Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans by using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that is best oven suited to your kitchen and 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 sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have a sleek and modern look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and are able to be cleaned when spills or splatters happen. They heat up quickly and are energy-efficient which means they can cut down on your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or increase of temperature.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted via rotating knobs. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch even after being turned off. This could be a problem when you have children, so it's best to only install them in an area that is away from any flammable items and not within reach of young children.
This kind of hob is able to be used on a variety of worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is an excellent option for those looking to replace your previous hobs without spending too much money. However, just like any other appliance, they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains power supply, so we suggest hiring a professional electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe for use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You will need to purchase cookware that matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, the element won't recognise it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and will make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern look. While they be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up. It's not unusual for a full pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This kind of hob is also a good choice for cooks who want to control the amount of heat produced. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and other residue.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners in matt black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
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 to the left side of the gas hob provides two burners inside to increase the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also has an easy-to-read power indicator that allows you to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for searing a steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls as they were simple and intuitive. Some minor issues are the fact that you need to physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest heating level and it can be difficult to see the status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the best hob uk gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. It's not going win any design prizes, but it will serve its purpose and be a great addition to your kitchen at just over 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functions that are safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They're constructed with a sleek glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to scratches or smudges. These hobs also come with a power booster feature which allows you to boost your heat for a short duration.
Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a certain kind of pan to function and can be expensive to set up.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are another great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than tempering glass. A lot of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
Although gas hobs are an option that is popular with home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to warm up and cool down and their flame can be hard to manage. On the other hand electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, so you can adjust your cooking to suit your lifestyle. It is important to note that these hobs will require the installation of an approved gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils conduct an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a stove, the coils produce magnetic fields that generate heat directly within 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 since there's no heat that is wasted.
There are many models of induction stoves from the basic ones with a single zone marked by rings, to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves that can have up to six zones and allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously in one flex space. Some of these models come with a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you use an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar at the middle to choose the desired heat level left to right increases heat and right to left decreases it. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time ovens and hobs uk effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more efficient in the long run. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating area which could reduce the cost of energy. They cool down faster, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with elderly or children. However, they do generate an electric force that could cause interference with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean because food and debris could build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaning product or invest in a professional one to keep your stove in good shape and shiny for ovens longer. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or scouring pad on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.