Who these hobs suit

Regular onion cooks

If you often caramelise onions, sustained gentle heat matters more to you than fast boiling. Which? assesses low-temperature simmering separately from heating speed, so an exact-model assessment is useful when available.

One-pan cooks with limited worktop space

If onions usually occupy your only pan, a compact two-zone layout may be enough. Which? lists the IKEA LAGAN two-zone hob at 56.1 cm wide and 38 cm deep; check those dimensions against your worktop rather than relying on its width alone.

Small-kitchen multi-pan cooks

If you cook onions alongside other dishes or use a wider pan, consider whether four zones or a bridge function justify a larger fitted footprint. Bosch lists four zones on the PUG61RAA5B, while AEG lists a bridge function on the TO64IB00FB.

What matters when choosing

For a long onion cook, start with low-temperature control and pan fit, then decide how much worktop space, installation work and extraction your kitchen can accommodate.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Gentle heat Look for an independent low-temperature simmer assessment of the exact model where available. Check that your magnetic pan base suits its cooking zone. I want to keep onions cooking gently over time, rather than choose a hob for its fastest heating setting; around 34% of consumers put gentle-heat control first.
Fit and installation Compare surface and cut-out dimensions with your worktop. Confirm the exact model’s plug-in or hardwired connection and ventilation clearances. With little worktop space, I need a hob that fits without an unsuitable connection or cabinet arrangement; roughly 33% of consumers make fit and installation their primary concern.
Cooking capacity Check the number and size of usable zones, and whether a bridge or combi function accommodates your wider pan. I may have onions cooking while preparing another dish, so room for more cookware matters most to around 20% of consumers.
Extraction Assess your existing extraction. For a venting hob, check the exact model’s cabinet depth and fitting requirements. If a separate hood is difficult to accommodate, I need a workable way to extract cooking emissions; for about 13% of consumers, that is the main priority.

Buying pitfalls

  • Choosing by PowerBoost alone

    Rapid heating does not establish how steadily a hob cooks at low temperatures. Which? assesses low-temperature simmering separately, while Bosch describes PowerBoost on the PUG61RAA5B as a faster-heating feature.

    Treat rapid heating as a separate convenience. Seek an exact-model simmer assessment where available, and adjust the heat carefully when you first cook onions on a new hob.

  • Assuming a hob will fit because it is described as compact

    Surface width is only one measurement. AEG specifies a 560 × 490 mm built-in cut-out for the TO64IB00FB, and fitting requirements also depend on the space beneath the hob.

    Measure the worktop, cut-out and cabinet, then compare them with the exact model’s installation instructions.

    A different cut-out or required clearance may mean altering the worktop or cabinet.

  • Assuming every induction hob plugs in

    Connection types differ: IKEA lists the LAGAN two-zone hob as a 13A plug-in model, whereas AEG specifies a hardwired-only connection for the TO64IB00FB.

    Confirm the chosen model’s connection type and seek installation advice for your property where needed.

    A hardwired model may require electrical installation work.

  • Overlooking the pan base

    An induction hob needs compatible cookware. NEFF says a ferromagnetic base must also suit the cooking zone’s size for reliable detection and cooking results.

    Check whether a magnet sticks to the base, then measure the base rather than the pan’s rim against the model’s zone guidance.

    Pans that are unsuitable for the selected zone may need replacing.

Relevant hob brands

IKEA

The LAGAN 505.061.01 is a compact, plug-in two-zone option for a kitchen where worktop depth is constrained.

  • IKEA lists a 13A, 2,800 W connection; Which? gives its dimensions as 56.1 × 38 cm.
  • Two zones restrict simultaneous cooking, and IKEA specifies magnetic-base cookware.

Bosch

The PUG61RAA5B offers a conventional four-zone layout with a connection Bosch describes as Plug & Play.

  • Bosch lists the model at 592 × 522 mm with four cooking zones.
  • Check the PUG61RAA5B installation instructions for its fitting and ventilation requirements; these can vary between models.

AEG

The TO64IB00FB is a fitted four-zone option with a bridge function for wider cookware.

  • AEG lists a bridge function and a 590 × 520 mm hob surface.
  • The model is hardwired only and requires a 560 × 490 mm built-in cut-out.

NEFF

Relevant models include the T56FHS1L0 with a combi zone and the V56NBS1L0 with integrated extraction.

  • NEFF lists four zones on both models; the T56FHS1L0 can combine two zones for larger cookware.
  • NEFF lists the venting V56NBS1L0 at 223 mm high, making the space below the worktop an important fitting check.

Joybuy induction hob options

These CIARRA built-in models offer a compact two-zone layout or a 60 cm four-zone layout. Choose between them according to available worktop space and whether you cook other dishes alongside the onions; check fitting and connection requirements for the exact model.

CIARRA CBBIH292T two-zone built-in induction hob

CIARRA CBBIH292T 29 cm two-zone induction hob

Consider this built-in model if you usually cook onions in one pan and need a narrow hob. It has two zones, 2,900 W, nine power levels, touch controls and a timer.

Check that your pan base suits the selected zone, and confirm the fitting, electrical connection and low-temperature performance for this model before buying.

Joybuy
CIARRA 60 cm four-zone built-in induction hob

CIARRA 60 cm four-zone built-in induction hob

Consider the four-zone layout if onions need to cook alongside other dishes and a 60 cm built-in hob fits your kitchen. The product name also specifies modular power control.

Check pan compatibility, the required cut-out, electrical connection and ventilation. Look for an exact-model low-temperature assessment if gentle cooking is your main priority.

Joybuy

Common questions

Does PowerBoost help caramelise onions?

PowerBoost is intended for faster heating, not as evidence of steady gentle heat. Bosch describes faster heating on its PUG61RAA5B, while Which? assesses low-temperature simmering separately; look for results for the exact hob you are considering.

Will my existing frying pan work on an induction hob?

It needs a magnetic base that suits the selected cooking zone. NEFF advises checking that a magnet sticks to the base and that the base size matches the zone; measure the base rather than the rim.

Can every induction hob plug into a socket?

No: the connection depends on the model. IKEA lists its LAGAN two-zone hob as a 13A plug-in model, Bosch describes the PUG61RAA5B as Plug & Play, and AEG specifies a hardwired-only connection for the TO64IB00FB.

Do I still need ventilation when cooking on induction?

Yes, ventilation still matters during cooking. Which? notes that cooking on any hob can release particulate matter and volatile organic compounds; assess your existing extraction before deciding whether a hob with an integrated extractor suits your kitchen and cabinet space.