Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that is Best place to buy oven and hob suited to your kitchen and your style.
Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and come with five or four zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek look. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, so spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your electricity bills. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you are cooking something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of the heat.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The elements can be controlled separately by rotary knobs and nipped to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, so even after they've been shut off, they will still be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a place that is far from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety of worktops such as laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great option for those trying to replace your old best hobs without spending too much money. However, just like any other appliance, they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we would recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe for use.
This type of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You'll need to buy cookware that is either the exact size as the element or that is able to fit in each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it will not recognize it and won't start to heat the base of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern design. While they be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up - it's not unusual for a full pan of water to be boiling in four minutes or less. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who want to control the amount of heat that is produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and residue.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners finished in matt black with metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated appearance. It also has an oblong wok ring with 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep 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 to the left side of the gas hob has an inner burner that doubles to improve the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also features a handy power indicator that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as the highest setting for sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls, as they were simple and intuitive. Some minor disadvantages are the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest temperature, and that it can be difficult to see the state of the burners through the glass.
A few of the top gas on glass hobs can be found at an affordable price, such as 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 less than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that work for modern households. They're not only elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're constructed with a sleek glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges or scratches. They also come with a power booster function that allows you to increase the heat for a short time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a certain type of pan to function and can be expensive to install.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a great alternative for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it features an best oven that is surrounded by the glass is a flat layer. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the oven is hot.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for many home chefs, but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take some time to warm up and cool down. However, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that work with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to fit your needs. But, it's important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
On the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly in the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy point of view because there's no leftover heat being wasted.
There are many different models of induction hobs and ovens, from basic entry level ones with only one cooking zone marked by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots simultaneously in one flexible zone. Certain models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to the way you operate on an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar at the middle to choose the desired heat level, left to right increases heat and right to left reduces it. Some models have pre-programmed 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 in the long run. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller area for heating which can reduce the cost of energy. They also cool down faster and have a safer design with no hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or elderly people who live in the house. However, they create a magnetic field which could interfere with some medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you will need to clean your induction hob frequently, since food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can opt for a specialist product to keep your hob sparkling and in good order for longer. You should never use abrasive cleaning products or scratching pads on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.