Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using electric power or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best suits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic surface and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have a sleek and modern look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your electricity bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you are cooking something that requires a rapid decrease or an increase in temperature.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via rotating knobs. You can even use the boost feature to increase the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, and even after they've been shut off, they'll be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.
This type of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent option if you want to replace your stove without spending a lot. As with any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to pan size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's either the exact same dimensions as the element or that is able to fit in each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, the element will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in look. While they cost more than electric ones and require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to be boiling within four minutes or less. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat is produced. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require frequent cleaning as they are more likely to accumulate grease and sludge.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal to create a sleek, elegant look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left of the gas hob features a double inner burner to increase heat distribution and accelerate cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator that helps to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings including a high setting for searing steaks and an option for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls, as they were simple and easy to use. A few minor issues are that you have to press the controls a further nine times to reach the maximum heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that you can buy at a reasonable price. While it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functions that are safer, quicker and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They are designed with an elegant glazed finish and have an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature which lets Ovens And Hobs you increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob perfect for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means that they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific type of pan, and can be costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is another option that is a good option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features a burner beneath the glass is a flat layer. However, this glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is heated.
Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for many home chefs However, they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take an extended time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs, on the other hand are more efficient in energy and are easier to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, giving you the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. It's important to remember that these stoves must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a dedicated 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils create an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a stove, the coils generate magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, starting with the basic models with a single zone labelled by rings up to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that can have up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked in one flex space. Certain models feature 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 located in the middle. Certain models can even be programmed with 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. However, they are thought to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much faster and use a smaller space to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They also cool faster and have a more secure design without hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or older people who live in the house. However, they can create a magnetic field which could cause interference with medical devices, such as pacemakers, therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll need to clean your induction hob regularly, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can make use of a basic oven cleaner or invest in a specialist one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for longer. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.