Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are many different kinds of hobs, so you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic cooking surface and have 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 modern, sleek design. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that is easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your energy bills. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow to adjust the temperature and can be a hassle when cooking food that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. They can be individually controlled by rotary knobs and nipped up to the level of power you require. You can also use the boost feature to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they have been turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge for families with children, so it's advisable to install them in a location that is away from any flammable items and not within reach of children.
best ovens and hobs ovensandhobs of this kind of hob is that it can be put in on a variety worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. As with any appliance, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs will be safe to use.
A downside of this type of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's either the exact same dimensions as the element or that is able to fit in each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, it will not recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer an elegant, modern look. They can be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating and a full pot of water will typically boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob also is ideal for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is generated. However, it must be observed that a glass-based hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel ones and will likely require cleaning more often, as grease and residue build up tends to remain rather than slide off.
This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners finished in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated appearance. It also comes with the wok ring that has 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located to the left of the hob offers an inner flame that doubles to ensure uniform heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also has an excellent power level indicator, which allows you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.
Our testers also liked the controls as they were simple and intuitive. Some minor issues include the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest level of heating and it can be difficult to discern the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on-glass hobs that are available at an affordable price. It's not likely to win any design awards however it's going to do the job and can be a fantastic option for your kitchen at just above 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. They are designed with sleek glazed finishes, and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature which lets you increase the temperature of your stove for a brief period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob perfect for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to function and are costly to install.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that's a great choice for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it features an oven that is surrounded by a layer of flat glass. However it's heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's easier to clean than standard glass that is tempered. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is heated.
While gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take a long time to heat up and cool off. Electric hobs, on the other hand are more energy efficient and easy to clean.
For the ultimate in modern technology You can also find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, giving you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs will require installation by an approved gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils create an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy perspective, as there's no residual heat being wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction stoves from the basic ones with a single zone marked by rings up to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that can have up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked on one flex area. Certain models have a touch slider control that resembles to how you operate an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models have preset settings for specific food types or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are thought to be more energy efficient in the long run since they heat up quicker and have a smaller surface to heat up, which can help 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. However, they create magnetic fields that could cause interference with medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you will have to clean your induction hob on a regular basis, as food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your stove shiny and in good condition for a longer time. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or scratching pads on your induction stove as they may scratch the surface.