For tomato chutney, choose an induction hob that fits your existing pan and installation before prioritising boost power. A standard four-zone hob can suit a conventional induction-compatible pan; consider a bridge or flex zone if the pan you regularly use needs a larger cooking area. River Cottage's chutney recipe calls for an uncovered simmer of two to three hours with regular stirring, making controllable heat and a useful timer more relevant to the long reduction than rapid initial heating.
If you use a conventional heavy-based pan, focus on a cooking zone that fits its base, manageable simmer controls and a timer. A specialist large-pan zone need not drive the choice if your usual pan fits a standard zone.
If you regularly use a broad preserving pan, compare its base with the zone layout before deciding whether a bridge or flex zone would help. River Cottage's recipe calls for regular stirring during a long simmer, so pan placement is only part of the decision.
If you are replacing a built-in hob, check the existing cut-out and electrical provision before choosing between a plug-in model and one that must be hardwired.
Start with your pan and the available installation space, then compare the controls you will use during an attended simmer. A bridge or flex zone is a conditional choice for cookware that does not suit a single standard zone.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Simmer control | Compare low-power controls and whether the model offers a timer or pause function. A timer does not replace stirring. | When chutney thickens during a long, uncovered simmer, I need to adjust the heat and remember to check the pan; around 50% of consumers put simmer control and monitoring first. |
| Installation fit | Match the manufacturer's cut-out and ventilation instructions to your kitchen, and confirm whether the exact model is plug-in or hardwired. | Replacing a built-in hob means I cannot choose by hob width alone: the opening and electrical setup must suit it. Around 30% of consumers prioritise installation fit. |
| Pan size | Confirm that your pan is induction-compatible, then measure its base against the stated zone layout, including any bridge or flex area. | For larger batches, my usual preserving pan may be awkward on one zone, so its usable cooking area matters most; roughly 20% of consumers put wide-pan fit first. |
Boost helps with initial heating, but tomato chutney spends much longer reducing at a simmer. River Cottage advises regular stirring to prevent it burning on the bottom of the pan.
Compare low-power adjustment and timer or pause controls before treating boost as a deciding feature.
An induction hob needs compatible cookware. Compatibility alone does not tell you whether the pan base suits the hob's cooking zones.
Check the pan you actually use for induction compatibility and measure its base against the proposed zone layout.
A bridge zone can combine cooking areas, but a wider built-in hob may not fit the existing opening. AEG specifies a 750 × 490 mm built-in cut-out and hardwired connection for its TI84IB00FZ.
Compare your pan base and worktop opening with the exact model's cooking-zone and installation drawings before ordering.
Electrical and building guidance differs between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so a requirement described for one nation should not be assumed to apply unchanged in another.
Follow the appliance instructions and check the guidance applicable at your installation address with an appropriately qualified local installer or building-control source.
Bosch has named 60 cm models worth comparing when deciding between a plug-in four-zone hob and a combined-zone layout.
AEG provides a comparison between a standard hardwired four-zone layout and a larger bridge-zone model.
Selected Neff models are relevant if flexible pan placement and a physical control are priorities.
No, not if your induction-compatible pan fits a standard cooking zone. Consider a bridge or flex-zone hob when the wide or unusually shaped preserving pan you regularly use needs more cooking area, and check its base against the exact model's zone layout.
Controllable low heat and a timer are more useful during reduction than boost power alone; pause may also help with a brief interruption. River Cottage's chutney recipe specifies an uncovered simmer of two to three hours with regular stirring, which a timer cannot replace.
You can use it if the pan is induction-compatible and its base suits the intended cooking zone. Confirm both before buying; a pan that works on induction can still heat differently from another compatible pan.
That depends on the model's connection requirements and the work needed at your address: some models are supplied as plug-in units, while others are hardwired only. Check the installation manual and local requirements before arranging work. GOV.UK publishes electrical-safety guidance for dwellings in England, GOV.WALES provides guidance for Wales, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate building-regulations systems.
Follow the hob manufacturer's instructions for cooling and cleaning its surface. Check the recommended method for sugar-rich splashes rather than assuming the glass can be cleaned in the same way as an ordinary spill.