Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and ovens are a popular feature in many kitchens. They are available in various designs. You can mix and match different varieties such as domino, electric and gas to suit your cooking requirements.
A hob can also have safety features like child and position controls. They can stop children from touching the hob and prevent them from changing the temperature settings by accident.
Types
The hob is the main focal point of any kitchen and can have a major impact on the outcome of your cooking. There are many different types of hobs, and the one you select will depend on the needs of your kitchen.
Gas hobs are the classic option and provide a quick heating process and instant reaction to temperature changes. Professional chefs prefer them because they provide precise control. They aren't as simple to clean as other stoves and could require more frequent maintenance.
Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface with heated elements underneath and can come in different sizes that have between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has a separate heating element which you can regulate individually. You can boil potatoes in one ring and cook sausages on a different. This type of hob is much easier to start heating than gas, and also offers an alternative that is safer for children as the cooking zone gets hot only when you place the pot on it.
Ceramic hobs offer a stylish and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have an even and smooth surface that is easy to clean. However they aren't as quick to respond to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.
The Domino hob is an alternative to electric and gas hobs. It incorporates ovens under the cooking surface. They are perfect for kitchens with little space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are often less expensive than standard hobs and can be energy-efficient, but they are also prone to breaking and require greater maintenance.
Gas
Gas hobs are cooktops that have burners that can be easily integrated into kitchen countertops to give a seamless appearance. They are typically used with natural or the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but they can also be powered by propane gas. The sleek, modern design could bring sophistication to your modular cooking space.
A traditional gas stove is equipped with a number of burners. Usually there are four burners, but it could be as many as six. The flames are ignited using the use of a match or the knob. The flames are controlled by the valves that can be adjusted to regulate temperature.
Most modern built-in gas stoves, on the other hand, have burners with multiple flames. This lets you control both the inner and outer ring for each burner to allow you to precisely control your cooking. These burners are faster and more reliable than older models.
In the past, it was necessary for the gas stove to be continuously lit to ensure that the burners remained hot and fueled. This was to avoid accidents, such as not turning on the oven when the stove was still lit with the help of a match or a pilot light. Modern cookers have been designed with safety as a top priority. They come equipped with a fire failure device that shuts off the burners in the event that the pilot light is not working.
Gas stoves and hobs must be inspected, cleaned, and maintained regularly. To do this, you should arrange a visit with an Gas Safe registered engineer. Not only will they be able to ensure that your appliance is operating properly, but they can also provide expert advice and suggestions on how to avoid issues in the future.
Electric
A good hob is just as important in making your kitchen the best oven it can be. Worktops, refrigerators, freezers, and ovens are the first items that come to mind. The type of hob that you select will influence the way your kitchen works and how easy it is for you to clean it.
Electric hobs have heating elements that are placed on a smooth glass surface. The glass surface is typically cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you turn on the oven and can be adjusted to various power levels by turning a knob. It may take them a little bit longer to get heated up, but once they have they tend to provide better and more consistent temperature control. They also have built-in indicators that inform you when a space is active or hot from cooking.
Typically, these come in four to six different sized rings which can be adjusted to different power levels. They are great for cookware with a flat base, but not for cast iron pans since they can get hot. Some models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs that allow you to cook sausages and boil water on the same ring. Some models come with a Boost function that focuses high heat into one ring. This is great for stir-frying, searing meat, or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs differ from standard electric hobs in that they utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, rather than the conventional method of gas flames. This allows them to achieve precise temperatures in a short period of time, making them extremely energy efficient. They feature a cool to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that indicate whether a ring was used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramics can be used to make functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders, and water, before firing it in a hot oven, also known as Kiln. Once made it can be sprayed with decorative or paint-like substances to add color and texture.
Ceramic hobs are a beautiful blend of form and function and can be found in any modern kitchen. They operate using radiant heating technology, which passes an electric current through coiled elements hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. These generate heat when activated, and this is transferred to your pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the degree of heating by using the knobs or touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs come with dual ring designs, with one smaller and a larger cooking zone, allowing you to choose the best ovens size for your pan. You can also buy hobs with boosters that produce high-powered heat rapidly. This is ideal for searing food or bringing pans to a boil quickly.
Compared to other types of hobs ceramic cooktops take a little longer to heat up and change temperature, but once they do they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. There are vented hobs that incorporate a ventilation system into the cooktop's ceramic, making sure that the cooking smells don't stay in your home.
Induction
The heating elements inside the induction hobs are a set of copper wire coils beneath the surface. They generate electromagnets to heat pans that sit on them. The coils stir the free electrons inside the base metal of your pan, which then transfers heat evenly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot, and when you take off your pan the cooking zones are turned off automatically.
Induction hobs are typically more expensive, but they also heat up faster and use 30-70% lower energy than gas or other kinds. They are also easier to clean, since the surface of the hob isn't heated, but the contents of your pan do.
Some manufacturers have an induction model that has additional features, for instance a pause feature that cuts off the energy to your stove when you leave or connect two cooking rings at the same power for greater flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs and can be more expensive than traditional induction models but they're worth looking into if prefer to multitask.
This induction hob is our favorite. It comes with four large cooking zones as well as a Bridge function and nine power settings, which gives you a lot of options for cooks who want to be more adventurous. In our tests, it performed very well with precise control and quick heating when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with dishwasher built-in and an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning even simpler. There is a limited selection of compatible pans, however, and it can't be used to cook with utensils that have a magnetic base. It could be a problem when you have a large amount of cookware that's not compatible, or only the smallest portion is compatible with induction cooktops.