By Meike van Dongen · Veem, Amsterdam · 7 August 2026
Buying pans that do not match your hob is the fastest way to waste money in the kitchen. One test settles it.
The magnet test for induction
Hold a fridge magnet against the bottom of the pan: sticks firmly = works on induction; does not stick = it never will. Aluminium and copper pans without a magnetic base stay cold on an induction hob.
Material vs hob in one table
| Material | Gas | Induction | Ceramic/electric | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | Yes | Usually (magnet test) | Yes | Durable, oven-safe, no coating to damage |
| Non-stick (coated) | Yes | Check base | Yes | Eggs and pancakes, low-fat cooking |
| Cast iron | Yes | Yes | Yes, heat slowly | Searing and stews, lasts a lifetime |
| Aluminium (uncoated base) | Yes | No | Yes | Light and fast heating |
How many pans do you actually need?
Three cover almost everything: a 24-28 cm frying pan, a 20 cm saucepan and one large cooking pot. Buy those in good quality instead of a ten-piece set in poor quality.
Care in short
Never heat an empty non-stick pan above medium, deglaze stainless steel while hot to prevent sticking spots, and dry cast iron immediately after washing.