Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using electric power or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that is best hobs suited to your kitchen and your style.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with four or five zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can quickly be wiped down if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your electricity bills. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow in changing temperature settings, which can be frustrating if you're cooking something that requires a quick reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs consist of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via rotating knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a particular area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even when they are turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is far from flammable items and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be set up on a variety worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly affordable and is a great option if you're trying to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. Like all appliances, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs will be safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to pan size and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either the exact same dimensions as the element or that is able to fit in each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent results in cooking and makes the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have a sleek, modern aesthetic. Although they may cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they typically require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to be boiling within four minutes or less. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to accumulate grease and other residue.
A great example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs that create a a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also has an oblong wok ring with 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob features an inner burner that doubles to improve heat distribution and speed up cooking. It also features a handy power level indicator that allows you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls because they were simple and easy to use. Some minor issues are the fact that you need to physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest heating level and it can be difficult to determine the status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs available at an affordable price. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is an excellent addition to your kitchen at just PS120.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that work for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide modern technology that is safer, quicker and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific type of pan to work and can be costly to install.
Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it comes with an oven that is surrounded by the glass is a flat layer. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.
While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to cool down and warm down and their flame can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs, on other side, are more efficient in energy and are easier to clean.
There are electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, allowing you the flexibility you need to fit your lifestyle. However, it's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a specific 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on a stove, the coils generate magnetic fields that produce heat directly in the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy point of view, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction hobs that range from basic models that have a single cooking zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs Oven with up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously in one flex zone. Some of these models come with an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar in the middle to choose the desired temperature, left to right increases the heat and right to left decreases it. Some models have preset settings for specific food types or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more efficient in the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating space which can reduce your energy bills. They cool faster and also have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly people. However, they do create an electric force that could affect certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean regularly because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven uk cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for a longer time. Just be sure to never use scrubbers or pads for scouring on your induction hob since they can scratch the surface.