Leeneia’s question got me wondering if there were plug in worktop induction hobs in the UK and whether such a thing would be an alternative to the stand along gas ring I’d wondered about about in a previous post.

We bought this single induction hob which arrived this morning. I feel it does bring water to the boil quite a bit faster than the rings on the cooker ceramic hob but I’m a bit bothered by the heating pattern I see in the water. This is most noticeable when, having boiled the water, the setting is reduced to a simmer as the hob seems to work by giving max power pulses followed by off periods. There appears to be a ring OD about 8cm, ID about 4cm that receives high power heating and not a lot else. I’ve tried two different pans of different makes and get similar results so I think the pattern is from the unit. (Are your rings similar, Steve?)

I have some ripe plums to pick and aim to have a go at some jam making over the weekend when I get some sugar. I may find things are OK but I do wonder if I’m going to find I have hot spots where the jam sticks and burns.