Choose induction if you want direct pan heating and can use magnetic cookware; check that the hob also fits your worktop and electrical installation. Choose ceramic if keeping non-induction pans matters more. For either type, make sure the zone layout accommodates your stir-fry pan and the other dishes you cook alongside it.
If you cook vegetables while preparing rice, noodles or a sauce, the positions of the cooking zones matter as much as their number. A flexible area may help accommodate a larger flat-based pan, provided its dimensions suit the hob.
If you add vegetables in batches and change settings as you go, compare the controls and active cooking area. Induction also requires suitable magnetic pans, so check the cookware you would use most often.
If retaining non-magnetic cookware is a priority, a ceramic electric hob is an alternative to induction. Compare its ring sizes and any oval zone with the bases of your existing pans.
Which? explains that induction heats the pan directly, while an electric ceramic hob heats elements beneath the glass. That difference makes cookware compatibility an early decision; pan space and installation fit still need checking whichever type you choose.
Choose it when: You want direct pan heating and have suitable magnetic cookware for the stir-fry and side dishes.
Check first: Your pan bases must suit the zones; a wider or hardwired model also needs a suitable worktop opening and electrical supply.
Choose it when: Keeping pans that are unsuitable for induction is more important to you.
Check first: Match the ring layout, including any dual-ring or oval zone, to your largest pan and check for a residual-heat indicator.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space for the whole meal | Compare usable zone positions and pan diameters; check whether a bridge or flex area accommodates your largest flat-based pan. | If I make a stir-fry while rice and sauce are cooking, I need room for all the pans at once. Around 36% of consumers would put cooking space first. |
| Heat response and controls | Compare the controls, active zone size and any model-specific boost function without assuming that boost alone determines cooking results. | When I add vegetables in batches, I want to adjust the heat without interrupting the meal. Responsive control would be the primary need for around 29% of consumers. |
| Existing pans and wok shape | For induction, check that pan bases are magnetic and suit the zones; verify a dedicated arrangement before choosing a round-bottomed wok. | I would rather keep my current pans, so I need to know whether they work with the hob I choose. Around 21% of consumers would make cookware compatibility their first concern. |
| Installation and everyday use | Check the model's cut-out, connection and electrical requirements against your kitchen; compare residual-heat indicators on the exact model. | Before choosing cooking features, I need to know the hob will fit and can be installed for my household. Installation and everyday-use checks would come first for around 14% of consumers. |
Induction needs ferromagnetic cookware. Bosch identifies cast iron, enamelled steel and suitable stainless steel as examples, but the base of each pan you rely on still needs checking.
Check your wok, largest frying pan and saucepans for induction suitability and compare their base sizes with the cooking zones.
Keeping induction may mean replacing pans that are unsuitable for it.
The worktop opening and electrical connection are separate installation requirements. AEG specifies a hardwired connection for its NIK85M00AZ, for example.
Compare the exact model's installation drawing, ventilation instructions and electrical requirements with your kitchen before ordering.
A mismatch may require worktop alterations or electrical work.
Which? notes that a round-bottomed wok is not easy to use on a flat induction surface.
Consider a flat-bottomed wok or frying pan, or confirm that the hob has a dedicated arrangement compatible with your wok.
Flexible areas differ between models: a bridge between zones is not necessarily the same arrangement as a larger adaptable cooking area.
Check the exact model's zone diagram and instructions against the size and position of your largest pan.
Bosch offers induction layouts relevant to cooks comparing larger, flexible cooking areas.
AEG is relevant if you are considering a wider induction hob for several pans.
Hotpoint has relevant induction and ceramic options for comparing flexible areas with pan-matching ring layouts.
NEFF is relevant to shoppers considering flexible induction zones and temperature controls.
These induction models offer different widths and zone layouts to compare for a vegetable stir-fry cooked alongside other dishes. They require suitable magnetic cookware; check each model's installation instructions against your kitchen before ordering.
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Consider this 60 cm model if a flexible cooking area matters for your family meal. Check your pan bases and the installation manual's worktop and electrical requirements.
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The four-zone layout is worth considering when your stir-fry shares the hob with other pans, provided the wider unit fits your worktop. Its title also specifies touch controls and boost mode; confirm the bridge layout and electrical connection in the installation manual.
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Consider this standard-width induction model if its cooking zones accommodate your stir-fry pan and side dishes. It is described as hardwired; check the worktop opening and electrical installation before ordering.
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For a standard-width installation, compare this model's zone positions with the pans you use together at family mealtimes. Confirm magnetic pan compatibility, the worktop cut-out and the electrical connection before choosing it.
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The four zones may suit a stir-fry prepared alongside other dishes if your pans fit the layout. The product title specifies nine power levels and a booster function; check your cookware and the model's installation requirements.
Only if the pans you plan to use are unsuitable for induction. Bosch lists cast iron, enamelled steel and suitable stainless steel as examples of magnetic cookware; check each pan's base material and size against your chosen hob's zones.
Do not assume a round-bottomed wok will suit a flat induction hob. Which? notes the difficulty of using one on a flat surface; consider a flat-bottomed wok or frying pan, or confirm that the model has a compatible dedicated wok arrangement.
Check the exact model's connection requirements rather than assuming they are the same for every hob. AEG specifies hardwiring for its NIK85M00AZ; compare the chosen hob's installation instructions with your existing electrical supply and seek qualified advice where needed.
For applicable product regimes in Great Britain, the Department for Business and Trade says CE marking continues to be recognised alongside or in place of UKCA marking. Its guidance applies to England, Scotland and Wales; for delivery to Northern Ireland, check the applicable product documentation and market requirements separately.
Registering the appliance can make it easier to contact you about a safety recall. Electrical Safety First recommends registering appliances for that reason; keep the model details available when you do so.