Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans with flame or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best fits your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs are equipped with flat ceramic surfaces and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs oven
Ceramic hobs provide modern and sleek design which can greatly enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of the heat.
Electric hobs use an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. They can be controlled individually by rotary knobs and nipped to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a specific zone. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, and even after they are turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in an area that is away from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be installed in a variety of worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be a great option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs will be safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. It is essential to purchase cookware that matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't match the element, it will not recognize it and will not begin to heat up the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in design. They are more expensive than electric models and may require professional installations. However they heat up faster and an entire pot of water will typically boil in less than four minutes. This kind of stove is also a great choice for cooks who want to regulate the amount of heat being produced. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and residue.
One of the best ovens uk examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated look. The wok ring is 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the hob offers a double inner flame to improve even heat distribution which accelerates cooking time. It also comes with a handy power level indicator that allows you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings, including the highest setting for searing steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
Its simple yet intuitive controls were appreciated by our testers who found them be very easy to use. A few minor issues are that you have to press the controls nine more times to reach the highest heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass hobs available at an affordable price. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards but it can do the job well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They're not only sleek and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. These hobs have an elegant glazed finish and feature a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They also come with a power booster feature which allows you to boost your heat for a short time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob uk that is perfect for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and can be costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is a second option that's an excellent option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it comes with the burner underneath the glass is a flat layer. However it's heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much easier to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs have the "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the heat.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for many home chefs however they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take a while to heat up and cool down and their flames 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 a variety of fuels, providing you with the flexibility to meet your needs. But, it's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
On the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a stove, the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy perspective since there's no heat being wasted.
There are many different models of induction hobs that range from basic ones with one cooking zone that is with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones, allowing you to cook several pots simultaneously on one flex zone. Some of these premium models have a touch slider control that looks very similar to how you operate on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for certain recipes or food types which can save you time and ovens effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more energy efficient over the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating which could reduce your energy costs. They also cool faster and have a more secure design that doesn't have hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or elderly people living in the house. They do, however, create magnetic forces that can interfere with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean, because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can employ a standard oven cleaner or invest in a specialist one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for a longer time. You should never use any abrasive cleaning product or scouring pad on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.