Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that is best suited to your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can quickly be wiped down when spills or splatters happen. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient, which can reduce your electric bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs use plates that are heated by electric elements underneath. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via the rotary knobs. You can also use the 'boost' feature in order to boost the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they are turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be set up in a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It is also relatively affordable and is an excellent option if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of 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 type of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's the exact dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, the element won't recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs are sleek and contemporary in design. They are more expensive than electric hobs, and may require professional installations. However, they heat up faster as the water in a full pot will typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of hob is also a great option for cooks who like to control the amount of heat produced. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to build up grease and other residue.
A great example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs to create a stylish and sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra 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 with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the gas hob has an inner burner that doubles to increase heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also has an indicator for power that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as a high setting to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled egg.
The simple and intuitive controls were also well liked by our testers, who found them to be very simple to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you must press the controls nine more times before reaching the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.
A few of the top gas on glass hobs can be found at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards but it can do the job well and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. They're made with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature which lets you increase the heat of your hob for a brief period of time.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a particular kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that is a good option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath the glass, which is flat, like a traditional gas stove. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs also have a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks, but they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and takes an extended time to heat up and cool off. website However electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
For the ultimate in modern efficiency You can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to fit your needs. It is important to note that these hobs require installation by an approved gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils run an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils produce magnetic fields which heat the pan directly instead of heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction hobs that range from basic ones that have one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously on one flex zone. Certain models come with the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are believed to be more energy efficient over the long term since they heat up quicker and have a smaller surface to heat up, which can help you save on energy bills. They cool down faster, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with children or elderly residents. However, they do generate an electric force that could affect 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'll have to keep your induction hob clean, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can employ a standard oven cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your oven in good condition and shiny for a longer time. Just be sure to never use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads to scour your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.