Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using electric or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, and you can choose one that is best ovens and hobs suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with five or four zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient, which can reduce your electric bill. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to change temperature settings and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires immediate reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs and ovens use plates that are heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via the rotary knobs. You can also use the 'boost' feature to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have a very high rate of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being turned off. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.
This kind of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great alternative if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. Like all appliances, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's exactly the same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element won't recognize it and won't start to heat up the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have modern, sleek design. Although they may cost more than electric ones and require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up - it's not unusual for a full pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who want to control how much heat is produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and residue.
One of the best ovens and hobs examples of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs for a a stylish and 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 a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings on the left of the hob offers a double inner flame to improve uniform heat distribution and increases cooking time. It also has a handy power indicator that lets you control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls, as they were easy to use and intuitive. Some minor drawbacks are that you have to press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.
A few of the top gas on glass hobs are available for affordable prices, such as this Neff model. While it's not going to win any design awards but it can do the job well and is an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.
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 sought-after electric stoves. They are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature an exterior that is easy to clean and ovens resistant to scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost feature that allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to function and can be costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that is a good option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath a flat glass layer, similar to a conventional gas stove. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs come with the "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the temperature.
While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take some time to heat up and cool off. On the other hand electric hobs are 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 various fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to fit your needs. It is important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by an accredited gas safe engineer. They also require a dedicated cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils create magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs and ovens are very energy efficient, as they don't use any heat.
There are a variety of models of induction stoves starting with the basic models with a single zone identified by rings, to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked within a flex area. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to the way you operate an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar located in the middle to choose the desired heat level left to right boosts heat and right-to-left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to food types or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are considered to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much faster and have a smaller area to heat up which could help lower your energy costs. They also cool faster and have a more secure design that doesn't have hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or older people who live in the house. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could affect medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob and oven clean, because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. Be sure to not use scrubbers or pads to scour your induction hob since they could scratch the surface.