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 many different kinds of hobs, so you can choose one that fits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with a flat ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek design. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They heat up quickly and are energy-efficient which means they can cut down on the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires a quick decrease or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via rotating knobs. You can even use the boost feature to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have extremely high degree of heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up in a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent option if you want to replace your stove without spending a large amount of money. Like all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new ovens hobs are safe to use.
This type of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's either the exact dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it won't recognize it and won't start to heat the base of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and will make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass best hobs uk made of gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. They can be more expensive than electric models, and may require professional installations. However, they heat up faster - an entire pot of water can often boil within less than four minutes. This kind of stove is also a great option for cooks who want to regulate the amount of heat being produced. However, it must be observed that a glass-based hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and will likely require cleaning more often, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stick rather than slide off.
One of the best ovens and hobs examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. The wok ring is 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines an attractive slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the gas hob provides a double inner burner to improve the distribution of heat and speed up cooking. It also features an easy-to-read power indicator that allows you to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled egg.
The simple and intuitive controls were also well loved by our test subjects who found them to be extremely easy to use. Some minor disadvantages are that you must physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest heating level and it can be difficult to see the status of the burners through the glass.
Some of the best ovens and hobs uk gas-on-glass hobs can be found at affordable prices like this Neff model. While it's not going to win any design awards but it can do the job well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're made with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges or scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost function which lets you increase the temperature of your stove for a brief period of time.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. They are therefore more energy efficient ovens and hobs uk provide precise temperature control. However they require a certain type of pan to work with them and can be costly to set up.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a different option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it features the burner underneath a layer of flat glass. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than glass that's tempered. A lot of these hobs have a "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.
While gas hobs remain an option that is popular with home cooks however, 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 difficult to manage. Electric hobs, on the other hand, are more efficient in energy use and easy to clean.
There are electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, so you'll be able to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs will require installation by a registered gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for those with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils create an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly within the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy perspective, as there's no residual heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction hob that range from basic ones with one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones and allow you to cook several pots simultaneously in one flexible zone. Some of these models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to how you operate an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have preset settings for certain food types or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more efficient in the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating space which can lower the cost of energy. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design with no hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with children or older people who live in the house. However, they can create a magnetic field which could affect medical devices like pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to clean your electric hob on a regular basis, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or you can purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your hob sparkling and in good order for longer. You should never use the abrasive cleaning products or the a scouring pad on your stove as they may scratch the surface.