Benefits of Induction Cooking

5 REASONS TO CHOOSE INDUCTION

Target Commercial Induction

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much is induction?

The initial capital outlay of an induction range is dependent on quality and configuration of the appliance and can vary, for example, from a couple of thousand pounds for a mass-produced range to tens of thousands of pounds for a custom-built bespoke suite. Custom made cooking suites are typically more expensive than off-the-shelf mass-produced units as they are designed specifically to suit your kitchen’s requirements and are manufactured and finished to higher standards, using a superior and wider variety of components. However, they are designed and manufactured to optimise the chef’s performance within the kitchen, making kitchens work smarter and faster, not harder, by using the very best combinations of equipment to suit their own specialist and individual cooking techniques, which in turn generates more profit for the business.

Is induction as powerful and controllable as gas?

Independent tests have shown cooking with induction to be much faster than gas. When heating equal quantities within a pan, an induction hob uses less power (kWhs) than gas to complete the same task within a shorter space of time, therefore making induction a more powerful, effective, and efficient method of cooking when compared to gas. This is because with induction cooking technology the pan acts as the heat source rather than the flame or heating element underneath it. With gas, you can easily vary the size of the flame which alters the convected heat and allows the pan to heat up or cool down accordingly to achieve the in-pan temperature you require. With induction, the temperature within the pan is controlled with rotary controls which varies the electromagnetic current which in-turn instantaneously alters the temperature generated within the pan making induction much more controllable and accurate.

What’s the difference between a circular induction coil/zone and a square coil/zone?

Square coils/zones provide a larger surface area to use, perfect for cooking with smaller multiple pans. Circular or round induction coils/zones replicate traditional round gas burners and are ideal for larger individual pans and stock pots. If you use multiple pans on a circular zone where the pans only partially cover the coil beneath the glass hot-spots can be generated at the edges of the coils, delivering un-even cooking temperatures in the base of the pans. For more information on induction coils/zone types click here.

Can I use induction like a gas solid top?

Yes, this is achieved by using square or rectangular coils/zones. These can be positioned together beneath a piece of glass creating a larger cooking surface area that replicates the gas solid top. The square or rectangular zones can then either be controlled by individual controllers per zone for variable temperature control or each zone can be pre-set by the manufacturer at varying powers with all the zones controlled by one controller providing a cooking surface with a gradient heat “slide top” effect. The benefits of having variable controls is that you have either 2 or 4 controllers and if one controller fails you can keep the other zones working with minimal interfereance until the failed controller is repaired or replaced. If there is a fault with the single controller on the “slide top” solid top style induction hob each zone would stop working and you would loose functionality of the entire cooking surface until the controller is repaired or replaced.

What’s the difference between heavy duty, medium duty and light duty induction products?

The main differences between heavy, medium and light duty induction products are;

1) Length of Warranty Cover - Each product will be supplied with a certain amount of warranty cover given by the manufactuerer, the length of warranty cover is typically determined by the expected servicable length of duty cycle when a product is run at full power. Product components are designed to operate effectively at least for this length of time without any faults. Should a fault occur within this period this would be unexpected of that component and therefore would be covered by the component manufacturers warranty.

2) Quality of Induction Components - The better quality of induction components, the stronger your product will be. When used in a busy commercial kitchen a product’s induction components will need to be hard wearing to withstand the daily hammering of constant use in a commercial kitchen. With better quality induction components, your product lifetime will be longer.

3) Power Output Voltage - Induction with a higher power output means larger pots and pans can be used and will heat up quicker. Light duty products typically have low power outputs and therefore cannot cope with larger pots and pans.

4) Component Cooling Allowances and Technology - Required to ensure the appliance components can handle higher demand usage - Induction components have a optimum operating temperature, when a appliance is being used heavily it will require additional cooling technology to reduce the risk of components failing.

What power supply do I need for a Target commercial induction range?

Target commercial induction ranges can use both single phase 230 volt generators and 3 phase 400 volt generators depending on cusomer's specification and electrical supply capacity.

What access do I need to allow for getting my Target commercial induction range into my commercial kitchen?

Target standard induction products are designed to fit through a standard 830mm wide doorway. For deeper units or smaller entry points, bespoke ranges can be manufactured with a split chassis, in two parts, solving most access issues. If you’re still unsure, speak to a member of the team and we will advise on the best option for you.

How reliable is a Target commercial induction range?

Target commercial induction ranges come complete with a 3 years parts and labour manufacturer's warranty on induction components and 10 years guarantee on the range chassis. Target uses additional cooling technologies with induction components ensuring optimum conditions thus minimising technical faults. Unfortunately, hob and wok glass cannot be warranted so check your insurance cover for accidental equipment damage cover protection.

Can the induction hob glass break and what happens if it does?

The 6mm thick Schott Ceran® toughened safety glass, used in Target commercial induction ranges is designed to be extremely durable. It puts up with normal wear and tear of commercial kitchens and everyday cooking without losing any of its stability. However, yes it can be broken under the right conditions, for example if a sharp point or edge is dropped from a height and hits the glass with force then it is likely to crack. If a glass breakage does occur, then just like a car windscreen, it is easily replaced. You should not operate an induction hob with broken glass as this can cause further damage to the electrical components beneath and will void any warranty cover remaining if you continue to use the appliance.

Will having an oven situated underneath an induction hob damage the induction components?

Target commercial induction ranges are designed and manufactured using remote generators, cooling technologies and DualCool® systems to ensure no damage can be caused to induction components by excess heat from built in or modular appliances. If sufficient air-flow and heat dissipation methods aren’t incoporated into a induction suite this can cause major issues with built-in induction components.

What makes an induction plancha griddle better than a standard electric plancha?

With an induction plancha griddle the cooking plate surface is heated with induction technology providing faster heat up times with a consistent temperature across the entire cooking surface. RTCSmp® technology senses real time temperature change down to the degree creating a highly responsive cooking surface with rapid temperature control, much faster than traditional gas or electric heating elements.

Do I need to have special induction pans for my commercial induction hob or can I use my existing pots and pans?

Yes you can use existing pots and pans provided they are magnetic. However, be careful with pans that have previously been used on gas ranges as they may have warped under high temperatures which when used on induction hobs can create heat spots within the pan causing abnormal temperature feedback to safety sensors that protect components mounted under the glass. Some pans will work better than others, for optimum efficiency when using a commercial induction hob it is recommended to use good quality induction ready pans. For more advice on induction compatible cookware CLICK HERE.

Is induction more expensive than gas to run?

Induction is very energy efficient and costs less than gas to run because of automatic pan detection, switching power on only when required, results in little wasted energy costs. Also, because energy is generated directly in the pan it speeds up cooking processes also providing minimal running costs.

What are the potential energy savings I can make if I switch to induction cooking technology?

Typically you can expect to make savings of upto 60% on energy costs by switching to induction from gas. Here is a typical example prepared by Target to support Carbon Trust funding applications to replace gas fired energy inefficient equipment with more energy efficient cooking equipment;

• 4 burner gas hob 4 x 5.8kW = 23.2kWh x 6.66p = £1.56

• 4 zone induction hob 4 x 3kW = 12kWh x 13.86p = £1.66 x 0.5 (half the time) = £0.83 x 0.75 (25% saving through auto pan detection) = £0.62

This equates to a financial saving of approximately 60% off from the current gas consumption cost to do the same job with induction cooking equipment.

What on-going maintenance is required with induction?

On-going maintenance is minimal and induction suites typically only require the checking of electrical connections for integrity and checking air filters and cooling fans are kept clean and clear of dust and debris. Regular servicing of applicances will help to maintain optimum health of the products.

Does induction go wrong and what happens if it does?

It is possible for every machine or appliance to go wrong, but induction, in particular heavy duty, is very reliable especially as it has minimal mechanical moving parts that can go wrong. With Target commercial induction ranges, in-built computer systems monitor and manage the thermal health of generators and component parts, with flashing code lights displaying error codes for engineers to fix. Induction hobs are able to protect themselves from major damage as they are designed to cut-out and fail safe if abused or overheated through the use of poor quality pans and/or user error.

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