Types of Hobs

A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can choose one that fits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic surface and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are elegant and chic and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek appearance. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that is easy to clean, which means spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your electricity bills. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to change temperature settings and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires an instant reduction or increase in heat.

Electric hobs consist of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted by the rotary knobs. You can also use the 'boost' feature in order to boost the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they have been turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in an area that is far from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.

This kind of hob is able to be mounted on a variety of worktops including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and is a great option if you want to replace your stove without spending a lot. However, just like any other appliance, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains power supply, so we suggest hiring an electrician professional to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to the pan's size ovens and hobs uk shape. You'll need to buy cookware that either matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs oven made of gas have a sleek and modern look. While they can cost more than electric models and require professional installation, they often take less time to heat up - it's not unusual for a full pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a great choice for cooks who prefer to control the amount of heat being produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they are more likely to accumulate grease and other residue.

A great example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs for a an elegant and sophisticated look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is an attractive slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual rings that are located to the left of the hob features the double inner flame to improve even heat distribution and speeds up cooking times. It also features a handy power level indicator, which allows you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including a high setting for searing steaks and a low setting for scrambled eggs.

The simple and easy-to-use controls were also loved by our test subjects, who found them to be very simple to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you have to press the controls nine more times to reach the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs can be found at affordable prices like this Neff model. It's not likely to win any design awards however it's going to do the job and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just more than 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

There are a variety of electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. They're not only sleek and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're constructed with a sleek polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also often equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a short period of time.

Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs cook your food directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a particular type of pan to work with them and are costly to set up.

A gas-on-glass hob is a different option that's a great choice for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it comes with the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.

While gas hobs are still an option that is popular with home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes an extended time to heat up and cool off. Electric hobs, on the other side, are more energy efficient and are easier to clean.

You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, giving you the flexibility needed to meet your needs. It's important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.

Induction hobs

On the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields which directly heat the pan instead of heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient in energy use, since they don't squander heat.

There are many models of induction stoves, Best Hobs from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone labelled by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves that can have up to 6 zones that allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously on one flex area. Certain models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to the way you operate an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs oven are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient over the long term. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating area which could reduce your energy bills. They cool quicker and also are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with elderly or children. However, they do produce magnetic fields that can affect medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean, as food and debris can build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or opt for a specialist product to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. Be sure to not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on your induction hob as they can scratch the surface.