for natural gas at 20 mbar. This specification applies to this model only.
Before choosing this option, compare the type of gas and the hob’s installation requirements with your existing setup.
According to ANIL, tenants must not alter rented premises or fixtures without the landlord’s written consent. A replacement that affects communal areas may also require authorisation from the property’s co-owners.
If you rent, explain the planned replacement to your landlord and get written consent if it involves an alteration. In a block of flats, check whether the work will stay within your private areas.
The specifications below apply to the models mentioned, not to every hob from each brand. Check the instructions to compare a specific model with your kitchen.
The LIT60333CK is a useful example of what to check when choosing a built-in induction hob.
The PIJ631HB1E is a 60 cm induction model worth considering if the size of a cooking zone is important to you.
The BPI6413BM is an example of a mixed hob to consider if your kitchen already has a gas supply.
Smeg offers hobs that combine gas burners and induction zones, which may suit you if you want to keep both cooking methods.
These two built-in hobs are options if you’re considering induction. If you’d rather keep a ceramic hob or gas burners, compare those options separately before choosing a hob.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a built-in hob with four zones. It features Boost, touch controls, a timer, a child lock and a residual heat indicator.
The stated cut-out size is 565 × 495 mm, and the 220–240 V connection is described as hardwired, with no plug. Compare these details with the instructions and your kitchen, ask a qualified professional to check the connection, and make sure your cookware has compatible bases.
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Worth considering if you sometimes use a large pan: the Bridge zone lets you combine two zones.
The minimum stated niche dimensions are 56 cm wide, 49 cm deep and 7 cm high; the stated connection power is 7.36 kW. Ask a qualified professional to compare the instructions with your cut-out and electrical installation, and check your pans’ compatibility separately.
Their bases need to be ferromagnetic. Test one with a magnet: if the magnet sticks, the cookware is generally compatible. If you’re unsure, check the manufacturer’s information and the size of pan accepted by the zone you’re considering.
Not necessarily. The advertised width alone won’t confirm that it will fit. Measure the cut-out and the space beneath the worktop, then compare them with the instructions for the exact model. You should also have its connection requirements checked.
Ask a qualified professional to check the connection rather than assuming it will be the same as your old hob. Bosch Home Appliances says induction hobs should be installed by professionals. The instructions for your chosen model set out its installation and power supply requirements.
According to ANIL, you need your landlord’s written consent if the change alters the rented premises or fixtures. Explain the planned work and clarify its scope before having the kitchen altered.
According to ANIL, work carried out solely within private areas generally doesn’t require approval from the general meeting, but authorisation is needed if it affects communal areas. Before any work on a shared feature, check exactly what the installation will change.