Types of Hobs

A oven hob, also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electric or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that is best suited to your kitchen and style.

Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic cooking surface and include four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek look. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient, which can reduce your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you need to cook something that requires quick reduction or increase of temperature.

Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually through the rotary knobs. You can even use the 'boost' feature in order to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, so even after they have been turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a location that is away from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.

This kind of hob is able to be used on a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and is a great option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a lot. However, like all appliances they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we suggest hiring an electrician professional to ensure that your new hobs are safe for use.

This type of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that is exactly the same as the element or is able to fit comfortably into 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 hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are sleek ovens and hobs contemporary in design. While they cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to be boiling in four minutes or less. This type of hob also works well for cooks who want to control the amount of heat that is generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to build up grease and other residue.

One of the best examples of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.

This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob has an inner burner that doubles to increase the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also has a handy power indicator that allows you to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including the high setting for searing a steak and an option for scrambled eggs.

Our test subjects also appreciated the controls because they were simple and intuitive. Some minor drawbacks are that you need to press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.

This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass Hobs oven that you can buy at a reasonable price. While it's not going to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is an ideal addition to your kitchen for just over PS120.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They are not only sleek and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're designed with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature that allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a short amount of time.

Induction hobs are another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a specific type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.

hobs and ovens made of glass that are gas-powered are a different option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. However the glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs have an "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the temperature.

Although gas hobs are an option that is popular with home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to heat up and cool down and their flame can be difficult to control. Electric hobs, on other hand are more energy efficient and are easier to clean.

For the ultimate in modern technology You can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, meaning you can adjust your cooking to fit your needs. However, it's important to remember that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.

Hobs with induction

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 a hob the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy standpoint since there's no heat that is wasted.

There are a variety of models of an induction hob starting from basic ones with only one cooking zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs oven that can have up to six zones, allowing you to cook several pots simultaneously on one flex zone. Some of these models come with a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over 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 even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are considered to be more efficient over the long term since they heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating up which can help you save on energy bills. They also cool down quicker and feature a safer design with no hot plates, making them perfect for families with children or elderly people who live in the house. They do, however, produce magnetic forces that can cause interference with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.

As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can build up over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your hob in good condition and shiny for longer. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the scratching pads on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.