Electrolux 700 Series EIS6448 induction hob test: the recipe for success

As we know, induction hobs are not the most stylish appliances we have come across. Yet Electrolux has made an effort with the Series 700 EIS6448, even if the parallel lines that run on the surface remain very discreet. Always with aesthetic concerns in mind, the Swede has renewed the three-pointed star screen printing to help the user place his utensils correctly. Spoiler alert, it is always so difficult to position pans and saucepans in the right place for maximum efficiency of the inductors. Certainly, circles or discs would have been much less original, but also particularly more practical.

The four foci are separated into two pairs. Those on the right side will remain irretrievably solitary, while those on the left can be combined to form a single large cooking zone, as indicated by the serigraphs on the glass – we are talking about combinable and not flexible zones.

It is therefore through a touch screen that the cook will adjust the parameters of the 700 Series EIS6448 hob. The manipulations are more or less the same as those required to use a plate with sensitive keys, but the screen brings its (small) batch of novelties. Basically, you first choose a cooking zone. The slider is then displayed with which you can set the desired power level (nine levels plus the boost function). You get used to this way of doing things very quickly, even if the screen, for this manual mode in any case, seems to us a bit under-exploited. Direct access to the inductor settings, without having to select the zone before modulating the power (as on the Haier HAIPSJ64MC), for example, would have made it possible to gain in responsiveness.

If the Series 700 EIS6448 gains a little in ease of use, it is above all thanks to the cooking assistant. Indeed, via the screen, a lot of very different information can be displayed and Electrolux has set up some automatic programs to make life easier for cooks. To access it, you have to touch the sensitive key adorned with three parallel horizontal bars to open the main home page. Let’s move on to the anecdotal “table functions”, which only give one possibility (melt) and on the adjustment of the plate options (level of screen brightness, volume of indications, etc.) to focus on the assisted cooking tab. After pressing this button, the screen displays six main categories: Meat, Fish and Seafood, Eggs, Potatoes, Vegetables, Crêpes/Pancakes. All that remains is to navigate within the logical tree structure to find the preparation to be cooked; the plate will adjust itself to the correct level.

Once these steps have been completed, the chef can set a timer or adapt the power of the inductors according to his habits or utensils. Finally, a scrolling text gives him some instructions (basic, but necessary) for successful cooking, such as the location that was used, or to turn the food from time to time.

Once again, Electrolux does not seem to go all the way with its ideas. Because if we can only praise the intentions of the manufacturer, we quickly find ourselves grabbing all the food. However, induction hobs are capable of many other things such as keeping warm or gently simmering a dish with sauce.

The cooking performance of the Electrolux Series 700 EIS6448 is quite excellent.

Without being the fastest to raise the temperature, it is still very fast. Indeed, it only takes 5 min 30 s to heat 3 liters of water from 25°C to 95°C. And it only takes an additional 35 s to grab the last five degrees Celsius that separate the temperature from the 100°C we are looking for.

What does not spoil anything, this speed does not prevent it from managing low powers and low temperatures very effectively. After two hours of heating on the smallest inductor at the lowest power, the temperature of our oil bath does not exceed 49°C. Distracted bakers can therefore let their melted chocolate simmer safely. It will not burn and will retain an easy-to-work texture, even if the recommended temperature for this is 55°C.

Last point of importance, the heat is well distributed in the utensils, whether the large inductor or the small one is used. It will therefore not be necessary to stir the hazelnut apples more than necessary for them to be golden brown. The steak will also be cooked evenly, without the need to turn and move it too often.

On the other hand, it is preferable to stay close to the plate if the twinnable zone is used. Indeed, our thermal pictures show a great disparity in temperatures. While this isn’t detrimental to long-term simmering of a casserole dish at reasonable power (which needs to be simmered anyway), we’re a little less confident about cooking a fish in a fishmonger. Let’s temper this poor assessment a little by specifying that, so far, no matchable zone has fully convinced us.