Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans by using electric or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best oven suits your kitchen and style.

Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern design. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient and can lower your electricity bill. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow in changing the temperature and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires an instant reduction or increase in temperature.

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 up to the power level you require. You can also use the 'boost' feature in order to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs Oven are able to hold heat well, so even when they've been shut off, they'll be hot to the touch. This could be a problem for families with children, so it's advisable to install them in a place that is well away from any flammable items and not within reach of little ones.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be put in on a variety of worktops such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be a great alternative if you are looking to replace your stove without spending a large amount of money. But, as with all appliances, they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we would recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

This type of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that matches the element exactly or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, the element will not recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven results in cooking and makes the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in design. Although they may cost more than electric models and require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This kind of stove is also a great choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being produced. However, it should be noted that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and will likely need to be cleaned more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain instead of sliding off.

A great example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also comes with an oblong wok ring with 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is an attractive slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob has an inner burner that doubles to improve heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an indicator for power that helps you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.

Our test subjects also appreciated the controls as they were simple and intuitive. Some minor disadvantages are the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest temperature, and that it can be difficult to see the state of the burners through the glass.

A few of the top gas on glass hobs are available at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. It's not going win any design awards, but it will do the job and can be a fantastic option for your kitchen at just above PS120.

Electric hobs

There are many electric hobs that work for modern homes. They are not only sleek and stylish, they are also faster, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature, which allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.

Induction hobs are yet another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and can be costly to set up.

Gas on glass hobs are a great alternative for modern homes. It features a burner beneath a flat glass layer, like a traditional gas stove. However, this glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than standard glass that's tempered. A lot of these hobs have the "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the temperature.

While gas hobs are still an option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and take some time to heat up and cool off. On the other hand electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean.

There are even electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. It's important to note, however, that these hobs require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated cable of 6mm in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs oven are extremely efficient in energy use, since they don't use any heat.

There are many different models of induction hobs starting from basic models that have one cooking zone that is with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones and allow you to cook several pots simultaneously in one flex zone. Certain models come with an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are thought to be more energy efficient in the long run because they heat up quicker and use a smaller space to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They cool quicker, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with elderly or children. However, they create magnetic fields that can cause interference with medical devices such as pacemakers so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your hob clean and in good shape for a longer time. It is not recommended to use the abrasive cleaning products or the scouring pad on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.