Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans with flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that best ovens and hobs uk fits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic cooking surface and include four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have a sleek and modern look that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They heat up quickly and are energy-efficient, which can reduce the cost of electricity. However, one disadvantage of ceramic ovens hobs is that they tend to be slow to adjust temperatures, which can be frustrating when cooking food that requires a quick reduction or increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made of a solid plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via rotary knobs. You can also use the boost feature to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, and even after they are turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a location that is far from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.
This kind of hob is able to be mounted on a variety of worktops, including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and is a great option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a large amount of money. However, just like any other appliance, they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, so we recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe for 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's either exactly the same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, the element won't recognise it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. They can be more expensive than electric models and could require professional installation. However they heat up faster as the water in a full pot can typically boil within less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a great choice for cooks who like to limit the amount of heat produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and other residue.
A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated look. It also comes with the wok ring that has 4kW to increase versatility, and dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left side of the gas hob provides an inner burner that doubles to increase the distribution of heat and speed up cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power indicator that allows you to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls because they were simple and easy to use. Some minor issues are that you have to physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest heating level and it may be difficult to discern the status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. It's not likely to win any design prizes, but it will serve its purpose and be a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just more than PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. These hobs are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature which allows you to boost your heat for a short time.
Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a particular kind of pan to work and are costly to set up.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a great alternative for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it has a burner beneath the glass is a flat layer. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much simpler to clean than glass that's tempered. A lot of these hobs are equipped with the "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the temperature.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks however they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take a while to warm up and cool down, and their flame can be hard to manage. On the other hand, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.
For the ultimate in modern technology You can also find electric hobs Oven compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, meaning you can adjust your cooking to fit your needs. However, it's important to remember that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on a hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from a energy standpoint because there's no leftover heat that is wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction hobs, from basic entry level ones that have only one cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Some of these premium models have a touch slider control that looks very similar to how you operate an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar in the middle to choose the desired level of heat left to right increases the heat and right-to-left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for specific food items or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are thought to be more energy efficient over the long term because they heat up quicker and have a smaller surface to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They cool down faster and have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly people. However, they create magnetic fields that can interfere with some medical devices like pacemakers so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven with hob cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your stove shiny and in good condition for a longer time. You should never use any abrasive cleaning product or scouring pad on your induction stove as they may scratch the surface.