The seduction hob*

Talking about the possible turning-off of the Aga, I said that the only problem with the Baby Belling is that the two electric rings are higher than is convenient when it’s placed on the kitchen counter.  LT suggested buying an electric induction hob, freestanding, to use instead.  I was a bit dubious, because it would be one more thing to store when not in use, but I looked at the John Lewis website this morning and found just the thing – one with a single ring, it’s small enough not to be in the way at all.  So if we were cooking something that needed stirring, it could go on that, whilst something that could simmer away undisturbed could go on the Belling.  And there were two in stock at the shop in Norwich, it said.  So, after breakfast, I turned off the Aga, changed into something less casual – I didn’t want kind people to assume I was a bag lady and give me money – we drank coffee and set off.  On the way, we stocked up on beer at the Co op because Phil is going to be here at the weekend and we didn’t want to have run out.  There is plenty of beer at the Co op in Yagnub and no sign of panic buying as yet.

In short, it’s just the thing and we think it’ll be very useful, even when the Aga is on.  A nice little gadget.  I cooked dinner on it, and the Belling, this evening, which was a bit of a workout for me.  I decided to cook eggs Florentine, because we have a lot of eggs and spinach, with courgette because they have to be eaten daily or else we will be overwhelmed with socking great vegetable marrows.  That meant one pan for spinach, another for courgettes, another for cheese sauce and, at the end, the spinach pan was reused to poach the eggs.  Then the whole thing went under the grill for a few minutes at the end.  I was also chopping and stirring and grating and so on – even though the kitchen was not Aga-heated, I was a bit hot and bothered by the end.  But it was all a success and the new hob is quick to get going, unlike the electric rings.  The other lucky thing was that the new frying pans I bought last year are suitable, as are my stainless steel pans and the non-stick milk saucepan.

The instruction leaflet reads as if it’s been translated from a language very different from English, so I didn’t bother with it.  Tim, who is more sensible than I am (yeah, really) did, so when I kept saying oh blimey, what’s happening now, he was able to reassure me.  Which is one of the things that husbands do, innit.

*because it remains hot, even when switched off.

4 comments on “The seduction hob*

  1. Glenda Barnett

    Had to look up what a hob is. sounds very efficient. we have an electric range which is burners i
    on the top and an oven. Using the oven will heat up the kitchen a bit. However, summers here in Kentucky are so hot and very,very humid we have to have AC or literally fall over dead, I believe.

    Reply
    1. Z Post author

      The Aga has two big ovens and two hotplates, and it runs at full heat all the time, great in winter but it’s a bit much now. There aren’t enough hot days to make AC worthwhile in houses – shops are another matter – but at least an electric fan keeps the air moving.

      Reply

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