Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that is best suited to your kitchen and design.

Induction hobs are equipped with flat ceramic surfaces and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek look. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient and can help lower your electric bill. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow in changing temperature settings which can be a problem when cooking food that requires an instant reduction or increase in heat.

Electric hobs consist of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The elements can be controlled separately using rotary knobs and notched to the power level you require. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to increase the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have very high rate of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being shut off. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's recommended to only install them in a place which is far from objects that are flammable and away from children.

The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety worktops such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also reasonably priced and is an excellent option if you're looking to replace your previous hobs, but without spending a lot of money. Like all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs Oven are safe to use.

The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element will not recognize it and will not begin to heat the base of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent results in cooking and makes the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern look. While they cost more 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 boil in four minutes or less. This kind of stove is also a great option for cooks who want to control the amount of heat being generated. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel ones and may need to be cleaned more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface instead of slipping off.

A great example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which 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 additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.

This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the hob offers the double inner flame to ensure even heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also has a handy power level indicator that helps to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine pre-set settings, like high settings to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled eggs.

The simple and intuitive controls were appreciated by our testers who found them be very simple to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you must press the controls nine times to reach the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

A few of the top gas on glass hobs can be found at an affordable price like this Neff model. While it's unlikely to win any design awards, it does the job well and is an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

There are a variety of electric hobs that work for modern households. They not only offer a sleek design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functionality that is safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They are designed with a sleek glazed finish, and have an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster function that lets you increase your heat for a short duration.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a particular type of pan to work with them and are costly to install.

A gas on glass hob is a different option that is a good option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it has a burner beneath a layer of flat glass. However it's shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than the typical tempered glass. Many of these hobs come with the "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the heat.

Gas hobs remain a popular choice for many home chefs, but they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take time to heat up and cool down and their flame can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs on the other hand, are more energy efficient and easy to clean.

For the ultimate in modern technology, you can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, so you'll have the flexibility to fit your needs. But, it's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Under the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils which run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly in the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't squander heat.

There are a myriad of models of induction stoves from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone marked by rings up to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously within a flex area. Certain models have a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have preset settings that are specific to recipes or food types that can cut down 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 since they heat up faster and use a smaller space to heat up, which can help reduce your energy bills. They cool down faster and are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have elderly or children. However, they do produce magnetic fields that could affect medical devices like pacemakers so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your induction hob regularly, as food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to help keep your hob sparkling and in good order for a longer time. Make sure you don't use the abrasive cleaning pads or scouring pads on your induction hob as they can scratch the surface.