Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans with electric or flames. There are several different types of hobs available, so you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs are equipped with flat ceramic surfaces and a range of 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. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can easily be cleaned up when spills or splatters happen. They are fast to heat up and are energy-efficient and can lower the cost of electricity. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to change temperature settings and can be a hassle when cooking food that requires an instant reduction or increase in temperature.

Electric hobs use an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. These elements can be individually controlled by rotary knobs and nipped to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even after they have been turned off, they will be hot to the touch. This could be a problem when you have children, so it's best hob uk to install them in a place that is away from flammable objects and out of reach of young children.

The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be installed on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and can be a great option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. It is essential to purchase cookware that matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, the element won't recognise 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 have a sleek and modern appearance. They can be more expensive than electric hobs, and require professional installation. However they heat up faster - the water in a full pot can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of stove works well for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and sludge.

This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal to give it a chic, sophisticated appearance. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob features the double inner flame to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution, which in turn increases cooking time. It also has an indicator for power that helps you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for searing steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.

Our testers also liked the controls, as they were simple and easy to use. A few minor drawbacks are that you need to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature, and that it can be difficult to see the status of the burners through the glass.

A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs and ovens are available for affordable prices, such as this Neff model. While it's not going to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over PS120.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface resistant to scratches or smudges. These hobs also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a short duration.

Induction Hobs oven are another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a particular kind of pan to work and can be costly to install.

A gas-on-glass hob is another option that's a great option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than tempering glass. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is heated.

Gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks However, they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and can take a long time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs, on other side are more efficient in energy use and are easier to clean.

To achieve the highest level of modern technology You can also find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, so you'll be able to adapt to your lifestyle. But, it's important to keep in mind that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for Hob And Oven people with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils run an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields that direct heat the pan, instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't waste any heat.

There are a myriad of models of induction hob, from basic entry level ones with only one cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Certain models have a touch slider control that resembles to the way you operate an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models have preset settings for certain recipes or food types which can help you save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are considered to be more energy efficient in the long run because they heat up faster and have a smaller surface to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They cool quicker, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly residents. However, they can create a magnetic field which could affect medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to clean your induction hob on a regular basis, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to help keep your hob shiny and in good condition for a longer time. Make sure you don't use scrubbers or pads for scouring on your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.