Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans with flame or electricity. There are many different kinds of hobs, and you can choose one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic 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 quickly be cleaned up if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your energy bills. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to change temperature settings, which can be frustrating if you're cooking something that requires a quick reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually by the rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, so even when they are turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge for families with children, so it's best to install them in a location that is away from flammable objects and not within reach of children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and is a great alternative if you are looking to replace your stove without spending a large amount of money. Like all appliances, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either the exact same size as the element or that is able to fit in each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have a sleek, modern aesthetic. While they be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a full pan of water to come to a boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a good choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to accumulate grease and other residue.
A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs for a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also includes an oblong wok ring with 4kW for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left of the hob features a double inner flame to promote improvement in even heat distribution which increases cooking time. It also comes with an easy-to-read power indicator that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings, including the highest setting for searing a steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
Its simple yet intuitive controls were also well liked by our testers who found them to be very easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you have to press the controls nine more times before reaching the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. Recommended Reading 's not likely to win any design prizes but it'll perform the task and be a great addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They not only offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functions that are safer, more efficient and efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. They're constructed with a sleek glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to smudges or scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost function, which allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.
A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that's a great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath the glass, which is flat, like a traditional gas stove. However, this glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks however they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take a while to warm up and cool down and their flame can be hard to control. In contrast, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that work with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, giving you the flexibility to meet your needs. It is important to remember that these hobs will require the installation of an approved gas safe engineer. They also require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
On the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob the coils generate magnetic fields that generate heat directly inside the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction hob starting from basic ones with a single cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned 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 use an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar located in the middle to select the desired temperature left to right increases the heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are thought to be more energy efficient in the long run since they heat up quicker and have a smaller surface for heating up which can help you save on energy bills. They cool down faster and also are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them ideal for families that have children or elderly residents. However, they can create a magnetic field which could affect medical devices, such as pacemakers, therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean regularly because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaner or purchase a specialist one to keep your oven in good condition and shining for longer. Make sure you don't use scrubbers or scouring pads on your induction hob as they can scratch the surface.