Tefal IH201840 Everyday Induction Hob

We were looking for a portable hob to enable us to have a Thai Sukiyaki Hot-Pot at home. The hob needed to be able to be sited on our table, so a reasonable length power cable and not getting too hot underneath. After a bit of research we settled on a Tefal IH201840 Everyday Induction Hob.

An induction hob works by using electrical induction, rather than thermal conduction (as in a flame or heating element). The hob contains a coil of copper wire beneath a ceramic plate. When a cooking pot containing a ferrous metal (such as cast iron or some stainless steel) is placed on the hob, the iron in the pot concentrates the current to produce heat in the metal.

This, of course, means you need a certain type of pan for use on an induction hob. We bought a very affordable stockpot with an induction base, which is the perfect size for the Tefal Induction Hob.

Induction cooking benefits from transferring energy efficiently to the pan, as there is direct contact. Transferring energy underneath the pan. This means that the heat is contained there and the rest of the hob doesn’t get hot. Plus the surface begins to cool the instant you stop cooking.

Product Features

• Black ceramic plate: durable, scratch-proof, heat-proof and easy to clean.
• Suitable for pots and pans with base size 12cm-25cm.
• 2 hours integrated timer with LED display control panel.
• 6 pre-set cooking functions (Manual, Heat Milk, Stew, Stir Fry, Deep Fry, Boil Water) and 9 power levels: from 450W to 2100W
• Only suitable for induction compliant pots and pans with a base size of 12cm-25cm

The Tefal IH201840 Everyday Induction Hob is quite light, at 2.5kg, and whilst the power cable isn’t huge, it’s enough for us to have it on our table. The surface is easy to wipe clean, should things get messy!

There are a number of heating options, but we’ve only needed to use the Manual option. We use the + and – buttons to increase and decrease strength as needed. It’s starts on power level 3, which is approximately 850W.

It’s so straightforward to use. However, the controls do feel a little cheap and not likely to last the test of time. Of course, we’ve not had the hob for long to know about it’s likely lifespan, it just feels rather cheap. But that’s what you get when you don’t pay much for the hob.

It’s great getting pretty much instant heat, which was perfect for us to keep our hot pot simmering away.

Summary

We have found the hob to be very useful. It’s powerful, easy to clean and quite light. It doesn’t have a very long power cable, and the controls do feel a bit cheap. We’ve used it 3 or 4 times so far, and it is continuing to work well and not showing any signs of wear. I’m not sure it’ll be a long-lasting piece of equipment, but I don’t have evidence of that as yet. If you’re looking for an affordable option, this is definitely worth considering.

We bought a Pylus Stockpot from Amazon, which has an induction base, is 24cm diameter and has a 4 litre capacity. Perfect for our hot-pot!

The Suki Yaki Sauce we used was by Maesri, and really compliments the Thai Hot Pot! You can pick some Maesri Thai Suki Yaki Sauce from amazon as well, priced around £6. We’ve also used Pantai Tofu for Suki Yaki as well, which was great, although that’s available for about £12. If you’re feeling a bit more flush, there’s also the Pantai Norasingh brand Thai Sauce Kwang Tung Formula for Suki Yaki. That will set ups back about £18 a bottle though!

If you have a lot of hot pot meals indoors, you may find the humidity goes up in your house. Check out my review of the Meaco 20L LE Low Energy Dehumidifier. If you found this review useful, you may also like the De Longhi Eletta review. It’s a fully automatic bean to cup coffee machine.