Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best suits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs have flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and have four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide a sleek and modern look which can greatly enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can easily be cleaned up when spills or splatters happen. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you have to cook something that requires a rapid decrease or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs are made of plates that are heated by electric elements beneath. The elements can be controlled individually by rotary knobs and nipped up to the level of power you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a specific zone. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, and even after they are turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is far from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.
This type of hob can be used on a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be a great option if you want to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, Oven Uk they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
This type of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's exactly the same size as the element, or that can fit comfortably into each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element will not recognize it and will not begin to heat up the base of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer an elegant, modern look. While they can be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they often require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to come to a boil within four minutes or less. This type of stove is ideal for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is generated. However, it should be noted that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel ones and will need to be cleaned more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stick instead of slipping off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners that are matte black with metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob offers an inner flame that doubles to ensure uniform heat distribution and speeds up cooking times. It also features an easy-to-read power level indicator that assists in regulating the exact temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including the high setting for searing a steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well loved by our test subjects, who found them to be very easy to use. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature and it may be difficult to see the state of the burners through the glass.
Some of the best ovens gas-on-glass hobs are available for an affordable price like this Neff model. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards but it can do the job well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They're not only sleek and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. These hobs have sleek glazed finishes, and feature an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature which allows you to boost the heat for a brief duration.
Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to work and can be costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is another option that's an excellent choice for modern homes. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A majority of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and take some time to heat up and cool off. On the other hand electric hobs Oven are efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.
For the highest level of modern technology You can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to fit your needs. It's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by an accredited gas safe engineer. They also require an appropriate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for those with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that direct heat the pan, instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy perspective since there's no heat that is wasted.
There are a myriad of models of an induction hob starting from basic ones with a single cooking zone with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Certain models come with a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you operate an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar located in the middle to select the desired level of heat, left to right boosts heat and right to left reduces it. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are thought to be more efficient over the long term since they heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating up which can help you save on energy bills. They also cool faster and have a more secure design that doesn't have 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 cause interference with medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you will need to clean your induction hob regularly, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can employ a standard oven cleaning product or invest in a professional one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for a longer time. You should never use abrasive cleaning products or scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.