We use cookies to allow us and selected partners to improve your experience and our advertising. By continuing to browse you consent to our use of cookies. You can understand more and change your cookies preferences here.

When you click on a retailer link on our site, we may earn affiliate commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission.Find out more.

Induction hobs claim to offer the best of both gas and electric, combining the responsive heating of gas hobs with the easy cleaning of electric.

They've taken domestic and professional kitchens by storm and are an increasing favourite with chefs and home cooks alike.

If you're thinking of making the switch, we've highlighted five characteristics of induction hobs that you should know about before you decide.

Our hob reviews can help you choose an induction, electric ceramic, gas or gas on glass hob.

The best induction hobs have responsive touchscreen controls and are a breeze to clean. But speed is the main area where induction hobs cut through the competition from gas and traditional electric ceramic hobs. If you're used to cooking on gas, cooking speeds can take some getting used to.

The chart below shows how quickly the fastest hob we've tested from each category boils a pan of water.

The time taken to boil a large pan of water in minutes, based on the hobs Which? tested in 2021.

The quickest induction hob we've tested takes just over three minutes to boil a big pan of water - as fast as some kettles - compared with the fastest gas model which took nearly nine minutes. Induction wins hands-down.

Torn between gas and induction? Our induction hob and gas hob advice guides could help.

You don't necessarily need special 'induction' pans - but you will need pans that are made of, or contain, iron.

Some or all of the pans you already own might work, but it's best to check them before you buy a new induction hob. If a fridge magnet sticks firmly to the base, that's a good sign.

If not, it's easy to find induction-ready pans these days, though you may need to build the cost of new pans into your hob budget.

Need new cookware? Read advice on the best non-stick frying pans , best griddle pans and best saucepans .

Gone are the days of four standard-sized cooking zones on every hob.

Some induction hobs have joined-up cooking zones. These can create extended cooking areas that manufacturers call flexi, link or bridge zones. They let you cook using larger pots or dishes, which would normally extend beyond a standard heating zone, a griddle pan or fish kettle, for example.

To give you an idea, here's a couple of flexi-zone hobs we've tested.

Need help choosing? Read how to buy the best hob before you go shopping.

Most common household electrical appliances are not a problem for pacemaker users, but the British Heart Foundation advises that you should keep a distance of at least 60cm from an induction hob while it is on as the electromagnetic field can interfere with pacemaker settings.

It says that most people should be able to use an induction hob if they follow this precaution. That said, if you're buying a new hob or cooker, it might be easier to pick one that's not an induction model.

Read more about pacemakers in our induction hob buying guide .

You can pick up a Which? Best Buy induction hob for less than £250, but if you fancy pushing the boat out, look out for these features:

Looking for an induction hob with cooker hood powers? See our guide to the Best venting hobs .

The best hobs we've tested score an impressive 91%; the worst get just 59%. Don't risk this kitchen essential letting you down - head to our hob reviews to read detailed, unbiased verdicts on more than 160 hobs.

We've just tested induction hobs from well-known brands such as AEG, Hoover and Hotpoint.

Prices correct at the time of writing. Prices and availability may change.

Choose well, buy better and save money using our expert tips: Get our Weekly Scoop newsletter - it's free .