NPR

Just had new kitchen fitted. Luckily I have a family member who works with company who makes/sells electrical goods so got big staff discount of new electrical stuff to go in it. Biggest discounts were off the top of the range products so I ended up buying, amongst other things, a fantastic oven and an induction hob, both internet enabled. My oven is fantastic, dual cooking zone inside, quick to heat up, even heat at all temps and I now get more text messages from the oven than I do from either of my kids! However the induction hob has been the biggest revelation, I had a ceramic hob before which was useless and was going to get a gas hob but daughter persuaded me to get induction one. It is just life changing, just as responsive as gas but cleaner and very versatile with flexible heat zone, etc. I bought a set of new pots and pans to celebrate and now baking and cooking is now a joy again. I am a sad but happy man!

We got an induction fitted, stupidly thought 'P' meant 'Pause' and ended up nearly vaporising the pan.

They are pretty feisty when they get going. It's quicker to boil a pan of water than the kettle.

eta: what's a flexible heating zone btw?

inactionman wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 2:24 pm We got an induction fitted, stupidly thought 'P' meant 'Pause' and ended up nearly vaporising the pan.

They are pretty feisty when they get going. It's quicker to boil a pan of water than the kettle.

eta: what's a flexible heating zone btw?

I assume like zoned furnaces you have separate thermocouples and heating elements for different regions of the oven.

petej wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 2:30 pm

inactionman wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 2:24 pm We got an induction fitted, stupidly thought 'P' meant 'Pause' and ended up nearly vaporising the pan.

They are pretty feisty when they get going. It's quicker to boil a pan of water than the kettle.

eta: what's a flexible heating zone btw?

I assume like zoned furnaces you have separate thermocouples and heating elements for different regions of the oven.

I was wondering what that meant for the hob. I ask as I'm pretty sure I'm not using it correctly and I'll be damned if I'm reading the manual.

inactionman wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 2:36 pm

petej wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 2:30 pm

inactionman wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 2:24 pm We got an induction fitted, stupidly thought 'P' meant 'Pause' and ended up nearly vaporising the pan.

They are pretty feisty when they get going. It's quicker to boil a pan of water than the kettle.

eta: what's a flexible heating zone btw?

I assume like zoned furnaces you have separate thermocouples and heating elements for different regions of the oven.

I was wondering what that meant for the hob. I ask as I'm pretty sure I'm not using it correctly and I'll be damned if I'm reading the manual.

Flexible area on the hob covers large area about half the hob and you can leave pots on to simmer away and if need be put sections of them at different heats - you can fit a few different pots on them. Alternatively you can set whole flexi area to the same heat and put a large container on it to heat up/cook away there.

My new oven has a divider tray that I can use to split oven into a top and lower oven and I can set these to different temperatures and cook as if they are two small ovens. Take divider tray out to have a normal large oven. Excellent for me as I live alone and it is cheaper and quicker to heat the small top oven area for meal for one.

Well, this is middle aged.

Crap for stir frying IMHO..

Biffer wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 4:42 pm Well, this is middle aged.

I know, sad really! I did apologise in my original post but in these dark gloomy days its this sort of thing that excites me! Off to make a Thai red chicken curry.

dpedin wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:38 pm

Biffer wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 4:42 pm Well, this is middle aged.

I know, sad really! I did apologise in my original post but in these dark gloomy days its this sort of thing that excites me! Off to make a Thai red chicken curry.

Not necessarily a criticism - I got a new oven and fridge last year and they’re saving me about fifteen quid a month in electricity, which I keep telling people about

TB63 wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:19 pm Crap for stir frying IMHO..

Bugger. Is it they just don’t get hot enough in general or is it if you like to lift the pan to be artistic when you cook?

PCPhil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:20 am

TB63 wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:19 pm Crap for stir frying IMHO..

Bugger. Is it they just don’t get hot enough in general or is it if you like to lift the pan to be artistic when you cook?

Gas only option to stir fry properly as you want the sides of the wok to be hot also..

I've one of these which is brill..

TB63 wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:25 am

PCPhil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:20 am

TB63 wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:19 pm Crap for stir frying IMHO..

Bugger. Is it they just don’t get hot enough in general or is it if you like to lift the pan to be artistic when you cook?

Gas only option to stir fry properly as you want the sides of the wok to be hot also..

I've one of these which is brill..

pl18209606-3_fire_rings_propane_solid_cast_iron_gas_burner_frame_supported_kr3lpgc.jpg

Induction doesn't work like that though? Surely if the wok is made of ferromagnetic material it'll get hot all over, because it's not a case of being heated from below.

The centre of an induction pan can get very hot very quickly. I struggled to find a correct temperature to fry an egg that did not leave the bottom black, and the top of the egg still raw and cold. A couple of years ago I was using one regularly, but after a change of diet I rarely use it now.

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:27 am

TB63 wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:25 am

PCPhil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:20 am

Bugger. Is it they just don’t get hot enough in general or is it if you like to lift the pan to be artistic when you cook?

Gas only option to stir fry properly as you want the sides of the wok to be hot also..

I've one of these which is brill..

pl18209606-3_fire_rings_propane_solid_cast_iron_gas_burner_frame_supported_kr3lpgc.jpg

Induction doesn't work like that though? Surely if the wok is made of ferromagnetic material it'll get hot all over, because it's not a case of being heated from below.

It is being heated from below. Over time you will see a ring develop in the ceramic or metal where the heat is hitting the pan.

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:27 am

TB63 wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:25 am

PCPhil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:20 am

Bugger. Is it they just don’t get hot enough in general or is it if you like to lift the pan to be artistic when you cook?

Gas only option to stir fry properly as you want the sides of the wok to be hot also..

I've one of these which is brill..

pl18209606-3_fire_rings_propane_solid_cast_iron_gas_burner_frame_supported_kr3lpgc.jpg

Induction doesn't work like that though? Surely if the wok is made of ferromagnetic material it'll get hot all over, because it's not a case of being heated from below.

Only through conduction, the metal to hob contact is the only place youll get heat..

.OverThere wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 11:36 am

JM2K6 wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:27 am

TB63 wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:25 am

Gas only option to stir fry properly as you want the sides of the wok to be hot also..

I've one of these which is brill..

pl18209606-3_fire_rings_propane_solid_cast_iron_gas_burner_frame_supported_kr3lpgc.jpg

Induction doesn't work like that though? Surely if the wok is made of ferromagnetic material it'll get hot all over, because it's not a case of being heated from below.

It is being heated from below. Over time you will see a ring develop in the ceramic or metal where the heat is hitting the pan.

The actual hob itself isn't getting that hot. You can touch it after and tell - the heat there is from the pan (or the wok). The pan/wok itself is essentially vibrating to create heat, and that heat spreads pretty quickly given the entire process is much quicker than regular hobs. So a flat-bottom wok will get hot sides pretty quickly (I have burns to prove it). A cast iron skillet does a great job.

There's plenty of chefs happy to use induction for woks, especially if the alternative is regular domestic hobs. There is a case to be made that the flavour changes if you're tossing the food and there's a stream of very hot air surrounding it, but that's getting into the weeds a bit. And if you're looking to buy a specific hob for woks, you can do the same with curved induction hobs anyway!

So long as you've a flat bottomed wok induction hobs are good, and heat up quicker than gas. The same is true for cast iron griddles - I cook far better steak on the induction hob because it gets that much hotter. I'd never go back gas having has an induction hob and fan oven (which is far superior for sourdough baking).

Is this middle class enough?

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:19 pm So long as you've a flat bottomed wok induction hobs are good, and heat up quicker than gas. The same is true for cast iron griddles - I cook far better steak on the induction hob because it gets that much hotter. I'd never go back gas having has an induction hob and fan oven (which is far superior for sourdough baking).

Is this middle class enough?

Yep, both work brilliantly on my AEG induction hob.

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:19 pm So long as you've a flat bottomed wok induction hobs are good, and heat up quicker than gas. The same is true for cast iron griddles - I cook far better steak on the induction hob because it gets that much hotter. I'd never go back gas having has an induction hob and fan oven (which is far superior for sourdough baking).

Is this middle class enough?

Fan ovens are a bit shit for Yorkshire pud in my experience.

That's a biggie

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:19 pm So long as you've a flat bottomed wok induction hobs are good, and heat up quicker than gas. The same is true for cast iron griddles - I cook far better steak on the induction hob because it gets that much hotter. I'd never go back gas having has an induction hob and fan oven (which is far superior for sourdough baking).

Is this middle class enough?

Bourgeois-adjacent, certainly.

TB63 wrote: Tue Apr 12, 2022 5:19 pm Crap for stir frying IMHO..

I have an electric wok...

which is not an oblique reference to Blade Runner.

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:17 pm

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:19 pm So long as you've a flat bottomed wok induction hobs are good, and heat up quicker than gas. The same is true for cast iron griddles - I cook far better steak on the induction hob because it gets that much hotter. I'd never go back gas having has an induction hob and fan oven (which is far superior for sourdough baking).

Is this middle class enough?

Fan ovens are a bit shit for Yorkshire pud in my experience.

That's a biggie

My new oven allows me to select fan or normal oven plus can heat from bottom or top or both so not a problem .... just saying, in a slightly smug manner!

dpedin wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 8:52 am

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:17 pm

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:19 pm So long as you've a flat bottomed wok induction hobs are good, and heat up quicker than gas. The same is true for cast iron griddles - I cook far better steak on the induction hob because it gets that much hotter. I'd never go back gas having has an induction hob and fan oven (which is far superior for sourdough baking).

Is this middle class enough?

Fan ovens are a bit shit for Yorkshire pud in my experience.

That's a biggie

My new oven allows me to select fan or normal oven plus can heat from bottom or top or both so not a problem .... just saying, in a slightly smug manner!

What model? I'm due a new kitchen

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 10:59 am

dpedin wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 8:52 am

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:17 pm
Fan ovens are a bit shit for Yorkshire pud in my experience.

That's a biggie

My new oven allows me to select fan or normal oven plus can heat from bottom or top or both so not a problem .... just saying, in a slightly smug manner!

What model? I'm due a new kitchen

We got a Bosch from John Lewis that apparently does this, but I've only ever use as a fan oven.

I got it as it's pyrolytic cleaning and I'm really fecking lazy.

https://www.johnlewis.com/bosch-hbs573b ... l/p3439391

Get a rational oven and be done with it.

inactionman wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 11:25 am

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 10:59 am

dpedin wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 8:52 am

My new oven allows me to select fan or normal oven plus can heat from bottom or top or both so not a problem .... just saying, in a slightly smug manner!

What model? I'm due a new kitchen

We got a Bosch from John Lewis that apparently does this, but I've only ever use as a fan oven.

I got it as it's pyrolytic cleaning and I'm really fecking lazy.

https://www.johnlewis.com/bosch-hbs573b ... l/p3439391

Samsung Infinite line oven (remember I got a rather large discount!)

Suddenly realised. This fred is really so Rock n Roll.

PCPhil wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 6:59 pm Suddenly realised. This fred is really so Rock n Roll.

Rock bun and bread rolls?

MungoMan wrote: Thu Apr 14, 2022 1:24 am

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:19 pm So long as you've a flat bottomed wok induction hobs are good, and heat up quicker than gas. The same is true for cast iron griddles - I cook far better steak on the induction hob because it gets that much hotter. I'd never go back gas having has an induction hob and fan oven (which is far superior for sourdough baking).

Is this middle class enough?

Bourgeois-adjacent, certainly.

In the interests of full and continuous disclosure, our induction cooker was delivered this morning. Yet to be connected, however..

Brazil wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:19 pm So long as you've a flat bottomed wok induction hobs are good, and heat up quicker than gas. The same is true for cast iron griddles - I cook far better steak on the induction hob because it gets that much hotter. I'd never go back gas having has an induction hob and fan oven (which is far superior for sourdough baking).

Is this middle class enough?

Unless your oven also has a steam function it will never be good for sourdough peasant

Sourdough peasant sounds more upper class than middle class

Can confirm the sourdough is very nice. Steam created by a Le Creuset (obvs) of water in there. And we prefer sourdough paysant actually

Lady P wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 6:52 pm Can confirm the sourdough is very nice. Steam created by a Le Creuset (obvs) of water in there. And we prefer sourdough paysant actually

Acceptable, but only because you used Le Creuset

For those who dont have a steam oven i can thoroughly reccomend one of these.

https://anovaculinary.com/anova-precision-oven/

JM2K6 wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 4:27 pm Sourdough peasant sounds more upper class than middle class

We need a smashed avocado quotient to clarify.

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 11:57 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 4:27 pm Sourdough peasant sounds more upper class than middle class

We need a smashed avocado quotient to clarify.

Are they a poor man’s mushy peas?

ASMO wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 6:56 pm

Lady P wrote: Sat Apr 16, 2022 6:52 pm Can confirm the sourdough is very nice. Steam created by a Le Creuset (obvs) of water in there. And we prefer sourdough paysant actually

Acceptable, but only because you used Le Creuset

For those who dont have a steam oven i can thoroughly reccomend one of these.

https://anovaculinary.com/anova-precision-oven/

My first thought is should I put this in the kitchen, the scullery or the boot room?

The excellent sparky who lives just up the road connected our new Bosch induction cooktop, pyrolytic fan-forced oven cooker today but I haven’t mustered the courage to try it yet. I will, in fact, rtfm even tho’ that renders my mancard forfeit.

MungoMan wrote: Tue Apr 19, 2022 7:16 am The excellent sparky who lives just up the road connected our new Bosch induction cooktop, pyrolytic fan-forced oven cooker today but I haven’t mustered the courage to try it yet. I will, in fact, rtfm even tho’ that renders my mancard forfeit.

Go for it!

We've just signed up for an expensive total Kitchen re-furb. Mrs Ovals liked the Zanussi Induction hob with the 'Hob to Hood' function - so we've gone with that - it's one of those fancy angled Hood units. It comes on automatically when the hob is active. Saves all the hassle of having to press another button

We've also gone for a Boiling Water tap - around a thousand pounds to replace a £50 Kettle

Loads of Brownie points incoming.......

Ovals wrote: Wed Apr 20, 2022 11:09 am We've just signed up for an expensive total Kitchen re-furb. Mrs Ovals liked the Zanussi Induction hob with the 'Hob to Hood' function - so we've gone with that - it's one of those fancy angled Hood units. It comes on automatically when the hob is active. Saves all the hassle of having to press another button

We've also gone for a Boiling Water tap - around a thousand pounds to replace a £50 Kettle

Loads of Brownie points incoming.......

With the boiling water tap be careful which sink you buy - it needs to be one that can cope with direct flow of boiling hot water and not get damaged. They will usually recommend a stainless steel one in this case. I didn't buy one because of cost, £40 for new kettle instead, and also the limitations on the type of sink I could get when doing up my new kitchen.