BarcelonaWith the rising cost of gas and electricity in recent months, a classic question when choosing a flat or a house is getting hotter than ever: what kind of kitchen is better? Gas, ceramic hob or induction?
The answer depends on many factors, starting with how we use it and our personal tastes. For example, it is common for kitchen lovers or people who have always had a gas stove to prefer to cook over a high heat, so they do not even consider purchasing electric hobs. But for many people, the impact on the pocket is significant, and there are notable differences in this field.
In terms of consumption, induction is the cheapest option. Thus, a ceramic hob moves between 1,200 and 2,500 watts per hour depending on the model, while an induction hob usually costs between 20% and 40% less, according to the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) . This means that, with the hob on for one hour a day on average, and assuming a price of 0.34 euros per kilowatt hour (KWh) – the regulated price this Friday evening – a ceramic hob consumes approximately between 148 and 850 euros in a year, while for an induction cooker the cost could drop to a range of between 88 and 510 euros per year in the case of the most efficient models. However, it should be borne in mind that if the price of electricity were to fall in the future, the difference would also be reduced.
However, there is another element to consider: the starting price. And in this the glass-ceramic takes the palm. For example, a three- or four-zone ceramic hob moves between 100 and 400 euros. On the other hand, the price if it is induction can go up to 700, and strangely low of 250 euros in the cheapest cases.
Another factor to consider is safety, as for people with mobility problems or teenagers learning to cook, induction greatly reduces the risk of burns, an element that is not the case with glass ceramic. Also, not being so hot makes the induction easier to scrub when we clean it.
The gas pays off
And gas stoves? A kitchen with three lit stoves consumes about 0.35 cubic meters per hour, which is, in round numbers, 1,350 KWh in a year if you consume one hour every day. At a price of about five cents per KWh – where the last resort tariff or TUR is around these days – the annual bill will rise, if not more, to 68 euros. The figure is therefore much lower than the consumption of electric plates, but it is also due to the fact that the cost of electricity has been skyrocketing for months.
The investment of a gas hob is comparable to a ceramic hob, with prices between 100 and 400 euros depending on the model and the number of stoves (most are three or four), with some cheaper options and quite a few more expensive, especially for more professional kitchens.