Modern and super-efficient, the best pans for induction hobs will work perfectly on your induction cooktop. How do induction hobs differ from traditional electric and ceramic stovetops? They use magnetic fields to conduct heat, which is why specific compatible pans are needed to work alongside your new hob.
When people upgrade to induction, they often find their old pans don't cut the mustard. So, even if you have the very best saucepan set in the game, if you have a new induction hob, you may need to trade it in for an induction pan that'll cook your food properly.
Cast iron and stainless steel will work, which means you can also take a look at our guide to cast iron cookware for inspiration, but pans made of copper or aluminium may not perform as you'd like – and they’ll need to be traded with a ferrous, induction-compatible base.
To help you choose the best pans for induction hobs, I've put these induction-friendly pans – both full sets and single, multi-use pots – through their paces. I took careful notice of everything from their design to their oven-safe qualities, ease of use, and cleaning requirements.
So I can now say on good authority that these are hands-down the best pans for induction hobs on the market today. Keep reading to find one to suit you.
The quick list
Short on time but sure that you want to bag the best pan for induction hobs on the market? Browse our quick list below, which has everything you need to know neatly summed up.
Best overall
Ideal Home's expert reviewer Helen was blown away by the quality of these HexClad pans, and loved the cooking results she had with them, as well as the easy clean-up regardless of what she was cooking (including a dreaded batch of cold caramel!). She loved the design combo of stainless steel and non-stick and found that 'all foods glide across the surface' of these pans.
Read more below
Best Ninja
The Ideal Home team are Ninja fans through and through, but did you know that the brand's pan range is just as impressive? There's a huge variety of pans and sizes to choose from in the ZEROSTICK range which (you guessed it) has impressive non-stick, and the designs are easily stackable. The one downside is that the handles can get overly hot.
Best frying pan
I've labelled this as the standout induction frying pan but with a range of accessories available to upgrade it, it's far more functional than just a frying pan. Our Kitchen Appliances Editor has been using this pan for the last few years, and the non-stick is still going strong, plus the 2.0 version (which is now the brand's standard) is also oven-safe.
Best hob-to-table
Though induction hobs are modern, this Le Creuset casserole is the ultimate classic, with a timeless design and stellar heat conduction that makes cooking a dream. Easy to clean, with a build quality that means it'll last a lifetime, and unbeatable results in our tests, it's a total winner, if you can afford to invest.
Best stainless steel
If you're looking for professional quality, then experts will tell you that stainless steel is the way to go. These Stellar pans heat and cool quickly, even more so on an induction hob, making cooking pasta and rice very efficient. The measurement markings on the inside of the pan and heat-resistant handles are also a big help.
Best overall pans for induction hobs
This set, which is crafted from stainless steel and non-stick material, is the ultimate set for an induction hob. Ideal Home's expert tester Helen found that the flat bases on these pans made them ideal for use on an induction, and that's just the first of many compliments she paid this set when she tried it at home.
It's the most expensive set on this list by far, but for your money you get access to unbeatable cooking quality at home. And, while the set is quite the expense, you can buy each piece separately via the HexClad website too.
So what makes them so great? According to Helen, there was no trace of sticking whatsoever during her many tests, which ranged from fried eggs to a batch of caramelised pecans. Halloumi, a sticky stir fry and steak all proved no match for the powers of these HexClad pans.
Helen also found them easy to clean, even in the case of the aforementioned caramel, and they are dishwasher-safe too. Her final verdict was that 'these pans are very well designed and cook foods brilliantly'.
Our HexClad 7 Piece Hybrid Cookware Set review has the full details.
Best Ninja induction pans
The Ninja Foodi Zerostick Stackable pan set includes three well-sized, long-handled pots (the largest of which is big enough for stocks and generous batch cooking) and two frying pans – between them they have most of your hob-cooking needs covered.
The sleek style of these pans means they’ll look at home in any kitchen – but they get just as many points for practicality as they do for style. Oven safe up to most cookers’ maximum temperature, they’re versatile and dishwasher safe, and the robust handles have a flat surface which is great for resting your spatula on. When I was testing them, I noticed how effective and hardy the non-stick coating is – it’s scratch-resistant and even safe for using metal utensils on.
These pans are great value and will last the distance in even the busiest of home kitchens. They’re all double-handled too, making for easy manoeuvring.
Best frying pan for induction hobs
This is the best-looking pan I tested, and it's also in our guide to the best non-stick frying pans. Its lovely matte-textured outer finish is modern and tactile, while the inside is silky smooth thanks to a ceramic coating (which makes for an effective non-stick cooking surface). It comes in ten colours too, meaning it’ll look the part in any kitchen.
Designed to act as a frying pan, saute pan, steamer and saucepan, the aptly named Always Pan is, I can confirm after testing, competent enough to take on a range of culinary tasks – I used it for everything from whipping up stews to frying omelettes and steaming veg. It comes with a spatula that nests happily on a little notch on the handle, has pouring spouts on both sides for getting rid of excess fat, and includes a removable steamer basket.
Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, the Always Pan has an easy-grip, stay-cool handle, and a generous size – it’s bigger than any of the frying pans on this list. And, now the 2.0 version is oven-safe which is a win.
Best hob-to-table pan for induction hobs
This is a classic kitchen staple from the well-respected and long-established Le Creuset brand. It’s an investment for sure, but one that should last a lifetime – and then some.
Made from hardy, induction-friendly cast iron, this lidded pot is coated with ceramic to give it an easy-clean, effortlessly non-stick finish. Even the burnt-on cassoulet residue from testing wiped away with ease. There’s no need to be precious and handwash this hardy number either – it’s totally dishwasher safe, with no danger of regular cycles impairing its performance.
Cast iron retains heat really well and, indeed, in testing, I found this hob-to-oven-to-table superstar gave even results when cooking and kept our food hot long after I’d taken it off the heat.
Best stainless steel pans for induction hob
This saucepan set is your ticket to cooking rice, pasta and all sorts of family-sized meals more efficiently. The generous sizes mean you can easily batch cook with this set – which is exactly what I did in testing – and the 3 ply material means that setting one of these pots to boil with water takes less time than other options. Fast to heat and fast to cool, this set feels incredibly efficient.
Fine to be flung in the oven or the dishwasher, I found these pans to be happily low-maintenance and easy to use. They’re surprisingly lightweight given the quality and the handles stay cool even when you'd expect them not to.
How we test the best induction pans
We take how we test products that we recommend to you here at Ideal Home very seriously. For this task, I put these pans to the test by using them for everyday family meals. Frying pans were used for everything from making omelettes to cooking bacon, while saucepans were employed to make the likes of dal and pasta sauces, and lidded pots were filled with stews and cassoulet.
All the pans that specified they were dishwasher safe were put through a cycle or three as well, to see how they faired.
When cooking with the pans, I was looking for a nice even distribution of heat – no hot spots causing burning or cool areas leaving food undercooked – as well as easy handling, good non-stick abilities and great cleaning results.
FAQs
How to choose the best pan for induction hobs
When you’re choosing induction pans to cook with, there’s plenty to consider. Think about what you’ll be using them for – do you need frying pans or casserole-style pots with lids perhaps, or will simple saucepans do the trick? Also, do you often transfer your pots from hob to oven when cooking?
It’s helpful to have pans in a range of sizes for induction hobs too – the rings are different diameters and need to be matched to a pan that fits snugly.
If you have a dishwasher, think about whether you’ll be willing to hand wash your pots, or if you want ones that will fair well being thrown in the machine at the end of each day. Also consider how much storage space you have available – if your cupboards are already full-to-bursting, perhaps a multi-use pan or a stackable set would be the best idea.
What are the best pans to use on an induction hob?
Unfortunately, the pans you use on a traditional gas hob probably won't be compatible with an induction hob. That's because the best pans to use on an induction hob need to be ferrous and magnetic in order to heat up and cook your food.
While cast iron and stainless steel pans are compatible with induction hobs, it's best to keep an eye out for these pans that have a magnetic base. After all, it's the pan itself that creates the heat - rather than the hob - so you need to ensure that the base is able to do that.
How can I tell if my pans are suitable for an induction hob?
The easiest way to tell if your pans are suitable for an induction hob is to grab a magnet and see how it reacts to the base of your pan. If it pulls towards your pan and sticks to the bottom, it'll be compatible with your induction hob.
If not, we're sorry to say that your pans aren't suitable for an induction hob. This means that you'll need to replace your pans with induction-friendly pans if you want to cook anything on your new hob.
Well, there you have it. If you're planning on replacing your conventional hob with an induction hob or you're just on the lookout to replace your old induction pans, these should certainly fit the bill.
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