Types of Hob and Oven
A hob and oven is commonplace in kitchens, and comes in a variety of designs. You can mix different types of
ovens uk, like gas and electric to meet your requirements.
Safety features such as child and position controls could be integrated into the hob. These features can stop children from accidentally altering the temperature setting or touching the hob.
Types
The hob is the main focal feature of any kitchen, and has a huge impact on the final outcome of your cooking. There are many different types of hobs, and which one you pick will depend on your cooking needs.
Gas hobs are a popular option. They are quick to heat up and respond immediately to temperature changes. Professional chefs favor them because they are precise in their control. They aren't as easy as other hobs to clean and may require more maintenance.
Electric hobs have a flat ceramic surface and heated elements underneath. They can be found in a variety of sizes and come with up to six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element, which can be controlled separately by you. This lets you boil potatoes on one ring and cooking sausages in a different. This type of hob (
description here) is easier to start heating than gas, and is an alternative that is safer for children since the cooking zone becomes hot only when you place an oven on it.
Traditional ceramic hobs are a very user-friendly alternative to electric and gas and are also a stylish option. They have a smooth, durable surface that is easy wipe down but aren't as responsive to temperature changes like other hobs, and may be slower to cool down.
Domino hobs can be a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs that combine
ovens uk below the cooking surface. They can be fitted into smaller kitchens that have little space for installation and are ideal for flats and kitchenettes. They are often cheaper than a standard hob and are energy efficient but can be fragile and require more maintenance than other types of cooker.
Gas
A gas hob is a cooktop with burners that can be installed on kitchen countertops to give an elegant look. They are typically used with natural or the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but they can also be powered by propane gas. The modern, sleek design can add sophistication to your kitchen space.
A traditional gas stove comes with several burners, typically 4 but sometimes up to 6. The flames are ignited using a match or by turning the knob. The flames are controlled by the valves that can be adjusted to regulate temperature.
However, the majority of modern gas hobs with built-in gas are equipped with multi-flame burners that allow you to control the inner and outer rings of each burner to manage your cooking. These kinds of burners allow for much faster heat up times and are more reliable than the older models.
In the past, it was essential for a gas stove to be lit at all times to ensure that the burners remained hot and well-fueled. This was a safety measure to prevent any accidents such as accidentally turning on the oven even though the stove was lit by match or the pilot flame. Modern cookers have been made with safety in mind as a top priority. They come equipped with a device to stop the flame which shuts down the burners in the event that the pilot light fails to work.
Gas stoves and hobs should be cleaned, checked, and maintained regularly. The
best hob method to do this is to schedule an appointment for maintenance with a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able to ensure that your appliance is functioning properly as well, but they'll also offer expert advice and guidance on how to prevent any issues in the future.
Electric
A quality hob is just as important in making your kitchen the best it can be. Worktops, refrigerators, freezers and
ovens hobs are the first items that come to the mind. The kind of hob you select will impact the way your kitchen works
ovens and hobs also how easy it is for you to clean.
Electric hobs have heating elements that are placed on a smooth, glass surface. The glass surface is typically cleaned using a nonabrasive cleaner. These elements switch on when you turn the hob on and can be notched up to various power levels by turning or clicking on a knob. They can take some time to get heated up but once they've done so, they have a tendency to offer more reliable and consistent temperature control. They also come with indicators that inform you that a zone is being used or hot from cooking.
Typically, these come in four to six different sizes that can be cranked up to various levels of power. They are perfect for cookware with a flat base but aren't the best option for cast iron pans because they can get hot. Certain models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that permit boiling water on one ring while you sauté sausages on the other. Some models even have a 'boost' function which concentrates high-powered heat onto one ring for stir fry cooking sauteing meat, or boiling large pots of water.
Induction hobs differ from normal electric hobs in that they utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware rather than the conventional method of gas flames. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a smaller period of time, making them highly energy efficient. They have a cool to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that indicate whether a ring was used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramics can be used to create functional or decorative 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. After it's been made it is then covered with paint-like or decorative materials to add colour and texture.
Ceramic hobs are a perfect blend of design and function to create a stunning piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. They operate by using radiant heating technology, which passes an electric current through coiled elements hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. When they are activated, they produce heat which is then transferred to the pan through an infrared system. You can adjust the level of heating by turning the knobs or the touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs come with dual-ring designs, having one smaller and a larger cooking area that lets you select the most suitable size for your pan. You can also get hobs equipped with booster burners that produce high-powered heat in a short time perfect for searing food or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil in a short time.
In comparison to other types of hobs ceramic cooktops typically take longer to warm up and change temperature however, once they're done they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. You can also find vented hobs that incorporate a ventilation system into the cooktop's ceramic surface, making sure the cooking smells don't stay within your home.
Induction
The heating elements inside the induction hobs are copper wire coils beneath the surface, which generate electromagnets to heat pans sat on them. The coils stir up the free electrons in the base metal of your pan which in turn, distributes heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot and the cooking zones are automatically shut off when the pan is removed.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive, but they also are more efficient in heating and consume 30 to 70% less energy than gas or other kinds. Induction hobs are also simpler to clean because only the interior of the pan heat up, not the surface.
Some manufacturers provide an induction model that comes with additional features, like the pause feature that shuts off power to your stove when you walk away or link two cooking rings simultaneously with the same power to provide greater flexibility. They are commonly referred to as FlexInduction hobs and can be more expensive than traditional models, however they're worth a look if you are a multi-tasker.
Our favorite is this induction cooktop from Smeg, with four cooking zones that are large enough, a bridge function and nine power levels, giving you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. In our tests, it performed very well with accurate control and fast heating when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with dishwasher built-in and an automatic pan detection function to make cleaning even easier. There's a small selection of compatible pans, however it cannot be used to cook with utensils that have a magnetic base. This could be a problem if you have a lot of non-compatible cookware or only some of them are suitable for induction cooktops.