Types of Hob and Oven
A oven and hob is commonplace in kitchens and is available in a variety of styles. You can even mix types such as domino, electric and gas to suit your cooking needs.
Safety features such as child and position controls can be added to the hob. These features can prevent children from accidentally altering the heat setting or touching the stove.
Types
In the center of every kitchen, the stove takes centre stage and plays a major part in how your food comes out. There are many different types of hobs, and which one you choose depends on the cooking requirements you have.
Gas hobs are the classic option and provide a quick heat-up function and instant reaction to temperature fluctuations. Professional chefs favor them because they offer precise control. However, they are not as clean as other hobs and may require more maintenance.
Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface with heated elements beneath and can be found in a variety of sizes with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with a distinct heating element which you can regulate individually. This lets you boil potatoes on one ring and cooking sausages in a different. This type of hob is easier to heat up than gas, and is an alternative that is safer for children since the cooking zone becomes hot only when you put the pot on it.
Traditional ceramic hobs are a convenient alternative to gas and electric and are a fashionable option. They have an even and smooth surface that is easy to clean. However, they are not as fast to respond to temperature changes or to cool down as other hobs.
Domino hobs are a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs that incorporate ovens beneath the cooking surface. They can be installed in smaller kitchens that have small installation space and are suitable for flats and kitchenettes. They are often cheaper than standard hobs and are energy efficient however they can be brittle and require more maintenance than other types of cooker.
Gas
Gas hobs are cooktops with burners that can easily be fitted into the kitchen countertop for a seamless appearance. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, however they can also be powered by propane gas. The modern, sleek design can add sophistication to your modular cooking space.
A traditional gas stove is fitted with a variety of burners. The majority of them are four, but there can be as many as six. The burners can be lit by a match or a knob. The flames are then controlled by a series of valves which can be adjusted to control the temperature.
Most modern built-in gas stoves however are equipped with burners that have multiple flames. This lets you control both the inner and outer rings for each burner, so that you can precisely control your cooking. These kinds of burners allow for much faster heating times and are more reliable than the old-fashioned ones.
Traditionally, it was necessary to keep a gas burner lit continuously to ensure that the burners were always hot and fuelled. This was done to prevent accidents, like accidentally turning on an oven uk when the stove was still lit by a match or pilot light. Modern cookers have been designed with safety as a top priority. They come equipped with a fire failure device that shuts off the burners when the pilot light is not working.
Gas stoves and hobs need to be inspected, cleaned, and maintained regularly. To do this, you should arrange a visit with an Gas Safe registered engineer. Not only will they be able check your appliance is functioning properly, but they can also provide professional advice and guidance on how to avoid issues in the future.
Electricity
A good hob is equally important in making your kitchen the Best place to buy oven and hob it can be. Worktops, refrigerators, freezers and ovens are always the first things that come to the mind. Whether you opt for a traditional, induction or gas cooker the type of hob you choose can affect how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to clean.
Electric hobs use heating elements underneath a smooth glass surface that's typically wiped down with a non-abrasive cleaner. These elements switch on when you turn on the hob and can be notched up to various power levels by turning or pressing the control knob. They may take longer to warm up than gas cookers, but once they have done so, they usually provide more consistent temperature control. They are equipped with indicators that inform you whether a space is hot or not.
These rings are available in a range of four to six sizes and can be notch-up up to various power levels. They are ideal for flat-based cookware, but not for cast iron pans since they can get hot. Certain models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow you to boil water on one ring and sauté sausages on the other. Certain models come with a Boost feature that concentrates high-temperature elements into one ring. This is useful for stir-frying, searing meat, or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs differ from conventional electric hobs because they use electromagnetic fields instead of conventional gas flames to cook your food. They can reach precise temperatures faster and are more efficient in energy use. They also have a cool-to touch surface and flashing heat indicators to let you know that a ring is being used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramics can be used to make functional or decorative objects. It's formed by mixing earthen elements, clay, powders and water to a specific shape, then fired in a high-temperature oven called the Kiln. Once it's made, it can be covered with paint-like or decorative substances to add color and texture.
Ceramic hobs blend design and function to create a stunning piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat ceramic hobs through the passage of an electric current through coiled elements which are hidden beneath the black glass surface. When activated, they generate heat, which is then transferred to your pan via an infrared heating system. You can adjust the strength of this heating by controlling the controls using a knobs or buttons.
Some ceramic hobs are dual ring designs, with one smaller and a larger cooking zone, allowing you to choose the most suitable size for your pan. There are hobs with boosters that generate powerful heat quickly. This is perfect for searing food or bringing pans to boil fast.
Ceramic cooktops are more energy efficient than other types of hobs because they take longer to heat up and change temperatures. There are vented hobs that integrate a ventilation system within the cooktop's ceramic, making sure that smoke, steam and cooking smells aren't left within your home.
Induction
Induction hobs have heating elements that are comprised of copper wire coils. These coils generate electromagnets which warm the pans that are placed on the top. The coils stir up the free electrons within your pan's base metal, which then transfers heat evenly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot and the cooking zones are automatically turned off as soon as your pan is removed.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive, however they also are more efficient in heating and consume 30 to 70% less energy than gas or other kinds. Induction hobs are also simpler to clean because only the interior of the pan heat up and not the surface.
Some manufacturers offer an induction model that comes with additional features, like a pause function that shuts off power to your stove when you leave, or the ability to connect two cooking rings at the same time for increased flexibility. They are commonly called FlexInduction hobs. They can be more expensive than traditional induction models, but they're worth looking into if prefer to multitask.
Our favorite is this induction hob from Smeg, with four good-sized cooking zones with a bridge function as well as nine power levels, giving you a variety of options for those who want to cook with a lot of passion. It was a great performer in our test with a fast heating speed and precise control when making pancakes. The oven comes with a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection to make cleaning much easier. There is a limited selection of compatible pans, however it cannot be used to cook with utensils that have a magnetic base. This can be a problem if you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or some of it is suitable for induction hobs.