Ten Hobs Ovens That Really Change Your Life

Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best fits your kitchen and your style.

Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can easily be cleaned when spills or splatters happen. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you have to cook something that requires quick decrease or an increase in temperature.

Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high rate of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in an area that is far from flammable items ovens and hobs out of reach of children.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up in a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be an excellent option if you want to replace your old stoves without spending a large amount of money. However, just like any other appliance, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we would recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure that your new hobs oven are safe for use.

This type of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You'll need cookware that's either exactly the same dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware doesn't fit the element, it will not recognise it and will not begin to heat up the base of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for an elegant, modern look. Although they may be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who need to control the amount of heat that is generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to accumulate grease and sludge.

A great example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. The wok ring is 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob has two burners inside to improve the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also features an indicator for power that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including the high setting for searing steaks and a low setting for scrambled eggs.

Its simple yet easy-to-use controls were also loved by our test subjects who found them be extremely easy to use. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest level of heating, and that it can be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass.

Some of the best gas on glass hobs are available at affordable prices like this Neff model. It's not going to win any design awards, but it will perform the task and be an excellent addition to your kitchen for just over PS120.

Electric hobs

There are a number of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They not only offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, quicker and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.

One of the most sought-after electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They are designed with sleek glazed finishes, and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature that allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.

Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs cook your food directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric and gas plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and could be expensive to put in.

Glass hobs with gas are a great alternative for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, similar to a conventional gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs are equipped with an "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the heat.

Although gas hobs are an option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to cool down and warm down and their flame can be hard to control. Electric hobs, on the other side are more efficient in energy and easier to clean.

There are even electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to keep in mind that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a specific 6mm cable in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for those with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils create an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils create magnetic fields that directly heat the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy perspective, as there's no residual heat being wasted.

There are a variety of models of induction stoves from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone labelled by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked on one flex area. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to the way you operate an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired heat level left to right increases heat and right to left reduces it. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient over the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating space which could reduce your energy costs. They cool down faster, and they have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly residents. They do, however, generate magnetic forces that can affect certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and ovens avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.

As with all electric hobs you will have to clean your electric hob on a regular basis, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use a standard oven hob cleaning product or invest in a professional one to keep your hob in good condition and shining for longer. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or a scouring pad on your stove, as they can scratch the surface.