Types of Hob and Oven
A hob and oven is an essential part of many kitchens and can come in a variety of styles. You can even mix types like domino, electric and gas to suit your cooking requirements.
A hob can also be equipped with safety features, such as child and control of the position. These features will prevent children from accidentally changing the heat setting or touching the hob.
Types
The hob is the main focal element of any kitchen and can have a major impact on the results of your cooking. However, there are many different kinds of hobs and the one you choose will depend on what your specific cooking requirements are.
Gas hobs provide a classic option. They are quick to heat up and respond immediately to temperature fluctuations. Professional chefs favor them because they offer precise control. They are not as easy to clean as other hobs and may require more maintenance.
Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface that has heated elements underneath and can be found in a variety of sizes with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element that you can control separately. You can boil potatoes in one ring while cooking sausages on a different. This kind of hob can be more efficient than gas and offers a child-safe option as the cooking zone only heats up when you put a pan on it.
Ceramic hobs offer a stylish and user-friendly alternative to gas and electric hobs. They have an extremely smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However, they are not as quick to respond to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.
Domino hobs are an alternative to gas and electric hobs that incorporate best ovens and hobs beneath the cooking surface. They are great for kitchens with limited space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are usually less expensive than standard hobs and are energy efficient but can be fragile and require more care than other types of cookers.
Gas
Gas hobs are cooktops with burners that can be easily integrated into kitchen countertops for a seamless appearance. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, however they can also be powered with propane gas. They feature a sleek and modern design that can bring a touch of class to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove has various burners, usually 4 but sometimes up to 6. The flames are ignited using an igniter or by turning a knob. The flames can then be controlled by an array of valves that can be adjusted to regulate temperature.
In contrast, most modern built-in gas hobs have multi-flame burners that allow you to manage the outer and inner ring of each burner to control your cooking. These burners are much faster and more reliable than earlier models.
In the past, it was required for a gas stove to be lit at all times to ensure that the burners remained hot and fuelled. This was done to prevent accidents, like the mistake of turning on an oven when the stove is still lit with the help of a match or a pilot light. Modern cookers have been made with safety in mind as a priority. They are equipped with a fire failure device that shuts off the burners in the event that the pilot light fails.
Gas stoves and hobs need to be regularly checked and cleaned as well as maintained. To do this, you should arrange a visit with an Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only to ensure that your appliance is operating properly, but will also offer expert guidance on how to prevent any future issues.
Electric
When it comes to creating your dream kitchen, the countertops, fridge freezer and oven will always receive the most attention, however a good hob is equally important. Whichever type you choose, conventional, induction, or gas cooker the kind of hob you pick can impact how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to clean.
Electric hobs use heating elements under a smooth glass surface that's typically cleaned with an non-abrasive cleaner. The elements turn on when you turn on the hob and can be adjusted to various power levels by turning or clicking a control knob. They may take longer to heat up than gas cookers, but once they have done so, they usually provide more constant temperature control. They also have built-in indicators that inform you that a particular zone is being used or hot from cooking.
Typically, these come in four to six different sizes that can be notched up to various levels of power. These are great for flat-based cookware but not for cast iron pans because they could overheat. Certain models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs which allow you Best place to buy oven and hob cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Certain models come with a Boost function that focuses high heat into one ring. This is useful for stir-frying, searing meat, or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs differ from normal electric models as they use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, rather than the conventional method of gas flames. They can reach precise temperatures quicker and are more energy efficient. They also have a cool-to-the-touch surface and flashing heat indicators to signal that the ring is either in use or 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 high-temperature oven hob, also known as Kiln. After it's formed it can be painted or covered with decorative materials to give it texture and color.
Ceramic hobs are an exquisite blend of form and function and can be found in any modern kitchen. They work by using radiant heating technology, which passes an electric current through coiled components hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. When activated, they generate heat, which is then transferred to the pan by an infrared system. You can adjust the level of heating using the knobs or the touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs are dual-ring designs, having one smaller and a larger cooking area, allowing you to choose the most suitable size for your pan. You can also get hobs equipped with booster burners that produce high-powered heat in a short time ideal for searing meat or bringing pots of water to a boil quickly.
Ceramic cooktops are more energy efficient than other kinds of hobs due to the fact that they take longer to heat up and switch temperatures. You can also choose vented cooktops that have a ventilation system with the ceramic cooktop. This ensures that steam, smoke and cooking smells do not linger in your house.
Induction
The heating elements in the induction hobs are a set of copper wire coils that are placed beneath the surface that generate electromagnets to heat pans sitting on them. The coils stir up the free electrons inside your pan's base metal, which then transfers heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and the cooking zones are automatically shut off as soon as your pan is removed.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than other models however they're also quicker to heat and consume 30-70% less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. They are also easier to clean, as the hob surface itself isn't hot, and only the contents of the pan do.
Certain manufacturers provide an induction model with additional features, for instance a pause function, which cuts the power to the stove when you walk away, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same time for more flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They can be more expensive than traditional models, however they're worth considering if you prefer to multitask.
Our top pick is this induction hob made by Smeg. It has four cooking zones that are large enough, a bridge function and nine power levels, giving you plenty of choice for those who want to cook with a lot of passion. It was a great performer during our test, with fast heating and precise control when making pancakes. The oven comes with a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection, which makes cleaning easier. There's a small selection of compatible pans it cannot be used to cook with appliances that have magnetic bases. This can be a challenge when you have a lot of non-compliant cookware, or just some of them are suitable for use on induction hobs.