Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans with flame or electricity. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can pick one that fits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic cooking surface and include four or five zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide an elegant and contemporary look that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and are able to be wiped down in the event of spills or splatters. They heat up quickly and are energy-efficient which means they can cut down on your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you are cooking something that requires a rapid decrease or an increase in temperature.
Electric hobs oven (https://morphomics.science) are made up of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via the rotary knobs. You can even utilize the boost feature to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have very high rate of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch even after being shut off. This could be a problem for families with children, so it's best hob to only install them in a location which is far from flammable objects and not within reach of little ones.
This kind of hob is able to be installed on a variety worktops including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It's also reasonably priced and can be a great alternative if you're looking to replace your previous hobs without spending a lot of money. But, as with all appliances, they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we recommend 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. It is essential to purchase cookware that either matches the element exactly or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element will not recognise it and won't start to heat the base of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent results in cooking and makes the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for an elegant, modern look. They are more expensive than electric hobs, and require professional installation. However they heat up faster - an entire pot of water will typically boil within less than four minutes. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who need to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it must be noted that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel models and will likely require cleaning more often, as grease and residue build up tends to stay on the surface instead of sliding off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left side of the gas hob provides a double inner burner to increase heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with a handy power indicator that allows you to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including the high setting for searing a steak and an option for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were liked by our testers who found them be very simple to use. Some minor issues include the fact that you need to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest level of heating, and that it can be difficult to see the status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the best ovens uk gas-on-glass hobs available at an affordable price. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functions that are safer, quicker and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. These hobs have sleek glazed finishes, and have an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase your heat for a short duration.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a certain type 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. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer similar to a standard gas stove. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's easier to clean than tempered glass. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the oven is hot.
Gas hobs remain a preferred 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. Electric hobs on the other side are more efficient in energy use and are easier to clean.
There are electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you can adjust your cooking to suit your lifestyle. However, it's important to remember that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could cause interference 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 pan is placed on a hob the coils generate magnetic fields that generate heat directly within the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from a energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction stoves, from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone marked by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these premium models have a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have preset settings for specific recipes or food types, which can save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient over the long term. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller area for heating which can reduce your energy bills. They cool faster and have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly residents. They do, however, generate a magnetic force that could cause interference with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.
Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your induction hob on a regular basis, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your stove shiny and in good condition for a longer time. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.