Types of Hobs
A hob, also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans with electric power or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, and you can choose one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic cooking surface and have five or four zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have modern and sleek design which can greatly enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can reduce the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you are cooking something that requires a quick decrease or an increase in the heat.
Electric Hobs oven hob - Sbsme.sbsd.co.kr, consist of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted through the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, so even when they are turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge when you have children, so it's advisable to only install them in a location that is well away from flammable objects and not within reach of young children.
This type of hob can be installed on a variety worktops, including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and can be a great option for those trying to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains, and we recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. You'll need cookware that is either the exact same dimensions 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, the element won't recognise it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have modern, sleek design. They can be more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster and an entire pot of water will typically boil within less than four minutes. This kind of stove is also a great choice for cooks who like to control the amount of heat being produced. However, it must be noted that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and will need to be cleaned more often, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface rather than slide off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to create a sleek, elegant appearance. It also has a 4kW wok ring to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob features an inner flame that doubles to improve uniform heat distribution and speeds up cooking times. It also features a handy power indicator that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings including the high setting for searing steaks and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our testers also liked the controls, as they were easy to use and intuitive. Some minor drawbacks are that you need to press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
Some of the best gas-on-glass hobs oven can be found at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. It's not going win any design awards however it's going to do the job and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They not only offer a sleek design that fits into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, quicker and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. These hobs are designed with a sleek glazed finish, and feature a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function which lets you increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.
Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However they require a particular type of pan to function and are costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that is a good choice for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempering glass. A majority of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is heated.
Gas hobs remain a preferred option for many home cooks however they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take an extended time to get hot and cool off. However, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, so you'll be able to suit your lifestyle. It is important to remember that these hobs require installation by an approved gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
On the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils create magnetic fields which directly heat the pan rather than heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy perspective because there's no leftover heat being wasted.
There are many models of induction stoves, from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone marked by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously on one flex area. Certain models have a touch slider control that resembles to the way you use an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar in the middle to choose the desired level of heat, left to right boosts heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for certain recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more energy efficient over the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller area for heating which can lower your energy bills. They also cool down faster and have a more secure design without hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the home. They do, however, create a magnetic force that could cause interference with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your induction hob clean, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use a regular oven hob cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your hob clean and in good shape for a longer time. Just be sure to never use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads to scour your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.