Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as stovetops in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans with electric or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best hob suits your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and hobs splatters are quickly wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your electricity bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted through rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs also have very high rate of heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch after being shut off. This can be a challenge if you have children, so it's advisable to install them in a place that is away from any flammable items and away from little ones.
This kind of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent alternative if you are looking to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. You'll need to buy cookware that is either exactly the same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs have a sleek and modern appearance. They are more expensive than electric hobs, and may require professional installations. However, they heat up faster and a full pot of water can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of hob is also a great option for hobs oven cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being generated. However, it should be noted that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and may require cleaning more frequently, as grease and residue build up tends to stick instead of slipping off.
One of the best ovens examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and modern cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left of the gas hob features an inner burner that doubles to improve heat distribution and speed up cooking. It also comes with a handy power indicator that lets you control the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, such as the highest setting for sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well appreciated by our testers who found them be extremely easy to use. A few minor issues are that you have to press the controls nine more times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. It's not going to win any design awards, but it will perform the task and be an excellent option for your kitchen at just over PS120.
Electric hobs Oven
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They are not only sleek and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're constructed with a sleek glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges and scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster function which allows you to boost the heat for a short duration.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that is a good option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under a flat glass layer, like a traditional gas stove. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks, but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes a long time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs on the other hand are more energy efficient and easier to clean.
For the highest level of modern efficiency, you can even find electric hobs and ovens compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to fit your lifestyle. But, it's important to keep in mind that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a specific 6mm cable in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils create an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils create magnetic fields which directly heat the pan instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't waste any heat.
There are many models of induction stoves, starting with the basic models with a single zone identified by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that can have up to six zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these premium models come with an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are believed to be more energy efficient in the long run as they heat up much faster and use a smaller space to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They cool down faster and have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families that have children or elderly people. However, they can create magnetic fields that can affect medical devices such as pacemakers so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you will need to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can purchase a specialist cleaner to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for a longer time. Just be sure to never use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.