Occasional small-batch curd makers
If you use one small saucepan and need the worktop back afterwards, consider a portable hob you can store between batches. Check its manual low-power settings and permitted pan diameter.
Who each format suits
Small-kitchen renovators
If you are planning a permanent cooking surface, compare built-in hobs against the actual worktop opening and installation instructions. A 60 cm category label alone does not establish fit or connection type.
Owners of induction-compatible pans
If your saucepan already has a flat base to which a magnet sticks strongly, induction may let you keep using it while adjusting the hob manually. Confirm the base diameter against the particular hob’s instructions.
What matters when choosing
Portable single-zone induction
Choose when: Lemon curd is an occasional one-pan task and you need to reclaim the worktop afterwards.
Trade-off: You can use only one pan at a time, and the appliance needs a suitable work surface as well as compatible cookware.
Built-in plug-in induction
Choose when: A permanent, multi-zone hob fits your kitchen plan and you are considering a model specified for a plug-in connection.
Trade-off: Plug-in does not remove the need to check the worktop opening, ventilation instructions and electrical suitability.
Hardwired induction
Choose when: You are planning a fitted kitchen and need several zones or a bridge function for cooking beyond one small saucepan.
Trade-off: A hardwired model makes electrical installation part of the purchase decision; extra zones do not resolve saucepan compatibility or gentle-heat control.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and storage | For a portable hob, check usable worktop and storage space. For a built-in hob, compare the exact cut-out and ventilation requirements with your kitchen. | If I make curd occasionally, I want my worktop back when the pan is washed; around 40% of consumers put space or storage first. |
| Adjustable heat | Compare documented manual settings and how you change them; do not choose by a rapid-heating function alone. | When stirring an egg-based mixture, I want to adjust the heat rather than rely on an automatic programme. Around 30% of consumers make heat control their primary concern. |
| Pan and installation fit | Check for a flat, strongly magnetic pan base and a permitted base diameter. For built-in models, check the connection type, connected load and installation instructions. | Before committing to induction, I need to know whether my saucepan and kitchen can accommodate it; roughly 30% of consumers prioritise compatibility and installation readiness. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Measuring only the visible width of a built-in hob
The outside dimensions are not the required worktop opening. AEG specifies a 590 × 520 mm surface and a 560 × 490 mm built-in opening for its IBX64200CB.
Measure the opening and available clearance, then compare them with the installation sheet for the exact model.
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Assuming your current saucepan will work on induction
Induction needs a magnetic pan base, and the hob may specify a permitted base diameter. A familiar saucepan is not automatically suitable.
Test the base with a magnet and check its flat base diameter against the hob instructions.
If the saucepan is incompatible, you may need a different pan.
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Treating plug-in and hardwired hobs as interchangeable
AEG specifies a UK moulded plug and 3000 W connected load for the IBX64200CB, but a hardwired-only connection and 7200 W total electricity loading for the SO64IB00FB.
Check the exact model’s connection and load, then have the worktop and electrical arrangement assessed for the intended installation.
A hardwired choice may involve electrical assessment and installation work.
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Relying on an automatic programme for a small pan
Tefal warns in its Everyday IH201840 documentation that small quantities of liquid can boil dry if left unattended. Automatic functions are not a reason to leave a lemon-curd mixture cooking on its own.
Stay with the pan, stir the mixture and use controllable manual settings rather than assuming a preset will manage it.
Brands to consider
Tefal
A reference for a portable, single-zone hob that can be stored after occasional use.
- Tefal specifies a 45 mm body and manual settings from 300 W to 2100 W for the Everyday Slim IH210840.
- That model takes one pan and specifies induction-compatible cookware from 12 cm to 26 cm; those details should not be assumed for every Tefal hob.
Bosch
A reference for a fitted four-zone hob when a Plug & Play model is part of the kitchen plan.
- Bosch lists four zones and 592 × 522 mm dimensions for the PUG61RAA5B.
- Check the opening, ventilation, cookware and electrical suitability for that model rather than treating Plug & Play as a fit guarantee.
AEG
A reference for comparing different connection routes within fitted 60 cm induction hobs.
- AEG specifies a UK moulded plug for the IBX64200CB; its SO64IB00FB is a hardwired-only model with a bridge function.
- Connection type and electrical loading differ between these named models, so check the specification and installation sheet of the one you intend to buy.
Joybuy product choices
These choices include portable induction hobs for a one-pan task and built-in induction hobs for kitchens planned around a permanent cooking surface. Check saucepan compatibility for either format, and installation requirements before choosing a built-in model.
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IAGREEA DF200-14V10 portable induction hob, 2000 W
Consider this portable model if you want to put away a one-pan hob after making curd. Its title lists eight power levels and a 12–26 cm cookware range; check your saucepan’s magnetic base and the electrical connection before use.
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ochama portable induction hob, 2000 W
This portable option suits a kitchen where the cooking surface needs to be moved or stored after a batch. The title lists ten power settings; check the lowest manual setting, permitted pan diameter and electrical connection for your intended use.
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Bosch PIE631BB5E Series 4 60 cm induction hob
Consider this built-in model if your kitchen plan calls for a permanent hob rather than a storable one. The product name specifies a hardwired connection; confirm the required worktop opening, pan sizes and electrical installation before ordering.
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Ciarra built-in 60 cm four-zone induction hob
This is for a kitchen planned around a permanent four-zone surface, not a hob you can put in a cupboard after making curd. Confirm the cut-out, ventilation instructions and electrical connection for the exact model.
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Belling ComfortCook IHL603 60 cm induction hob
Consider this built-in format if the kitchen needs a permanent cooking surface for more than occasional one-pan use. Check the required cut-out, electrical connection and permitted saucepan size before deciding whether it fits your plans.
Common questions
Will my existing saucepan work on an induction hob?
It will need a magnetic base. AEG advises checking that a magnet sticks strongly and that the base is thick and flat; also compare the base diameter with the requirements of the hob you choose.
What pan size does the Tefal Everyday Slim IH210840 take?
Tefal specifies induction-compatible pans from 12 cm to 26 cm for the Everyday Slim IH210840. Measure the base that sits on the hob rather than relying on the saucepan’s rim diameter.
Can a portable induction hob go on any kitchen worktop?
No. Tefal’s portable induction-cooker instructions call for a flat, stable, heat-resistant surface away from water splashes, and warn against using the appliance if its ceramic surface is cracked.
Can I assume a hardwired hob has the same installation requirements throughout the UK?
No. The requirements depend on the property’s location and the work involved: England has electrical-safety guidance in Approved Document P, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own building-standards arrangements. Check the exact hob’s instructions and have the proposed electrical work assessed for your property before buying.