Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best ovens fits your kitchen and your style.

Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic surface and a range of 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 have an elegant and contemporary look that can improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be cleaned in the event of spills or splatters. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your energy bills. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow in changing temperature settings and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires an instant reduction or increase in heat.

Electric hobs utilize an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted via rotating knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even after they have been turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a problem for families with children, so it's recommended to only install them in a place which is far from flammable objects and away from children.

The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be set up on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and can be a great option for those looking to replace your previous hobs, but without spending a lot of money. But, as with all appliances, they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, so we recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe for use.

This type of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You'll need cookware that's the exact size as the element or that will fit comfortably inside each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element won't recognize it and will not begin to heat the base of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs are sleek and contemporary in design. They can be more expensive than electric models, and could require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating - the water in a full pot can often boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a great choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to build up grease and sludge.

A great example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated look. It also has a 4kW wok ring for additional versatility, hobs as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob has a double inner burner to improve heat distribution and accelerate cooking. It also has a handy power indicator that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.

Our testers also liked the controls, as they were simple and easy to use. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature and it can be difficult to discern the status of the burners through the glass.

A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs are available for an affordable price like this Neff model. It's not going win any design prizes however it's going to serve its purpose and be a great addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

There are many electric hobs that are ideal for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functionality that is safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.

One of the most well-known electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're made with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to smudges and scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature, which allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a short period of time.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a particular kind of pan to work and can be costly to set up.

Gas on glass hobs are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features the burner underneath the glass is a flat layer. However, this glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's easier to clean than standard glass that's tempered. Many of these hobs have a "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the heat.

Gas hobs remain a preferred option for many home cooks However, they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take time to heat up and cool down, and their flame can be hard to manage. On the other hand, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.

To achieve the highest level of modern technology You can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to meet your needs. It is important to note that these hobs require installation by an approved gas safe engineer. They also require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.

Induction hobs

On the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils generate magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't use any heat.

There are a myriad of models of an induction hob, from basic entry level models that have one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar 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. Some models have preset settings for specific recipes or food types that can cut down time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient in the long term. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating area which could reduce your energy bills. They cool quicker, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with elderly or children. However, they do produce an electric force that could affect certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean regularly as food and debris can build up over time. You can employ a standard oven cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for a longer time. Be sure to not use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads for scouring on your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.