Induction or glass ceramic cooker, how and which one to choose?

How the glass ceramic hob works:

Glass ceramic is an unbreakable material that cannot be attacked by corrosive substances and is processed so that it does not undergo thermal expansion even at high temperatures. The hob made of this material has electric coils under the top that generate the heat which is therefore transmitted to the pans (the surface in correspondence with the coils remains hot for a long time even after the hob has been turned off).

How the induction hob works:

Under the hob there are special electric coils that generate a magnetic field which is transferred directly to the base of the specific pan, transforming into heat. In this way, energy dispersion and time are reduced and for example a liter of water boils in 3 minutes.

Although both induction and glass ceramic work with electricity, the difference in how they use the latter is different:

 • Induction uses the electromagnetic field to generate eddy current heat inside the magnetic pan placed on the surface of the stove, thus heating the food in the pan, so that the induction stove itself does not generate heat.

 • Glass ceramic generates heat resistance by energizing the nickel-chromium resistance wire inside the hob and then transferring the electrical heat to the hob surface to heat objects placed on the hob surface. Therefore the hob heats up during use.

The thermal efficiency of induction cooker is about 75%, and some can reach 95%. The glass ceramic hob has a thermal efficiency of approximately 60%.

Scope of:

 • The glass-ceramic hob adapts to different types of pans: iron, aluminium, glass, etc.

 • Induction hobs can only use pans that can generate eddy current heat, so they cannot use glass pans and saucepans. There are pans dedicated to induction hobs on the market.

Cooking effects:

 • the upper temperature limit of the glass ceramic hob is very high, even reaching 800°C.

 • The temperature limit of the induction hob is generally around 200-300 °C.

Environment of use: requirements

 • The glass ceramic hob must be used in a ventilated environment.

 • The induction hob can be used in a relatively closed room and has much lower requirements regarding working environment regulations.

Heating speed:

 • The glass ceramic hob has a slow heating time.

 • The induction hob has a very fast heating time.

The advantage of the glass ceramic hob is that once used and turned off it retains heat for a long time and cools very slowly.

The advantage of the induction hob is that it is extremely easy to clean and safe since the active area is exclusively the one where the pan is placed while the surrounding surface remains cold.

Whether induction or glass ceramic, on our website www.ristorazione-refrigerazione.it/es you will find many models available at discounted prices.