Family-meal multitaskers
If gravy shares the hob with potatoes, vegetables and a main dish, check the number and spacing of usable zones rather than focusing on a boost function alone.
Who is this for?
Sauce-control cooks
If you need to turn the gravy down while finishing other dishes, look closely at the controls, timer and position for your saucepan.
Straightforward kitchen upgraders
If you are replacing an existing hob, establish whether a Plug & Play or hardwired model fits the kitchen’s electrical provision and worktop before comparing cooking features.
What matters when choosing?
Start with the gravy saucepan and the pans you use alongside it. Then check the hob’s controls, usable cooking positions and installation requirements together: a flexible zone can accommodate different cookware arrangements, but it does not add another independent pan position.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gravy control | Try the control layout or inspect its manual for quick heat changes; check whether the exact model has a timer. | If I am tending other dishes, I need to turn the gravy down promptly rather than rely on rapid heating. Around 29% of consumers put gravy control first. |
| Room for the meal | Count usable positions with your usual pan sizes in place; check whether combining zones leaves enough separate positions. | When the gravy pan is on, I still need space for the rest of the meal without repeatedly moving cookware. For around 36% of consumers, workable pan capacity is the primary concern. |
| Kitchen fit | Match the model’s cut-out and ventilation instructions to the worktop, and confirm its connection requirements. | If I am replacing a hob, the existing opening and electrical provision may decide which models I can choose. Installation fit comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Existing pans | Test the saucepan base with a magnet and compare its base diameter with the cooking-zone guidance. | I want to keep using my gravy saucepan, so I need to know it will work on the chosen zone. Around 14% of consumers make cookware compatibility their main priority. |
Buying pitfalls
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Assuming an existing saucepan will work
Induction cookware needs a magnetic base, and the pan base must suit the cooking zone. A non-magnetic gravy saucepan may need replacing.
Test your frequently used pans with a magnet and check their base diameters against the model’s guidance before ordering.
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Choosing a wide hob before checking the worktop
The AEG NIK85M00AZ, for example, is an 800 mm hardwired model. Its installation requirements are not interchangeable with those of a 60 cm Plug & Play hob.
Measure the existing opening and surrounding cabinet space, then check the exact model’s installation instructions and electrical requirements.
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Choosing by PowerBoost alone
Rapid initial heating does not tell you how convenient the controls will be when you need to reduce heat while managing other pans.
Compare control access, timers and independent cooking positions alongside any boost function.
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Assuming Plug & Play meets every multi-pan need
Bosch Home UK lists the PUG61RAA5B as a 3.0 kW Plug & Play model, while AEG UK lists the NIK85M00AZ at 7,200 W and hardwired-only. Those figures describe different models and do not, by themselves, establish how every cooking combination performs.
If several pans regularly need high heat at once, check the exact hob’s power-management guidance and the suitability of the proposed electrical installation.
Brands to consider for these hob layouts
Bosch
Bosch Home UK offers named 60 cm models for comparing a four-zone Plug & Play layout with a combined-zone layout.
- The PUG61RAA5B is listed with four zones, Plug & Play and PowerBoost; the PWP611BB5B lists a CombiZone for larger cookware.
- Check installation and zone arrangements by model rather than assuming those features apply across Bosch hobs.
AEG
AEG UK’s NIK85M00AZ provides a model-specific example for cooks considering a wider layout for several pans.
- AEG UK lists five zones, DoubleBridge and individual-zone timers for the NIK85M00AZ.
- The model is 800 mm wide and hardwired-only, so check the kitchen fit and electrical provision.
Neff
Neff Home UK’s T56TT60N0 is a reference for cooks comparing flexible pan placement and a removable control dial.
- Neff Home UK lists two flex-induction zones, automatic cookware detection and a TwistPad control for this model.
- Flexible zones still require suitable magnetic cookware; check the exact model’s installation requirements.
Joybuy product choices for the gravy pan
These choices cover two built-in induction hobs with different numbers of zones and a portable single-surface cooker. Decide whether you need the gravy pan to share a built-in hob with the rest of the meal, or an additional cooking surface beside your existing setup.
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Ciarra 60 cm four-zone built-in induction hob
Consider this built-in layout if the gravy needs its own zone while other dishes cook. The product title specifies four zones and a 60 cm format; check the exact installation instructions and whether your saucepan suits a zone.
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CIARRA CBBIH292T 29 cm two-zone induction hob
Consider this built-in model where two cooking positions are enough; it leaves fewer positions for a family meal than a four-zone layout. Its title specifies 2,900 W, touch controls, nine power levels and a timer. Check the cut-out, connection requirements and saucepan fit before ordering.
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IAGREEA DF200-14V10 portable induction cooker
Consider this as a separate surface for the gravy pan, not as a multi-zone replacement for a family-meal hob. Its title specifies 2,000 W, eight power levels, a 60–270°C temperature setting range, a timer of up to three hours and suitable cookware sizes of 12–26 cm. Check that your pan has a magnetic base and that the connection and product documentation suit your intended use.
Questions about choosing a hob
What should I prioritise for reducing gravy?
Prioritise controls you can adjust promptly while the gravy reduces, then check whether a timer and the zone layout suit the rest of the meal. A boost function addresses initial heating, not the whole reduction.
Will my current gravy saucepan work on induction?
It needs a magnetic base, and its base diameter should suit the chosen zone. Neff Home UK advises checking induction cookware compatibility; test the pan with a magnet and compare its size with the hob’s guidance.
Should I choose Plug & Play or a hardwired hob?
Choose according to the exact model’s connection requirements, your kitchen’s electrical provision and how many pans you normally use together. Bosch Home UK lists the PUG61RAA5B as Plug & Play, while AEG UK lists the wider NIK85M00AZ as hardwired-only; confirm installation suitability before ordering either type.
What should I measure before ordering a built-in hob?
Measure the worktop opening and available cabinet space, then check the exact model’s dimensions, ventilation and connection instructions. Bosch Home UK notes that installation measurements and methods vary by model.
Do electrical rules for replacing a hob differ across the UK?
Yes: Electrical Safety First states that statutory requirements differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The applicable route also depends on the work involved, so confirm the requirements for your location and proposed installation with a registered electrician or local authority.