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 several different types of hobs, and you can choose one that is best ovens and hobs suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic cooking surface and have five or four zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek appearance. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and are able to be cleaned if spills or splatters occur. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you have to cook something that requires quick reduction or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs are made of a solid plate that is heated by electric elements under. The elements can be controlled individually with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the level of power you require. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even when they have been turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from any flammable objects and away from children's reach.
This kind of hob can be installed on a variety worktops including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a large amount of money. Like all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either exactly the same size as the element, or that is able to fit in the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent results in cooking and makes the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have a sleek, modern aesthetic. They can be more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster - a full pot of water can often boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a good choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat generated. However, it should be observed that a glass-based hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel models and will likely require cleaning more frequently, as grease and residue build up tends to remain instead of slipping off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners finished in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass and cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual rings to the left of the hob features the double inner flame to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution which speeds up cooking times. It also features an easy-to-read power level indicator that allows you to control the precise temperature of your flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls because they were easy to use and intuitive. Some minor disadvantages include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest heating level and it can be difficult to discern the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the best hobs gas-on-glass hobs available at an affordable price. It's not going win any design awards however it's going to perform the task and be a fantastic option for your kitchen at just above 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functions that are safer, quicker and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
Ceramic glass ovens hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. These hobs have a sleek glazed finish, and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature which allows you to boost the heat for a short time.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction Hobs oven utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and can be costly to set up.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that's an excellent choice for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it features the burner underneath the glass is a flat layer. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much simpler to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs are equipped with an "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the temperature.
Although gas hobs are an option that is popular with home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and can take an extended time to warm up and cool down. Electric ovens hobs, on other hand are more energy efficient and easier to clean.
For the ultimate in modern technology You can also find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, giving you the flexibility needed to meet your needs. It is important to note that these hobs need to be installed by an accredited gas safe engineer and require a dedicated cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Under the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly within the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from a energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction stoves from the basic ones with a single zone identified by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves with up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these premium models come with a touch slider control that looks very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient over the long run. 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 with no hot plates, making them perfect for families with children or elderly people living in the home. They do, however, generate an electric force that could interfere with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger 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 either employ a standard oven cleaner or purchase a specialist one to keep your oven in good condition and shining for longer. Make sure you don't use abrasive cleaners or pads for scouring on your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.