Best induction hobs for 2024

Induction hobs now rival gas hobs for popularity in kitchens across the UK, and with good reason. They're quick to heat food and respond rapidly when you turn them up or down. 

But what is an induction hob? While both induction hobs and traditional electric hobs use the same kind of energy, and often look similar, they work differently. 

Induction hobs generate heat in the pan itself - no heat is produced unless the pan is in contact with the hob surface. Electric hobs pass a current through the elements under the glass surface, so the hob surface heats up whether a pan is there or not.

Not sure what type of hob to buy? See our guide to the best hobs for pros and cons of each type.

See our induction hob reviews for detailed information on models to suit all budgets.

How to buy the best induction hob

If you're used to cooking on gas or traditional electric, and are considering switching to induction, answering the following questions might help you decide: 

• Do you fry food often? For top frying results, a heating zone or burner should be a consistent temperature all the way across. Induction hobs often don't excel at this, and many gas hobs do it better.
• Do you often keep food on a gentle simmer? Most induction hobs simmer really well. You can turn them down to a 'barely on' setting if you need a very low temperature.
• Do you like the responsiveness of a gas hob? An instantly adjustable visible flame makes a gas hob easy to use, but induction hobs are just as responsive. Cooking on gas is slow and inefficient compared with induction though.
• Do you prefer dials to touch controls? Most induction hobs are touch-controlled, but you can get models with buttons, knobs or dials. Touch controls can be small or fiddly, and might become unresponsive when wet. This can be frustrating if you want to adjust the temperature quickly and have damp hands or if there's water on the hob. 
• Is energy efficiency important to you? Whether you've got the zone on full power for a few minutes or are simmering gently for a while, an induction hob uses energy more efficiently than either a gas or electric ceramic hob. Read more about which hob type is the most energy efficient.
• Do you have a pacemaker? When an induction hob is on, it generates an electromagnetic field that can interfere with pacemaker settings. The British Heart Foundation recommends that if you have a pacemaker you should stay at least 60cm (2ft) away from an induction hob. It therefore makes sense to go for a non-induction model. See below for more information on this.

Not sure if an induction hob is for you? Find out more about the best ceramic hobs and best gas hobs.

Best induction hob features to consider

Lower-priced induction hobs just do the basics, but there are options for more bells and whistles. Here are some possibilities:

• Bridging zones Also called flexi or link zones, these are larger, joined-up cooking zones. They let you use bigger pots or rectangular or oval dishes, such as a griddle pan or a fish kettle. The zone detects the size and shape of each pan automatically.
• Gas and induction in one If you don't want to forego gas completely, it's possible to buy a hob that has one or two gas burners alongside several induction zones.
• Integrated extractor A venting or extractor induction hob is a 2-in-1 appliance that does away with the need for a separate cooker hood. It combines several cooking zones with an extractor for removing smells, steam and grease. They tend to be pricey, though. See our guide to the best venting hobs.
• Induction wok zone A round-bottomed wok on a flat surface doesn't make for an easy stir-fry. Some induction hobs have an indentation that the wok can sit inside.
• Automatic switch-off If the pasta water boils over, your hob will sense the spillage and automatically turn itself off. Some ceramic hobs also have this feature.

Do I need to buy special induction hob pans?

If you're lucky, most of the pans you already own will work on an induction hob. They just need to contain sufficient iron to function well, and many pans do. A handy way to check this is to use a fridge magnet - if it sticks firmly to the base of the pan, that's a good sign. 

Cast-iron pots and pans are full of magnetic material, and work really well on an induction hob. Just be careful not to damage the glass surface with these heavy items.

If you find that you need new pans, there's plenty of choice at a range of prices. Look for confirmation that the pans are 'induction-ready'.

If you're not ready to replace your pans - or maybe you have a favourite pan that doesn't work on induction - a lower-cost solution is a pan diffuser. This is basically a flat, round sheet of metal with a handle. When placed between the hob and the pan, it transfers heat to the pan's base.

Pan diffusers also go by other names - induction hob discs, converter discs, adaptors and interfaces. They all refer to the same gadget and prices start at around £14.

Need new pans? All our best saucepan recommendations are induction-compatible.

How induction hobs work

When an induction hob is turned on, electricity (an alternating current) passes through coils beneath the hob's glass surface. This creates a rapidly changing magnetic field. When a pan that contains some magnetic material, such as iron, is placed on the hob's surface, a current is induced in the base of the pan. This current is converted into heat in the pan, which then transfers to the pan's contents.

Induction hobs are more efficient than either gas or traditional electric ceramic hobs because all of the heat generated goes into the pan, with none being lost to the air before it reaches the food. Remove the pan, and heat is no longer produced.

The surface of an induction hob does get hot, but this is only because the pan transfers heat back to it.

Using an induction hob

To get the best from your induction hob, here are a few things to bear in mind.

Pan size

As well as being induction compatible (see below), the base of a saucepan must be about the same size as the cooking zone it sits on in order to activate it. For example, a small or medium-sized pan won’t work on the largest zone. 

To overcome this, some induction hobs have flexible or bridging zones (see 'Best induction hob features', above).

Induction hob zones

The most advanced flexible induction hobs have one big cooking zone with no delimited areas. This new technology could be something we see more of in the future.

Induction hob power sharing

Induction hobs can quickly produce impressive amounts of heat. If you're using a single zone to boil some water for pasta, for example, an average induction hob will take about half the time of an average gas hob.

As soon as you start using more than one zone on full power, induction hobs use a power-management system. On a standard four-zone hob, the two right-hand heating zones are linked (they share power), as are the two left-hand ones. 

This means if you want to use two zones at full power, you'll get the best results by using one zone on the right and one on the left.

If you're using all zones simultaneously at full power, the total available power is shared as equally as possible. The heating zones will take turns to be on highest power, so you might find the contents of your pans cooking more slowly than you'd anticipated.

Induction hob noises

You might notice various noises coming from your induction hob, especially when using it on the higher settings. These are the most common:

• Clicking A low buzzing or clicking noise can be a result of the different layers of metal in your pans vibrating at different rates.
• Humming You might hear this when using the hob on a high setting.
• Whirring This is probably the fan. It's designed to cool the electronics within the hob, and might continue even after you've stopped using it.

Where to buy an induction hob

If you're shopping for an induction hob, expect to spend £200-500 for a decent model. Our expert tests have uncovered plenty of Great Value induction hobs that fall within this price bracket.

You can buy induction hobs from several popular online retailers:

• AO.com sells induction hobs at a range of prices. Models costing less than £500 include the Beko HII64400MT and Indesit IS83Q60NE.
• Appliances Direct has a vast selection of induction hobs to choose from, and you can filter by size and features.
• Currys sells induction hobs from big-name brands including AEG, Beko, Bosch and Hotpoint.
• Ikea has a selection of induction hobs, with prices starting at around £99 for the Lagan and rising beyond £1,300. The retailer names the £280 MATMÄSSIG induction hob among its best-selling models – it has four cooking zones and a built-in child lock.
• John Lewis stocks induction hobs, most of which are made by AEG, Neff and Siemens. Prices start at around £240 and go as high as £2,000 for high-end models from Elica.

To discover which retailers are rated highly by Which? members, consult our expert guide on the best and worst shops.

How to clean an induction hob

The flat surface of an induction hob means that keeping it clean can be as simple as a regular wipe over with a damp cloth. Also, there's little chance for food spillages to get burnt on as the glass surface only heats up where the pan makes contact with it. 

If you choose a model with touch controls - most induction hobs have these - then you won't have to clean around protruding dials and buttons.

Should I buy an induction hob if I have a pacemaker?

The short answer is probably not. The British Heart Foundation advises that anyone with a pacemaker should keep at least 60cm (2ft) away from an induction hob. This is because the electromagnetic field generated by an induction hob can interfere with pacemaker settings.

While academic evidence suggests that an induction hob wouldn't cause a catastrophic change to a pacemaker's function, if you're in the market for a new hob, it's probably easier to go for either a traditional electric hob or a gas model.

Medtronic, a major supplier of pacemakers, advises that if you think an item is affecting your heart device, simply release whatever you’re touching and move away from it. Any temporary effect is unlikely to cause reprogramming or damage to your pacemaker, which is designed to return to normal operation after interference.

There are many types of pacemaker and not all are affected in the same way, so before using an induction hob, those with a pacemaker should check the written information given to them when it was inserted. If you have any questions about how any appliances you use in everyday life might interact with your pacemaker, check with your clinic. 

Each of our induction hob reviews gives a warning about pacemakers.