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 many different kinds of hobs available, so you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic cooking surface and have five or four zones for heating 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 modern, sleek design. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can quickly be cleaned up if spills or splatters occur. They heat up quickly and are energy-efficient which means they can cut down on your electric bill. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow to adjust the temperature, which can be frustrating if you're cooking something that requires an instant reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. They can be controlled separately with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the power level you require. You can even utilize the boost feature to boost the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being turned off. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.
This type of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. Like all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs will be safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need cookware that is either the exact dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element won't recognize it and won't start to heat up the base of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. While they cost more than electric ones and require professional installation, they often take less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to be boiling within four minutes or less. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat is generated. However, it must be noted that a glass hob is more prone 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 rather than slide off.
A fantastic example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs to create a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also comes with the wok ring that has 4kW for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob features the double inner flame to ensure uniform heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. best ovens and hobs comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator that allows you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-set settings, like high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls, as they were simple and intuitive. A few minor issues are that you need to press the controls a further nine times before reaching the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs that are available at a low cost. It's not going to win any design prizes, but it will perform the task and be a great addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a variety of electric hobs that are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functionality that is safer, more efficient and efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. These hobs have a sleek glazed finish, and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase your heat for a short duration.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a particular kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.
A gas-on-glass hob is a different option that's an excellent choice for modern homes. It features a burner beneath the glass, which is flat, similar to a standard gas stove. However it's heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs are equipped with the "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.
Gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks, but they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and takes an extended time to heat up and cool off. In contrast, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern technology You can also find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, allowing you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. But, it's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a stove, the coils produce magnetic fields that create heat directly inside the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't waste any heat.
There are a myriad of models of induction hobs, from basic entry level models that have a single cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Some of these models come with a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for certain recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are believed to be more energy efficient in the long run because they heat up faster and have a smaller surface to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They cool faster and also are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with children or elderly people. However, they do generate magnetic forces that can cause interference with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your electric hob clean as food and debris can build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or opt for a specialist product to help keep your hob shiny and in good condition for longer. Make sure you don't use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.