Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are several different types of hobs, and you can choose one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with flat ceramic surfaces and either 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 modern and sleek design which can greatly enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your electricity bills. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to adjust temperature settings, which can be frustrating if you're cooking something that requires a quick reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs use plates that are heated by electric elements underneath. The elements can be individually controlled by rotary knobs and nipped up to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. It's important to install ceramic hobs in an area that is away from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood ovens and hobs granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be a great option if you want to replace your old stoves without spending a large amount of money. But, as with all appliances, they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains, so we recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. It is essential to purchase cookware that either matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't fit the element, it will not recognise it and won't begin to heat up the base of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for an elegant, modern look. They can be more expensive than electric models and could require professional installation. However, they heat up faster and a full pot of water can typically boil in less than four minutes. This type of stove is ideal for cooks who need to control how much heat is generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and sludge.
A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs for a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also includes a 4kW wok ring to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the hob offers the double inner flame to ensure even heat distribution, which in turn increases cooking time. It also features a handy power level indicator, which helps to regulate the exact temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including the highest setting for searing steaks and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls because they were simple and easy to use. Some minor issues include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature, and that it can be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs available at an affordable price. It's not going to win any design awards but it'll perform the task and be a great addition to your kitchen at just above 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They're not only sleek and stylish, but also faster, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. These hobs are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature that allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short amount of time.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to function and can be costly to install.
A gas-on-glass hob uk is another option that is a good option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath the glass is a flat layer. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempering glass. Many of these hobs also include a 'hot-surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for a lot of home cooks, but 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 hard to control. On the other hand, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. It is important to note, however, that these hobs oven (click through the following document) will require installation by a registered gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
Beneath the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils which run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob the coils create magnetic fields that heat the pan directly instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't waste any heat.
There are a variety of models of induction hobs, from basic entry level ones that have only one cooking zone marked by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Certain models have a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you operate an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to food items or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient over the long term. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating area which can reduce your energy costs. They cool quicker and are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with children or elderly people. They do, however, create magnetic forces that can cause interference with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean regularly since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use a regular best oven uk cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your stove sparkling and in good order for a longer time. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the scouring pad on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.