Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that best ovens fits your kitchen and your style.
Induction hobs come with flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and come with four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be cleaned up when spills or splatters happen. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your energy bills. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to change temperature settings, which can be frustrating when cooking food that requires a quick reduction or increase in temperature.
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 by rotating knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a particular area. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch even after being turned off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is away from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.
This kind of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be an excellent alternative if you are looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. However, just like any other appliance, they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains, and we recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need cookware that's either exactly the same size as the element or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't match the element, it won't recognize it and won't begin to heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven results in cooking and makes the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for an elegant, modern look. They can be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating and an entire pot of water will typically boil within less than four minutes. This kind of hob is also a great option for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being produced. However, it must be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel ones and will require cleaning more often, since grease and residue build up tends to remain rather than slide off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners finished in matt black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is a stylish slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left of the gas hob features a double inner burner to increase the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also features a handy power level indicator, which assists in regulating the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings including the highest setting for searing steaks and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were loved by our test subjects, who found them to be extremely easy to use. Some minor disadvantages include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest level of heating, and that it can be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that are available at a low cost. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards but it can do the job well and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They are not only elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. They're constructed with a sleek glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. They also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase your heat for a short time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. This means they are more energy-efficient and have precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and can be costly to set up.
Glass hobs with gas are a different option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it has an oven that is surrounded by the glass is a flat layer. However, this glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than the typical glass that's tempered. A lot of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
While gas hobs are still an option for many home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes an extended time to get hot and cool off. In contrast, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
For the highest level of modern technology, you can even find electric hobs oven compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to fit your needs. It's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by an approved gas safe engineer ovens and hobs will require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils run an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields which heat the pan directly rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy point of view since there's no heat that is wasted.
There are a variety of models of an induction hob, from basic entry level ones that have a single cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots at once on a flexible zone. Some of these premium models feature a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar located in the middle to select the desired temperature, left to right boosts heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models have preset settings for certain food types or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient in the long term. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller area for heating which can lower your energy costs. They cool quicker and are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them ideal for families that have children or elderly people. However, they do produce magnetic fields that can cause interference with medical devices such as pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use an oven uk cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. Be sure to not use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.