For a built-in hob you use regularly, induction is worth considering if your cookware is compatible and the cut-out and installation requirements suit the model. A ceramic hob is another option if you want to keep using pans that aren’t suitable for induction. An electric cooker is better suited to bringing a hob and oven together in one freestanding appliance. In the same scenario of 409 cycles a year, ADEME publishes different reference consumption figures for induction and ceramic hobs. These figures don’t predict how much energy your household will use.
If you use several pans to prepare a meal, start by considering the number of cooking zones and the size of your cookware. When comparing models, also check how they perform when several zones are in use at the same time.
Measure the worktop cut-out and the space beneath the hob before choosing a model. Electro Dépôt says that a 56 × 49 cm cut-out is common for induction hobs, but an appliance’s advertised width doesn’t guarantee it will fit your cabinetry.
Check your cookware before switching technology. Electrolux recommends checking that a magnet sticks to the base of each pan. Also check the base diameters accepted by the zones on the model you’re considering.
First choose between a built-in hob and a freestanding cooker, then make sure the technology, dimensions and cooking zones suit the way you prepare meals.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Appliance type | A hob is fitted into the worktop. An electric cooker combines a hob and oven, so compare the hob type, the appliance dimensions and the oven features separately. | I’m only replacing the hob, or I also need an oven in a freestanding appliance. Electrolux and Whirlpool offer electric cookers that combine both functions. |
| Technology | Induction requires compatible cookware, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. If you’d prefer a ceramic hob with radiant zones or are considering a conventional electric hob, check the specifications of the model rather than relying on the word ‘electric’ alone. | I want to keep using my pans, so I’ll check they’re compatible before choosing induction. If I’m replacing a conventional electric hob with a similar one, I’ll compare the specific model with my existing kitchen. |
| Energy consumption | In its scenario of 409 cycles a year, ADEME gives figures of 115 kWh/year for an induction hob and 200 kWh/year for a ceramic hob. Compare these figures within the same scenario, but don’t treat them as guaranteed savings for a particular appliance. | If I cook often, energy consumption matters to my choice, but I also need to consider my cookware and how I use the hob. ADEME’s figures aren’t a measure of my future energy consumption. |
| Installation | Check the existing cut-out, the available depth and the clearances required in the instructions for the exact model. Also check its connection requirements before buying. | A hob advertised as a 60 cm model must actually fit my worktop and the space underneath it. |
| Cooking zones and cookware | Check the number and diameter of the zones, then see what the model’s instructions say about using them at the same time. For induction, also check which pan base diameters are compatible. | I sometimes prepare several parts of a meal at once, so I need enough zones to suit the pans I actually use. |
Two hobs advertised in the same size category may require different cut-out dimensions. If a hob doesn’t fit the cut-out or meet the required clearance, it may not be possible to install it in the intended unit.
Measure the worktop and the space beneath it, then compare your measurements with the installation diagram for the model you’ve chosen.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, induction requires compatible cookware. A pan with an incompatible base can’t be used with this technology.
Electrolux recommends testing the base with a magnet. Then check that your pans’ base diameters are suitable for the zones listed in the instructions.
You’ll need to replace any incompatible pans if you want to keep using them for the same dishes on an induction hob.
A stated power rating doesn’t, by itself, tell you how the hob performs with several zones in use or how much energy it uses while cooking. In its induction hob testing, UFC-Que Choisir measures factors including the time and electricity needed to heat a pan of water to 90 °C.
Start by considering how many pans you use at once, then look at the zones, their settings and any tests carried out under comparable conditions.
ADEME’s figures — 115 kWh/year for induction and 200 kWh/year for ceramic hobs — are based on a scenario of 409 cycles a year. They don’t predict how much energy each household will use.
Use them to compare the two technologies within that scenario, then check whether the format and cookware requirements suit your kitchen.
Bosch offers built-in induction hobs, including the PIX631HC1E.
Electrolux offers built-in induction hobs as well as electric cookers with induction or ceramic hobs.
Whirlpool offers built-in ceramic hobs, as well as cookers that combine a hob and oven.
These built-in models include ceramic and induction hobs for home cooking. For each one, check the installation requirements and, for induction models, make sure your cookware is compatible.
Image unavailable
Its four zones are worth considering if you use several pans during a meal. If you’re replacing a built-in hob, compare this model’s cut-out and installation requirements with your kitchen.
Image unavailable
This ceramic hob is an option to consider for a built-in electric kitchen. The 60 cm size alone doesn’t confirm that it will replace your current hob, so compare its installation diagram with your cabinetry.
Image unavailable
The four zones and nine power levels listed for this model make it worth comparing with the number of pans you usually use at once. Check your cookware, installation dimensions and connection instructions before choosing it.
Image unavailable
Compare its three zones with the number of pans you use at once. The stated 7200 W doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much power is available to each zone at the same time. Check your cookware, installation and connection requirements. If you have an active medical implant, ask for advice specific to your device before using an induction hob.
Image unavailable
This model lists four zones, a timer, a Boost function and a control lock. Check the dimensions and compatible cookware. Before buying, clarify the connection method specified in the instructions: the product listing mentions both an earthed plug and a hardwired connection without a plug.
No. UFC-Que Choisir points out that induction requires compatible cookware. Electrolux recommends checking that a magnet sticks to the base. Also check that the pan base is flat and that its diameter meets the requirements in the hob’s instructions.
No. Measure the cut-out and the space beneath the worktop, then check the new model’s installation diagram. Electro Dépôt gives 56 × 49 cm as a common cut-out size for induction hobs, not a guarantee for every model.
No. The European Commission says that hobs aren’t subject to energy labelling requirements. To compare them, look at the relevant specifications and, where available, energy consumption measurements taken under comparable conditions.
An electric cooker is a good choice if you want a hob and oven together in one freestanding appliance. Electrolux and Whirlpool offer this type of appliance. For the model you’re considering, compare the size, technology and cooking zones of the hob, along with the oven features.