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Posted
Here´s my ´burning´ question:
We are installing a new kitchen, and a couple of people (with something to gain) have recommended we install an Induction hob (cooktop) on our countertop, instead of the usual butane bombona/gas hob or electrical coil. There are many good ´green´ reasons to go with induction, but I´ve never talked with anyone who´s actually USED an induction cooktop? Anyone here have any experience with this?
Thanks, Reb.
 
Posts: 384 | Location: a pueblo in Palencia, via Pittsburgh USA | Registered: 15 February 2003Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I am building myself a house (well eventually roll eyes) and am determined to have a gas hob!! Well, until I went to a friends last weekend who has an induction hob!! It really is amazingly quick, once you understand exactly how it works. So, it did make me think perhaps it would be a better way to go.

But.... still going to go with gas, for one reason that if the electric goes out, which is does a lot here, I will still be able to cook! And I do actually like the "feel" of cooking with gas.


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Posts: 1807 | Location: Montaña Blanca, Lanzarote | Registered: 02 March 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
jer
"the man!"
Picture of jer
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hey Reb.

they are called vitrocerámicas.

ok, i do not know a lot about them but do know they use electricity so can you explain why it is a green solution?

is it because they use less electricity than normal coils?

i am not sure they are more ecological than butane however.

i asked ena and she prefers a gas cooker, like madsue, she likes the feel of gas ( don't take that literally eeker )

also, if you have never used induction, you will have a learning curve so prepare to burn stuff die laughing

saludos,
jer...


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Posts: 12213 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I think induction and vitroceramica are different,although the hobs do look similar, with induction being much more eco friendly. I copied this from another forum


"Back to induction hobs, - the reason they are so efficient is they transfer energy directly into the contents of the pan. A ceramic hob heats an element which then heats a pan which then heats the food and energy is lost at every stage. "

My friends induction really did boil water in seconds, but you do need special pans apparently.


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Posts: 1807 | Location: Montaña Blanca, Lanzarote | Registered: 02 March 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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yes indeed. "vitroceramica" is just that shiny heatproof plaque that´s laid between the element and the pan. You can get induction, regular electrical coils, or even halogen elements installed under or in the vitroceramic top.

I understand the induction uses electromagnetic energy to cook, and the hob never gets hot. You can put your newspaper down on it, and the food will cook while the paper never catches fire!

I like cooking with gas, too... I was looking at one of those mighty honkin´ Viking ranges, but we don´t have natural gas out here, and life is getting to short to keep shlepping bombonas around. And paying more for them all the time... Gas IS a non-renewable resource, y´know, and it makes CO2 and other nasty fumes. And a gas burner only works at about 45% efficiency.

It´s the actual cooking technique I haven´t found anything on. Bring on the ´burnt offerings!´
 
Posts: 384 | Location: a pueblo in Palencia, via Pittsburgh USA | Registered: 15 February 2003Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Hi Rebrites,

We had contemplated getting induction when we bought our place, but then things happened so quickly (i.e. the little guy arriving earlier than expected) that we had to go the quickest, easiest route possible.

What I can tell you about induction it seems that you already know. The surface does not get hot. There is a direct transfer of energy from the induction plate to the pot. You will need to buy special pots and pans as they require a thicker base for induction cooking.

Check out http://theinductionsite.com/ for more info!


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Posts: 1376 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 24 March 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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A lot of people just get one or two induction burners and then have a few other regular vitroceramic burners or gas burners (especially if you like to use certain pots and pans that you can't use on the induction burner). Personally, I can't stand the regular vitroceramic. You have a lot less control over the heat that you do with gas. But I've heard that induction is just as good as gas when it comes to responsiveness for adjusting the heat. Still, I don't think I'd want to completely give up cooking with cazuelas and some of the other pots and pans that don't work on induction.
 
Posts: 1064 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 10 December 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
jer
"the man!"
Picture of jer
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rebrites wrote...

quote:
life is getting to short to keep shlepping bombonas around.


wait a minute! my god! don't tell me you have to go fetch your "bombonas" out there in the stix? eeker

here in the big city they deliver them nah nah

yes, the bombonas have gone up in price but then again, so has the electricity so your induction will also go up, up, up.

saludos,
jer...


- madrid nut, webweaver of www.multimadrid.com and keeper of the plazaCam.
- worlds biggest outdoor internet cafe --> www.plazawifi.info - GET CONNECTED!!!
--------------------
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at Onspanishtime.com.
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at spainSIM.com.
 
Posts: 12213 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
"What's another word for Thesaurus?
Steven Wright"
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Paul's parents have an induction stove in San Diego ,CA. The requirement for the pots and pans is that they must be magnetic. My father in law carries a little magnet with him when they go shopping for pots and pans.

I have had the opportunity to cook on their stove and it does cook much more quickly than an electric and gas stove. The stove does not get hot.

That being said, they have had many problems with the stove, at one point, they had only one working burner out of four working. There were not many repair technicians available and the parts were difficult to locate.

I prefer using my gas stove, but did not feel much of a difference between the two.

Irene


"An honest man is always a child" - Socrates ...no wonder I'm so immature!
 
Posts: 974 | Location: Albuquerque, NM EEUU | Registered: 27 August 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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you guys are ´cookin´with gas!´

Jer, we can get bombonas delivered at the door on Tuesdays, but they cost more. And ours always run out on Wednesday!
I broke a finger a couple of weeks ago so shlepping something even out to the door is a pain.

And as for being high and dry without electricity... we will still have our little ´summer kitchen,´ (where we are now living!) with its little gas hob, for backup.

And there´s always the fireplace, or the estufa de leña.
 
Posts: 384 | Location: a pueblo in Palencia, via Pittsburgh USA | Registered: 15 February 2003Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Ola
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I have put a Fagor vitro with a combo of two induction and two regular burners in my new place. I´m a lousy cook and extremely absent minded so I take vitro over gas any day. For me its safer and much easier to clean.

I have a friend who is a great cook and switched from gas to induction last year. She said she used to think that gas was the best thing ever but now he loves her induction hob and wouldn´t go back.
I guess as anything its a matter personal preference but once you get used to an "invention" like this you can´t live without it.
 
Posts: 195 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 02 November 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
"Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.
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Posted Hide Post
personally for me the key is "special pots and pans" pots and pans are already so much more expensive in spain than in the us. i try to buy only on sale (btw el corte has some really nice pots 50 percent off til the end of the month). so, if you have to buy special pots and pans, you are looking at more expense and more hassle finding them. especially out there.
good luck!
 
Posts: 988 | Location: MADRID! | Registered: 09 November 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Ola
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The thing is that most of my pots and pans work with induction burners so I don´t need to buy anything extra.
My cook friend was surprised to find out that all of her pots and pans worked with induction (while she was looking for an excuse to buy some new ones wink
 
Posts: 195 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 02 November 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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