Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans with flame or electricity. There are several different types of hobs, so you can choose one that fits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs feature a flat 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 can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs use an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be individually adjusted through rotating knobs. You can also use the 'boost' feature to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have extremely high degree of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being shut off. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's recommended to only install them in a location that is well away from objects that are flammable and away from young children.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be put in on a variety worktops, such as laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and can be a great option if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. However, like all appliances they must be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we suggest hiring a professional electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.
This type of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You'll need to buy cookware that's the exact same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't fit the element, it won't recognize it and won't begin to heat the base of the pan. This could result in inconsistent results in cooking and makes the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer a sleek, modern aesthetic. They are more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster - an entire pot of water can often boil in less than four minutes. This type of stove is a great choice for cooks who need to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it should be noted that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and will likely need to be cleaned more often, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface rather than slide off.
One of the best examples of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated look. It also comes with an oblong wok ring with 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings on the left side of the hob has an inner flame that doubles to ensure uniform heat distribution and accelerates cooking time. It also comes with a handy power indicator that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-set settings, like a high setting to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls, as they were easy to use and intuitive. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you need to press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs available at an affordable price. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is an ideal addition to your kitchen for less than PS120.
Electric hobs
There are a variety of electric hobs that are perfect for modern households. They're not just sleek and stylish, they are they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. These hobs have a sleek glazed finish, and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They also come with a power booster feature that allows you to increase the heat for a brief duration.
Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that's a great choice for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it has a burner beneath the glass is a flat layer. However, this glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's easier to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to cool down and warm down and their flames can be hard to manage. Electric Hobs Oven, Ovensandhobs.Uk, on the other side, are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
There are electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, giving you the flexibility needed to meet your needs. It's important to note that these stoves will require installation by a registered gas safe engineer. They also require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that run an electrical current that varies. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that directly heat the pan instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are very energy efficient, as they don't waste any heat.
There are a variety of models of induction hobs that range from basic ones that have one cooking zone that is with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing you to cook several pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Certain models have a touch slider control that resembles to the way you use an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar at the middle to choose the desired level of heat, left to right increases the heat and right-to-left decreases it. Some models have preset settings that are specific to recipes or food types, which can save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are thought to be more efficient in the long run because 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 also have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families that have children or elderly people. However, they create a magnetic field which could affect medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean regularly because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaning product or invest in a professional one to keep your hob in good condition and shining for a longer time. Be sure to not use abrasive cleaners or pads for scouring on your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.