Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs have flat ceramic surfaces and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have a sleek and modern look that can enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your energy bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you have to cook something that requires a quick reduction or increase of temperature.
Electric hobs use a solid plate that is heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch even after being turned off. This can be a problem for families with children, so it's best to install them in a location that is away from objects that are flammable and away from young children.
This kind of hob can be used on a variety of worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and is a great option if you want 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 the new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to pan size and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't fit, then the element will not recognise it and won't start to heat the base of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern appearance. While they be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they typically require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to come to a boil in four minutes or less. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat is produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and other residue.
A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual rings to the left of the hob has the double inner flame to promote improvement in even heat distribution which increases cooking time. It also features an excellent power level indicator that allows you to control the precise temperature of your flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including a high setting for searing a steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls, as they were simple and intuitive. A few minor drawbacks are that you must physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level, and that it can be difficult to see the status of the burners through the glass.
Some of the top gas-on-glass hobs can be found at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. It's not going to win any design awards but it'll serve its purpose and be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just more than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are many electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. They're not just sleek and stylish, but also faster, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're constructed with a sleek polished, glazed finish. best ovens and hobs uk have an easy-to-clean surface resistant to scratches or smudges. They also come with a power booster function which allows you to boost your heat for a short duration.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob perfect for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. They require a particular kind of pan and can be costly to install.
A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that is a good choice for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under a flat glass layer, like a traditional gas stove. However the glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is heated.
Gas hobs remain a preferred option for many home cooks However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and can take some time to warm up and cool down. However electric hobs are efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, giving you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a specific 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
On the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly within the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from a energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, from the basic ones with a single zone labelled by rings, to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked within a flex area. Some of these models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to how you operate an iPhone. Simply swipe Best place to buy oven and hob across the power bar in the middle to choose the desired temperature left to right boosts heat and right-to-left decreases it. Some models have preset settings for specific food items or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are considered to be more energy efficient over the long term since they heat up faster and have a smaller surface to heat up, which can help reduce your energy bills. They also cool faster and have a safer design without hot plates, making them perfect for families with children or elderly people who live in the house. However, they can create magnetic fields that could interfere with some medical devices, such as pacemakers, therefore it is essential to center your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your induction hob regularly, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. Just be sure to never use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads to scour your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.