Types of Hobs
A hob (known as 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 suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and include four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs offer modern and sleek design that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can easily be wiped down when spills or splatters happen. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient and can lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you have to cook something that requires quick reduction or an increase in temperature.
Electric hobs use plates that are heated by electric elements underneath. The elements can be controlled individually with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, and even after they've been shut off, they will still be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in an area that is far from flammable items and away from children's reach.
This type of hob can be used on a variety of worktops including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and can be an excellent option if you want to replace your old stoves without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they need to be installed correctly ovens and hobs connected to the mains, so we would recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.
A downside of this type of hob is that it's very sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need to buy cookware that either matches the element exactly or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs oven offer a sleek, modern aesthetic. They are more expensive than electric hobs, and may require professional installations. However they are also more efficient in heating as the water in a full pot can often boil in less than four minutes. This type of stove is ideal for cooks who need to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it must be observed that a glass-based hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel ones and will likely need to be cleaned more often, since the build-up of grease and residue tends to stick 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 metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated look. It also has the wok ring that has 4kW for additional versatility, as well as dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easier to keep clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left side of the gas hob has an inner burner that doubles to increase the distribution of heat and speed up cooking. It also has an excellent power level indicator that assists in regulating the exact temperature of your flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for sear steaks and a low one for Best place to Buy Oven and hob scrambled egg.
Our testers also liked the controls because they were easy to use and intuitive. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you must press the controls a further nine times to reach the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs can be found at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. It's not likely to win any design awards, but it will perform the task and be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just over 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. They're not just sleek and stylish, they are they are also safer, faster, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. These hobs have a sleek glazed finish, and feature an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They also come with a power booster function that allows you to increase the heat for a brief duration.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and oven electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means that they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a certain type of pan to work and can be costly to install.
Gas on glass hobs are a different option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with the burner underneath the glass is a flat layer. However it's shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the oven is hot.
Gas hobs are a popular choice for many home chefs however they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes a long time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs on the other side are more efficient in energy use and easy to clean.
There are electric stoves that work with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, giving you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. But, it's important to remember that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
On the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on a hob the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly within the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs are very energy efficient, as they don't waste any heat.
There are a variety of models of an induction hob, from basic entry level ones that have a single cooking zone with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Certain models feature an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar at the middle to choose the desired temperature left to right increases the heat and right-to-left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to food types or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are thought to be more efficient in the long run because they heat up quicker and use a smaller space for heating up which can help reduce your energy bills. They also cool down faster and have a safer design with no hot plates, making them perfect for families with young children or elderly persons who live in the house. However, they do produce magnetic fields that can interfere with some medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs uk, you'll need to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use an best oven uk cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your hob sparkling and in good order for longer. Make sure you don't use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.