Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best fits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic cooking surface and include five or four zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs offer an elegant and contemporary look which can greatly improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be wiped down when spills or splatters happen. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your energy bills. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow in changing temperature settings and can be a hassle when cooking food that requires a quick reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs are made of a solid plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. The power of each element can be adjusted through rotary knobs. You can even use the boost feature to increase the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they've been shut off, they will still be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a place that is far from flammable items and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be set up on a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and is a great option if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. Like any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs will be safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's the exact same size as the element, or that can fit comfortably into each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, the element won't recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent results in cooking and makes the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern design. While they cost more than electric models and require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a great choice for cooks who like to regulate the amount of heat generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to build up grease and sludge.
A fantastic example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs to create a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also includes an oblong wok ring with 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass and modern cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left side of the gas hob features a double inner burner to improve the distribution of heat and speed up cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator that assists in regulating the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled egg.
Our testers also liked the controls because they were simple and easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you must press the controls nine times to reach the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.
Some of the best gas-on-glass hobs are available for an affordable price, such as this Neff model. It's not going win any design prizes but it'll do the job and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just more than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functions that are safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic hob. These hobs are designed with a sleek glazed finish, and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to work with them and are costly to set up.
Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath a flat glass layer, similar to a standard gas stove. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the oven is hot.
Gas hobs Oven are a popular choice for many home chefs, but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to heat up and cool down and their flames can be difficult to control. On the other hand electric hobs are efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
For the highest level of modern efficiency You can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, so you'll be able to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these stoves will require installation by an accredited gas safe engineer. They also require an appropriate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people who have pacemakers, since 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 pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields that heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy standpoint since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, from the basic ones with a single zone marked by rings to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to cook simultaneously in one flex space. Some of these premium models come with a slider control that is 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. Certain models have preset settings for certain food items or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more efficient in the long run. They can heat faster and have a smaller area for heating which can reduce the cost of energy. They also cool down quicker and feature a safer design with no hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with young children or elderly persons who live in the house. However, they create magnetic fields that can affect medical devices like pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your electric hob clean, since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can either employ a standard oven cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your oven in good condition and shining for longer. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the a scouring pad on your stove, as they can scratch the surface.