Most people pick a hob based on what they cooked on growing up. That’s not a bad starting point, but induction vs gas hob is a bigger choice than it looks. It affects your electrics, your worktop, your pans and how the kitchen feels to cook in every day.
At KitchenSMART we design, supply and fit German Schüller kitchens with both types, so we’ve no reason to push one. Here’s the honest comparison, plus what to sort out before your appliances are ordered.
01. Induction vs Gas Hob: Speed and Efficiency
Induction heats the pan itself using a magnetic field, so very little heat is wasted. Gas heats the air around the pan as well. In Which? testing, gas hobs were on average roughly half as energy efficient as induction, and the average induction hob boiled a large pan of water in about 4.5 minutes against over 12 minutes for the average gas hob.
Running costs are closer than that sounds. Gas is still cheaper per unit than electricity, so a gas hob can cost less to run even though it wastes more heat. Where induction wins clearly is speed, control and a cooler kitchen.
02. Cooking, Cleaning and Safety
Gas gives you a flame you can see and instant visual feedback, which keen cooks like for woks and charring. Induction responds just as fast, but with touch controls and no flame, which takes a week or two to get used to.
Cleaning is no contest. An induction hob is one flat sheet of glass you wipe down. A gas hob has burners and pan supports to scrub. Induction is also easier around children because the glass only gets hot from the pan, while gas adds combustion fumes to the room, so good extraction matters. If you want extraction built into the hob itself, see our guide to the venting hob.
“Don’t pick a hob off a spec sheet. Think about how you actually cook on a Tuesday night, then decide.”
03. Induction vs Gas Hob: What Each Needs Before Fitting
Induction needs pans with a magnetic base, such as cast iron or most stainless steel. Aluminium and copper-only pans won’t work. Most full-size induction hobs also need their own cooker circuit, so get an electrician to check your supply early. People with a pacemaker should check with their doctor first.
Gas needs a gas supply where the hob is going and must be connected by a Gas Safe registered engineer. That’s simple on a wall run but harder on an island, where the pipe has to run under the floor. We cover that in our kitchen island with hob guide.
Either way, pair it with a worktop that copes with heat and leave space for a pull out larder nearby for oils and spices. Brands like Neff, Siemens and Bora make both types, and we compare them in our guide to German appliance brands.
04. Try Induction and Gas in Milton Keynes
We plan hobs into kitchens across Milton Keynes, Bedford and Northampton, and our own fitters coordinate the electrician or gas engineer as part of every installation. Have a look at real installs in our projects, like this Elba Slate Sand Effect kitchen, read our reviews, then come and see the options at our Linford Wood showroom.
05. Frequently Asked Questions
Is induction better than gas?
For speed, efficiency, cleaning and safety, induction usually comes out ahead. Gas still suits people who love cooking on a flame and want lower running costs while gas stays cheaper than electricity. It comes down to how you cook.
Do I need new pans for an induction hob?
Only if your current pans aren’t magnetic. If a fridge magnet sticks firmly to the base, the pan will work. Aluminium, glass and copper-only pans won’t.
Can I switch from gas to induction?
Yes. The gas supply is capped off by a Gas Safe engineer and an electrician fits a suitable circuit for the induction hob. It’s easiest to do as part of a new kitchen, and our designers can plan it on a free planning visit.
Not Sure Which Hob Suits You?
Free in-home design visit. No pressure, no obligation.
Book Your Free Visit →SEO & blogs by signal