Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using electric power or flames. There are several different types of hobs available, so you can choose one that is best ovens and hobs suited to your preferences and kitchen.

Induction hobs are equipped with an elongated ceramic surface and either four or five 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 have a sleek and modern look that can really enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, which means spills best ovens and hobs splatters are quickly wiped away. They are fast to heat up and are energy-efficient, which can reduce your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or an increase in the heat.

Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a specific zone. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even when they've been shut off, they will still be hot to the touch. This can be a problem if you have children, so it's recommended to place them in an area that is away from any flammable items and away from little ones.

This kind of hob is able to be mounted on a variety of worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be a great option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. As with all appliances, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need cookware that is either the exact size as the element or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element will not recognize it and won't begin to heat the base of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for an elegant, modern look. They are more expensive than electric models, and could require professional installation. However, they heat up faster as a full pot of water can typically boil in less than four minutes. This kind of hob is also a great option for cooks who prefer to control the amount of heat being generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to accumulate grease and residue.

This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated appearance. The wok ring is 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left of the gas hob has two burners inside to improve heat distribution and speed up cooking. It also comes with a handy power indicator that lets you control the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-set settings, like the highest setting for sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.

Our test subjects also appreciated the controls, as they were simple and intuitive. Some minor drawbacks are that you need to press the controls nine more times before reaching the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.

This Neff model is among the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that you can buy at a reasonable price. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards but it can do the job well and can be an ideal addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.

One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're made with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges or scratches. They also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase your heat for a short time.

Induction hobs are yet another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs oven heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric and gas plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and can be costly to set up.

A gas on glass hob is a different option that is a good option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath an underlying layer of flat glass. However it's heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much easier to clean than standard glass that's tempered. Many of these hobs are equipped with an "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.

While gas hobs are still an option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to cool down and warm down, and their flame can be difficult to manage. On the other hand electric hobs are efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.

For the ultimate in modern efficiency You can also find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, allowing you the flexibility you need to meet your needs. It is important to note, however, that these hobs will require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They're not suitable for people who have pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.

Induction hobs

Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils that run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields which heat the pan directly rather than heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are energy efficient, as they don't use any heat.

There are many different models of induction hob starting from basic ones with one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones and allow you to cook several pots at once on a flex zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to the way you use an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar located in the middle to choose the desired temperature left to right increases the heat and right to left decreases it. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are thought to be more energy efficient over the long term because they heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating up which can help lower your energy costs. They cool faster and are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with children or elderly residents. However, they do produce magnetic fields that could interfere with some medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to clean your induction hob regularly, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for longer. You should never use abrasive cleaning products or a scouring pad on your stove as they may scratch the surface.