If there's one product group that has exploded in popularity in recent times, it's the compact induction cooker family. It should come as no surprise that more and more companies are now developing and manufacturing this type of appliance. In addition to traditional kitchen appliance manufacturers, such versatile concerns as Xiaomi have also taken notice of these models.
In this article we will focus on this particular product group, which is unique in many ways in the vast universe of household appliances.
What is it for?
As the name suggests, it can be used for both cooking and baking, so it is basically used to prepare food or to heat or boil liquids or solids. The function is therefore the same as that of a gas stove or a glass ceramic hob, but the induction appliances achieve their purpose in a different way. There are built-in versions, free-standing versions, fixed versions and versions that are relatively easy to move.
The latter, the compact versions, can be very useful in small kitchens or apartments, as they only need a mains power source and can be hung up somewhere. They take up little space and are easy to store.
How it works
Induction devices do not use some kind of heat source and, unlike conventional devices, do not heat up a plate or sheet which then transfers the heat to the pot. In fact, such appliances heat the pan or pan itself. They do not use magic, but physics, because induction products contain high-frequency electromagnets. Activating them creates a magnetic zone, and when a magnetised object, such as a pot, is placed in this space, it heats up. The stronger the magnetic field, the more intense the heating.
Benefits
This technology offers many advantages over traditional solutions. For example, it is efficient because it is not the air or the hob that needs to be heated, so there is no wasted residual heat. The energy needed for heating is concentrated where it is needed. Consequently, significantly less energy is used to achieve the same cooking result, which saves money, and a lot of it. It is also much more environmentally friendly than rival solutions, which is a very important aspect in a world where "green living" and saving the planet is becoming increasingly important.
Another advantage is that since you can forget about the open flame and the reheated plate, induction cookers like the Xiaomi Mi Induction Cooker are also much safer than their traditional relatives. As soon as you take the pot off the hob, it cools down practically instantly. There's no need to worry that someone will accidentally touch the surface because they didn't know it had been used recently, and get burnt as a result. As the hob is only heated by the pot, it cannot heat up enough to burn the food. There are also induction cookers that use sensors to know when the pan is empty, and even when the food is running out, and automatically switch themselves off.
It should also be pointed out that, induction appliances are much, much faster than ceramic or iron hobs for example. While those take time to heat up, here the pot or pan heats up in a matter of seconds. The cooking/roasting/frying time is also reduced, so dinner or scrambled eggs are ready faster.
Disadvantages
It cannot be denied that this technology has some drawbacks. Perhaps the most important of these is the issue of the vessel, since the process requires the use of devices made of materials that can be magnetised. In other words, stainless steel pots with a magnetic base or enamelled steel cans. There is no need to embellish the matter, as conventional gas cookers, glass ceramic or iron hobs are considerably more versatile in this respect.
It is also important to note that induction hobs can only be used with pans with a perfect base. If their surface is scratched or damaged, they become unusable.
Design and price
In terms of design, the compact induction equipment they have no reason to complain. As Xiaomi has proven, it's possible to create beautiful, stylish, modern-looking models in this range. In the past, the price of compact induction hobs was significantly higher than competing appliances based on the same technology, but this difference has now disappeared. A Xiaomi Mi Induction Cooker for example, can be bought for as little as 29 000 HUF.
