Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are many different kinds of Hobs oven, and you can choose one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek appearance. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that is easy to clean, which means spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient, which can reduce your electric bill. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow to adjust temperature settings which can be a problem if you're cooking something that requires immediate reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted by the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs also have a extremely high degree of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being turned off. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a location that is away from flammable items and away from children's reach.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up on a variety of worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great option if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. Like any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
This type of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. It is essential to purchase cookware that either is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element will not recognize it and won't begin to heat up the base of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer a sleek, modern aesthetic. They are more expensive than electric models and could require professional installation. However, they heat up faster and an entire pot of water can typically boil within less than four minutes. This type of hob also is ideal for cooks who wish to control how much heat is produced. However, it must be noted that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel ones and will likely require cleaning more often, since the accumulation of grease and residue tends to remain instead of slipping off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal to create a sleek, elegant appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the hob has an inner flame that doubles to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution, which in turn increases cooking time. It also features a handy power level indicator that helps to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-set settings, like high settings to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.
Our test participants also liked the controls as they were simple and intuitive. Some minor issues 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 discern the status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the best gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They are not only sleek and stylish, they are they are also more efficient, safer, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They're constructed with a sleek glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges or scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function, which allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a brief period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However they require a certain type of pan to work with them and can be costly to install.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a great alternative for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath an underlying layer of flat glass. However, this glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much easier to clean than standard tempered glass. A majority of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs oven remain a popular option for many home cooks however they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to warm up and cool down and their flames can be difficult to control. Electric hobs, on other hand are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
There are even electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, providing you with the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. It is important to note, however, that these hobs require the installation of an accredited gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils create an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that heat the pan directly rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient from a energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, from the basic entry-level ones oven with hob a single zone labelled by rings, to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked within a flex area. Certain models have a touch slider control that resembles to how you operate on an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar located in the middle to select the desired heat level, left to right boosts heat and right-to-left decreases it. Some models have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are considered to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much quicker and have a smaller area to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They cool faster, and they have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families that have children or elderly residents. However, they do produce magnetic fields that could cause interference with 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 need to keep your electric hob clean, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can make use of a basic oven hob cleaning product or invest in a professional one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for longer. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the scouring pad on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.