Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using flames or electricity. There are several different types of hobs available, so you can choose one that is best oven suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs feature an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with five or four zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs offer an elegant and contemporary look which can greatly enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and are able to be wiped down if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your energy bills. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow in changing the temperature which can be a problem when cooking food that requires a quick reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs consist of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The elements can be controlled separately using rotary knobs and notched up to the level of power you require. You can use the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even when they have been turned off, they will be hot to the touch. This could be a problem for families with children, so it's best to only install them in a place that is well away from flammable objects and out of reach of young children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be put in in a variety of worktops, including laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and can be a great option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. As with any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs will be safe to use.
This type of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's exactly the same size as the element, or that can fit comfortably into each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware doesn't fit, then the element will not recognize it and won't start to heat the base of the pan. This could result in inconsistent results in cooking and makes the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern appearance. While they can be more expensive than electric ones and require professional installation, they often take less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a full pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This kind of hob is also a great choice for cooks who like to regulate the amount of heat being generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they are more likely to accumulate grease and residue.
A great example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated look. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob has two burners inside to increase the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also has an easy-to-read power indicator that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including a high setting for searing steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well liked by our testers who found them be very easy to use. Some minor disadvantages include the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest level of heating and it may be difficult to see the state of the burners through the glass.
Some of the best gas on glass hobs can be found at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. It's not going to win any design prizes, but it will do the job and can be a great addition to your kitchen at just more than PS120.
Electric hobs
There are many electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functions that are safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're designed with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface resistant to scratches or smudges. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature that allows you to increase the heat for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a particular type of pan to work with them and can be costly to install.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a great alternative for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it features an oven (https://hikvisiondb.webcam/) that is surrounded by a layer of flat glass. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
While gas hobs are still a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to heat up and cool down, and their flame can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs, on the other hand, are more energy efficient and easy to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern efficiency You can also find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, so you can adjust your cooking to fit your needs. But, it's important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for those with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
On 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 heated plate. Induction hobs are very efficient in energy use, since they don't waste any heat.
There are a variety of models of induction hob that range from basic ones that have one cooking zone that is marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously in one flex zone. Some of these models have a touch slider control that resembles to the way you operate 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 certain recipes or food types which can save you 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 heat up faster and have a smaller heating space which could reduce your energy bills. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design that doesn't have hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the home. They do, however, produce magnetic forces that can cause interference with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore important to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean, since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to help keep your hob shiny and in good condition for a longer time. Make sure you don't use the abrasive cleaning pads or scouring pads on your induction hob since they could scratch the surface.