ᐅ Kitchen Island in Practice

So our kitchen will only be delivered in December. The island is 1 x 2 meters (3.3 x 6.6 feet) with a 90 cm (35 inches) induction cooktop. Plenty of workspace; I would have liked to have a small prep sink as well, but that was overruled.

Advantages:

- Faster heating
- Surface cools down faster after switching off, greatly reducing the risk of burns.
- Flexible zones possible. You can place a pot anywhere on the cooktop and turn it on, no matter where it is.

Disadvantage:

- Special cookware is required.

For example, I would include a kitchen island only because I think it looks cool. Behind it, on the countertop, I have about 2-3 meters (6.5-10 feet) of free length left (the sink is already accounted for). I’m not sure what to do with all that space... Apart from a kitchen island, the only options seem to be keeping an open area or adding a bar/counter. In the end, I’m not really happy with either option. So what should I do with all that space? Any ideas? Oh, and unfortunately, I can’t change the layout, as the width is limited by a balcony door.

Although calling it "special" might be an exaggeration. We were able to continue using all our pans and pots after switching to induction. They just need to be magnetic. I also really like induction and wouldn’t want to be without it anymore (unless gas cooking is available). However, I could easily do without a kitchen island.

I would probably prefer a work island rather than a cooking island. That means placing the cooktop on the counter with the sink.

We switched from gas to induction cooking and are completely satisfied. Until moving, I had cooked and baked exclusively with gas my entire life, and at first, I found it hard to give it up because the gas line would have had to be newly installed from the basement to the kitchen. Now I cook just as quickly, but the kitchen stays much cleaner than it did with gas. Overall, I definitely do not regret making the switch.

We also have a kitchen island. I believe it measures about 180 by 1.20 meters (6 by 4 feet) with an 80 cm (31.5 inch) induction cooktop. It is definitely not more demanding to maintain than a cooktop installed along the countertop. Splashes that used to land on the wall behind the cooktop now simply fall on the surface behind it. Those that previously fell on the floor in front of it still end up on the floor. We have plenty of space on both sides of the cooktop. We really like the kitchen island. I would prefer it over a simple bar counter because it can be easily repurposed for parties and gatherings.

Regarding the cooktop, I would also favor induction over a ceramic hob (I’m not familiar with gas cooktops). The plates heat up incredibly fast. In power mode, I heated water in a pot noticeably faster than with an electric kettle. Plus, you can control the temperature very well since it heats up quickly but also cools down quickly.