Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are a variety of hobs, so you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide modern and sleek design which can greatly enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your electricity bills. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires a quick reduction or increase of the heat.
Electric hobs use a solid plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. The power of each element can be individually adjusted by the rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, so even when they've been shut off, they'll be hot to the touch. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's best to only install them in a location that is away from any flammable items and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be set up in a variety of worktops such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be an excellent option if you want to replace your stove without spending a lot. As with all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to pan size and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that either matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element will not recognise it and will not begin to heat up the base of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have modern, sleek design. Although they may be more expensive than electric ones and require professional installation, they usually require 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 ideal for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to build up grease and sludge.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to create a sleek, elegant finish. The wok ring is 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual rings to the left of the hob offers an inner flame that doubles to ensure even heat distribution and accelerates cooking time. It also features a handy power indicator that allows you to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.
The simple and intuitive controls were appreciated by our testers, who found them to be very easy to use. Some minor issues include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level and it can be difficult to discern the status of the burners through the glass.
Some of the best gas-on-glass hobs are available at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards but it can do the job well and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. Not only do they have a sleek design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functionality that is safer, quicker and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. These hobs have an elegant glazed finish and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature which lets you increase the temperature of your stove for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to function and can be costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is another option that's a great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath a flat glass layer, like a traditional gas stove. However it's heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs are equipped with the "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the temperature.
Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for many home chefs However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes a long time to heat up and cool off. On the other hand, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern technology You can also find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, giving you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to remember that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a specific 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for people with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils run an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields that heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't use any heat.
There are many different models of induction hobs starting from basic ones with one cooking zone that is with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots at once on a flex zone. Certain models come with the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar at the middle to choose the desired temperature, left to right boosts heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for certain food types or recipes 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 area for heating which can lower your energy bills. They cool faster and have a safer design without hot plates. best ovens and hobs uk Ovens & Hobs makes them a great choice for families with children or elderly residents. However, they can create magnetic fields that could affect medical devices like pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you will have to clean your electric hob regularly, as food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or opt for a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for a longer time. Make sure you don't use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.