Once and for all: Gas versus induction - which is better?

The way to people's hearts is food. Each tribe has its own foods, seasoning and way of cooking. The way we cook food has undergone a real transformation over the years, when hundreds of years ago they cooked on an open fire like a bonfire, then switched to wicks, from there to cooking with gas and later to cooking on an electric stove, with the innovation of recent years being cooking on an induction type stove.

Before renovating a kitchen, moving to a new apartment or when coming to renew, the question always arises which is better, a gas or induction stove? Each type has its advantages and the fit is personal. And just as there are those who will prefer an iPhone and there are those who will insist on the Android system, so you will find those who will choose gas stoves and those who will choose induction.

What is the difference? Gas stoves are the classic and more familiar type that has starred in most homes in Israel for many years. As mentioned, the rising star is the induction stove, which has gained a lot of popularity recently, and rightfully so. How do you choose? Here are some important questions that will help you make a decision:

What suits you best?

Everyone has their own opinion and if you consult with friends, it is possible that each of them will recommend that you upgrade to the model of stove they have at home, so instead of doing a market survey of what is worth it - it is advisable that you ask yourself what you need and what will provide you with the comfort of perfect cooking for you.

Safety above all:

The exposed fire in gas stoves is less precise to control, dangerous and can cause burns. The induction stoves have no fire at all, which makes them safe even for children: the induction does not work if there are no cooking utensils on it, and when the utensil is removed from the surface, the induction cools down quickly. In non-induction electric stoves, cooking continues after switching off and it takes time for the stove to cool down. With induction, as with gas, as soon as you turn off the stove, you have completed the cooking, so the stove cools down quickly.

And for those who find it difficult to get used to the absence of the flame - there is also an induction stove with a virtual flame - such as the Samsung induction stove, which displays a flame-shaped indicator indicating the intensity of the cooking

Cleanliness:

The worst part of cooking comes at the end when you have to clean up. Induction stoves are very easy to clean and can only be wiped with a damp cloth. Immediately after cleaning and when there are no pots on them, the induction looks like a jewel in the middle of the kitchen. When it comes to gas stoves, you have to make more of an effort, they consist of several parts that need to be disassembled and assembled when cleaning, special materials must be used in order to return to the shiny appearance and the dirt can get stuck in certain areas, which are more difficult to reach.

Flexibility and cooking options:

Each type of stove has its own advantages - the traditional gas stoves have large wok flames that allow cooking foods such as Pad Thai and Asian stir-fry. But the traditional gas stoves have a significant limitation - they don't have the option to cook in large vessels or planchas, as you can do with induction stoves - thanks to the flexible areas where you can place any cooking utensil you want and cook on it easily and comfortably.

Costs:

Along with all the advantages of induction, gas stoves usually cost less. Also, while on a gas stove you can use any pot or pan, when you change the stove to an induction one, with induction you must be careful to use pots with a magnetized bottom. It is better to use high-quality pots with a completely smooth bottom for maximum output and optimal cooking results.

Installation:

In order to use a gas stove, you must make sure that there is a suitable connection to the gas company in the house. When using an induction stove, ensure proper ventilation under the stove and a special three-phase or single-phase Sikon 32 electrical outlet. In both types of connections, you will get exactly the same performance in terms of cooking. There are several brands that have induction stoves with a single-phase connection risk 32- such as the Electrolux and AEG stoves.

Design:

Of course, there is no arguing about taste and smell, but induction stoves have a modern, aesthetic and elegant design that fits into any kitchen, compared to gas stoves that have a traditional and relatively old look. Today, induction stoves come in a variety of designs and colors, so that they adapt themselves and blend harmoniously into the kitchen counter. At AEG you can choose, for example, a minimalist design without a frame or a thin stainless steel frame that adds a luxurious finish.

Now, after choosing your preferred type of stove, Elia Umansky, product manager at Miniline, the largest importer of electrical products in Israel, adds some important tips on what you should pay attention to when choosing the right type of stove for your kitchen: "If you have chosen a gas stove, the priority is for a stove that has They have smart selector buttons that give precise control over the fire, this is in contrast to normal gas stoves that do not control the gas power.

For example, AEG gas stoves with Step Power technology allow precise control of the heating power and 9 levels of fire power for each flame. In addition, AEG stoves Glass top surface for easy and simple cleaning, programmable timer with buzzer alert, residual heat indicator with LED lighting so you always know if the flame is working and/or still hot, new design of the flames that shortens the cooking time by 20% and also saves on the amount of gas consumed, sensors Safety with an automatic gas cut-off mechanism for maximum safety and more."

If you have chosen an induction stove, Umansky recommends induction by Electrolux or AEG: "The best-selling induction stove in Israel in 2023, manufactured in Germany. Both brands have a wide variety of induction models in a variety of classic black, white, and even silver colors, suitable for every home depending on the type and nature of use. The stove is between 60-90 cm wide, and they allow you to express your creativity in the kitchen. Thanks to the wide surface, pots and pans of different shapes and sizes can be placed wherever you choose on the stove surface, as long as they cover one of the marked points."

Induction cookers have intuitive touch sensors that are activated by the swipe of a finger or touch and allow you to choose the ideal cooking intensity with one swipe to determine the desired cooking intensity.

In addition, Electrolux stoves, for example, have several important functions: such as a bridge function to combine two separate heating zones into one large heating zone in the stove. AEG stoves even have FLEX for complete flexibility. There is also a turbo function to speed up cooking through rapid heating; child lock function; activation/pause for a temporary stop of cooking; Timer function for automatic shutdown and electricity saving. All these make the switch to induction worth the change and investment.