Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electric power or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best fits your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs have flat ceramic surfaces and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and are able to be cleaned if spills or splatters occur. They heat up quickly and are energy-efficient which means they can cut down on your electric bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or increase of temperature.
Electric hobs consist of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. They can be controlled individually with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the power level you require. You can even use the 'boost' feature to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs oven and hob (ovenshobs36862.ampedpages.Com) retain heat very well, and even after they've been shut off, they will still be hot to the touch. This can be a problem for families with children, so it's advisable to place them in a location that is well away from any flammable items and out of reach of young children.
This kind of hob can be used on a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be a great option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a lot. As with all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, the element won't recognise it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern appearance. 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 within less than four minutes. This type of stove is a great choice for cooks who want to control how much heat is generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to build up grease and residue.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners finished in matt black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated look. The wok ring is 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass with cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the gas hob features two burners inside to increase heat distribution and accelerate cooking. It also has an indicator for power that lets you control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-set settings, like a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.
The simple and intuitive controls were also well liked by our testers who found them be very simple to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you need to press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.
This Neff model is one of the best ovens uk gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. It's not going to win any design awards but it'll serve its purpose and be an excellent option for your kitchen at just above PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic hob. These hobs are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature, which allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.
Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan and can be costly to set up.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a great alternative for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, similar to a standard gas stove. However, this glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A majority of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
While gas hobs remain an option that is popular with home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to heat up and cool down and their flames can be hard to control. Electric hobs, on the other hand, are more efficient in energy use and are easier to clean.
There are even electric stoves that work with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, giving you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. It is important to remember, however, that these hobs require the installation of an accredited gas safe engineer. They also require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Under the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils produce magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely energy efficient, as they don't squander heat.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, starting with the basic models with a single zone labelled by rings up to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked within a flex area. Some of these premium models have a touch slider control that resembles to how you operate an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models have preset settings for certain food types or recipes which can help you save 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 faster and have a smaller area for heating up which can help reduce your energy bills. They also cool down faster and have a more secure design without hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with children or elderly people living in the home. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could interfere with some medical devices like pacemakers so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean, because food and debris could build up over time. You can either employ a standard oven with hob cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your hob in good shape and shiny for longer. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or a scouring pad on your stove, as they can scratch the surface.