Power boost (P or B)
The zone runs above its highest normal setting for a short time, to bring a large pan of water to the boil faster.
What it is for
Use it for the first minutes of boiling pasta water or blanching, then drop back to a normal setting: it switches itself off anyway. On most induction hobs zones are paired, so boosting one zone can turn its partner down or off.
Makes differ, check your hob’s manual: the same letter or drawing can do a different job on another brand, and only your model’s manual gives its exact times and limits.
- What it looks like
- A letter P in the zone display, or a key marked boost, B or a double arrow pointing up; pressing + past 9 often gets you there.
- Names makers use
- PowerBoost (Bosch); Booster, shown as “P” (Whirlpool); Booster and TwinBooster, key B (Miele); Power function (AEG)
Where makes differ
The time limit changes by make: Whirlpool’s booster drops the zone to level 9 after 10 minutes, Miele’s lasts up to 15 minutes, and AEG’s Power function runs for a limited time given in its technical data. Bosch only allows PowerBoost when the other zone of the same pair is not in use; otherwise the display flashes and falls back to 9.
What it does not mean
P does not mean pause or a programme here: on the zone display it is the boost level. Nor is boost a safe setting to cook on — it is for heating up, not for frying unattended.
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No published standard we could check defines hob control icons, so this meaning is taken from 4 makers’ own manuals and support pages, each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Bosch: Bosch — Instruction manual PIE...F... hob (9000884453) — “The Powerboost function can be used to heat large amounts of water more quickly than the power level 9”; only if the other zone of the same group is not operating, and it “may turn off automatically in order to protect the electronic components”. Checked 2026-09-28.
- Whirlpool: Whirlpool — Induction hob instructions for use (flexible-zone models) — “Fast boil function (Booster)… press the “+” button until “P” appears on the display. After 10 minutes’ use of the booster function, the appliance automatically sets the zone to level 9.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- Miele: Miele — Operating and installation instructions, induction hobs KM 7897 FL (en-GB) — “Booster: When activated, the power is boosted so that large quantities can be heated up quickly… The boost in power is active for a maximum of 15 minutes”; other pans on the same side get less power. Checked 2026-09-28.
- AEG: AEG — HKP85410FB induction hob user manual — “Power function: This function makes more power available to the induction cooking zones… for a limited period of time. After this time the induction cooking zone automatically sets back to the highest heat setting.” Checked 2026-09-28.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.