Who each hob may suit

Quick boil-and-simmer cooks

If you often make blended soups, induction is worth considering for bringing stock or water to the boil and then reducing the heat to a gentle simmer. Check that the saucepan you use has a magnetic base.

Households keeping their existing pans

If your saucepans have non-magnetic bases, a ceramic hob lets you keep using them rather than choosing induction-compatible replacements. Allow for the ceramic cooking zone to remain hot after switching it off.

Built-in hob replacement planners

If you are replacing a hob, match the new model’s specified cut-out and connection requirements to your kitchen. A similar-looking or similarly sized glass top does not establish that it will fit the existing opening.

What matters when choosing an electric hob

Start with the saucepan and kitchen installation: either can rule out an otherwise appealing hob. Then consider how you move between boiling and simmering, how many pans you use together and how you manage a hot surface after cooking.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Boiling and simmering Compare the hob type and its available power controls; check whether the exact model offers a boost function. If I regularly bring stock to the boil and then need a gentle simmer, responsive heat changes are my main concern. Around 31% of consumers put boil-to-simmer control first.
Cookware and installation Test pan bases with a magnet. For a built-in hob, check its cut-out, connection type and electrical loading against your kitchen. When replacing a built-in hob, I want to keep my pans and avoid choosing a model that cannot fit or connect as required. Around 31% of consumers make compatibility their primary concern.
Space for other pans Compare zone positions with the pans you use together; consider bridge or flexible zones if wide cookware is a regular need. If soup is only one part of the meal, I need room to use another pan at the same time. For around 19% of consumers, cooking-space flexibility comes first.
Hot surfaces and clean-up Check the exact model for residual-heat indicators and any child lock or automatic switch-off you need; follow its cleaning instructions. After a soup spill, I want to know when the cooking area is safe to touch and clean. Surface care and heat warnings are the leading concern for around 19% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid before buying

  • Assuming every electric hob connects the same way

    Bosch describes its PUE611BB5B induction hob as Plug & Play, while AEG specifies a hardwired-only connection for the TO84IB00FB. Neither connection method can be assumed for another model.

    Read the chosen hob’s installation instructions and compare its connection and electrical loading with your kitchen. Ask an electrician to assess the installation where electrical work is needed.

  • Choosing induction before checking the saucepan

    Induction requires a magnetic pan base. A saucepan that works on a ceramic hob will not necessarily work on induction.

    Test the base of your soup saucepan with a magnet, then check the chosen hob’s stated pan-size requirements.

  • Using the advertised width as the cut-out measurement

    The worktop opening is model-specific. Beko specifies a 560 x 490 mm cut-out for its CIHYV21 ceramic hob, while AEG specifies 750 x 490 mm for its TO84IB00FB bridge induction hob.

    Measure the existing opening and compare it with the installation drawing for the exact model before ordering.

  • Expecting ceramic glass to cool as soon as it is switched off

    A ceramic cooking zone heats the glass and retains heat after cooking. Safety features also differ between models.

    Check for a residual-heat indicator and wait for its warning to clear before touching or cleaning the zone. Check separately if you need a child lock or automatic switch-off.

Relevant hob brands

These model and range examples show features to compare; a feature on one hob does not establish what every model from that brand includes.

Bosch

A reference point for standard-width induction hobs and model-specific installation methods.

  • Bosch lists four zones, touch controls and PowerBoost on the PUE611BB5B.
  • Bosch describes this model as Plug & Play, but its installation instructions and your kitchen supply still need checking; the connection method does not apply to all Bosch hobs.

AEG

A reference point for wider induction layouts when large cookware or joined cooking zones matter.

  • The 80 cm TO84IB00FB has four zones and a bridge function.
  • AEG specifies a 750 x 490 mm cut-out, 7,200 W total loading and a hardwired-only connection for this model; do not treat it as a drop-in replacement for a 60 cm hob.

NEFF

A reference point for flexible induction-zone layouts when soup is one part of frequent multi-pan cooking.

  • NEFF describes flexible zones that accommodate pans in different positions on applicable models.
  • Flexible zones and frying-sensor settings are range-specific features; check the exact model rather than assuming they are included or needed for a single soup saucepan.

Beko

A reference point for ceramic electric cooking with physical knob controls.

  • The 60 cm CIHYV21 has four radiant zones, six cooking levels and residual-heat indicators.
  • Beko specifies no automatic shut-off, overheat safety system or child lock for the CIHYV21. Check these features at model level if they matter in your household.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Questions about electric hobs

Will my current soup saucepan work on an induction hob?

It will work on induction if its base is magnetic and meets the chosen hob’s pan-size requirements. AEG recommends checking whether a magnet sticks strongly to the base; also check that the base is flat and consult the hob manual before relying on a small saucepan.

Do all electric hobs need to be hardwired?

No single connection method applies to every electric hob: Bosch describes the PUE611BB5B as Plug & Play, while AEG specifies that the TO84IB00FB is hardwired only. Follow the exact model’s installation instructions and have the existing supply assessed where electrical work is required.

What should I measure before replacing a built-in hob?

Measure the existing worktop aperture and compare it with the exact model’s required cut-out, not just the visible width of its glass top. For example, Beko specifies a 560 x 490 mm cut-out for the CIHYV21, while AEG specifies 750 x 490 mm for the TO84IB00FB; check the electrical connection as well.

Can I touch a ceramic or induction hob immediately after cooking?

Do not assume either surface is cool immediately after cooking. A ceramic zone heats the glass directly, while an induction surface can still be hot from contact with the pan; follow the model’s residual-heat warning before touching or cleaning the area.

What electrical-installation rules should I check?

For a property in England, GOV.UK’s Approved Document P provides guidance on electrical safety in dwellings, including when work requires notification. Check the requirements for the property’s UK nation and the work planned before installation; Electrical Safety First advises using a registered electrician.