Types of Hob and Oven

Hobs and ovens are a common fixture in kitchens. They come in various styles. You can mix different types of ovens, like gas and electric to meet your needs.

A hob may also come with safety features like child and control of the position. These features can stop children from accidentally altering the temperature setting or touching the stove.

Types

In every kitchen, the hob is the main focus and plays a significant role in the way your food is executed. There are many different kinds of hobs, and the one you pick will be based on what your specific cooking needs are.

Gas hobs are a classic choice and offer a fast heating function and instant response to temperature changes. They are a popular choice for chefs who are professional as they provide precise control. However, they are not as easy to clean as other hobs and could require a higher level of maintenance.

Electric hobs are flat ceramic surface that has heated elements beneath and are available in different sizes that have between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element that you can control individually. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring while making sausages in another. This type of hob is much easier to heat up than gas, and is the safety of children as the Gourmet Cooking zone is heated only when you put the pot on it.

Ceramic hobs are a chic and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have a smooth, durable surface which is easy to clean but aren't as responsive to temperature fluctuations as other hobs, and may be slower to cool down.

Domino hobs are a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs that incorporate ovens beneath the cooking surface. They are perfect for kitchens that have limited space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are usually less expensive than a standard hob and can be extremely energy efficient however they are also fragile and require more maintenance than other types of cookers.

Gas

Gas hobs are cooktops equipped with burners that are easily fitted into the kitchen countertop for a seamless appearance. They are usually powered by natural or the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but can also be powered by propane gas. The modern, sleek design can bring sophistication to your kitchen space.

A traditional gas stove has a range of burners, typically 4 but sometimes as many as 6. These are ignited with either an igniter or by turning the knob. The flames are then controlled by a series of valves which can be adjusted to set the temperature.

However, the majority of modern gas hobs that have built-in gas burners feature multi-flame burners that let you control the inner and outer rings of each burner to manage your cooking. These types of burners provide quicker heat up times and are more reliable than older models.

In the past, it was necessary for the gas stove to be continuously lit to ensure that the burners were hot and fuelled. This was a security feature to avoid any mishaps such as not turning off the oven when the stove was lit by a match or a the pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind and include a built-in flame safety device that shuts off burners automatically should the pilot light fail.

Gas stoves and hobs require to be regularly inspected, cleaned and maintained. To achieve this, it is recommended to arrange a visit with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able check your appliance is working correctly as well, but they'll also offer expert advice and guidance on how to prevent any problems in the future.

Electricity

A quality hob is equally important when it comes to making the perfect kitchen. Worktops, refrigerators, freezers and ovens are always the first items that come to your mind. The kind of hob you select will influence the way your kitchen functions and also how easy it is for you to clean it.

Electric hobs feature heating elements set beneath a smooth, glass surface. This is usually cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. The heating elements are activated when you switch on the hob and can be adjusted to different power levels by turning a knob. It can take them a little bit longer to warm up however once they are heated, they tend to provide more reliable and consistent temperature control. They also have built-in indicators that let you know that a zone is being used or hot from cooking.

These rings are available in four to six different sizes and can be notch-up up to different power levels. They are great for cookware that is flat, but aren't the best hobs uk option for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Some models have dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow boiling water on one ring and sauté sausages on the other. Some models come with a Boost function that focuses high heat into one ring. This is helpful for stirring-frying, searing meat or boiling large pots.

Induction hobs are different from standard electric models because they make use of electromagnetic fields instead of traditional gas flames to cook your food. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a smaller time frame, which makes them extremely energy efficient. They feature a cool to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that let you know that a ring has been used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramic is a material that can be made into decorative or practical objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders, and water, before firing it in a high-temperature oven, also known as Kiln. Once made it is then covered with paint-like or decorative substances to add colour and texture.

Ceramic hobs are an exquisite blend of form and function, sitting comfortably in any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat the ceramic hobs through the passage of an electric current over coiled elements that are hidden under the black glass surface. They generate heat when activated. This is then transferred to the pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the strength of the heating by adjusting the controls with touch or knobs.

Some ceramic hobs have dual rings, with a smaller and a larger cooking zone. This allows you to select the right size for your pan. You can also get hobs with booster burners which produce high-powered heat quickly ideal for searing meat or bringing pans of water to a boil in a short time.

In comparison to other types of cooktops, ceramic cooktops generally take longer to heat up and change temperature however, once they're done they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. You can also opt for vented hobs, which integrate a ventilation system with the cooktop made of ceramic. This ensures that smoke, steam and cooking smells don't stay in your home.

Induction

The heating elements of induction hobs consist of a series of copper wire coils under the surface, which generate electromagnets to heat pans that sit on them. The coils agitate the free electrons inside the base of your pan, which then transmits heat efficiently and directly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot and the cooking zones are automatically shut off as soon as your pan is removed.

Induction hobs are usually more expensive than other types, but they're also faster to heat and consume 30-70% less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. They are also easier to clean, because the surface of the hob isn't hot, and only the contents of your pan do.

Certain manufacturers have an induction model that comes with additional features, like a pause feature that shuts off power to your stove after you have left, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same time for more flexibility. They are commonly called FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models, but they're worth looking into if prefer to multitask.

Our top choice is this induction hob made by Smeg. It has four good-sized cooking zones with a bridge function as well as nine power levels, giving you a variety of options for the ambitious cook. In our tests, it did well with accurate control and fast heating when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with a built-in dishwasher and an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning a lot easier. The only issue is that there are only a few compatible pans, and you cannot use it to cook with appliances with magnetic bases. It could be a problem when you have a large quantity of cookware that's not compatible or the smallest portion is compatible with induction cooktops.