Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, so you can choose one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have modern and sleek design which can greatly enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can easily be cleaned in the event of spills or splatters. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or increase of the heat.
Electric hobs are made of a solid plate that is heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted through rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. This can be a problem for families with children, so it's best to only install them in an area that is away from objects that are flammable and not within reach of children.
This kind of hob can be installed on a variety worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and is a great option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are 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. It is essential to purchase cookware that either is exactly the same as the element or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern appearance. They can be more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating and an entire pot of water can typically boil in less than four minutes. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who wish to control how much heat is generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to build up grease and residue.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners finished in matt black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual rings on the left of the hob offers the double inner flame to ensure uniform 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 choose from nine pre-defined settings, including a high setting for searing a steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our testers also liked the controls because they were easy to use and intuitive. Some minor drawbacks are that you need to press the controls nine more times to reach the highest heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is among the best gas-on-glass hobs available at an affordable price. Although oven uk to be a winner of any design awards but it can do the job well and is an ideal addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They're not only sleek and stylish, they are they are also more efficient, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. These hobs have sleek glazed finishes, and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature which lets you increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to work with them and can be costly to install.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that is a good option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs also have a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the oven is hot.
Although gas hobs are an option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to cool down and warm down and their flame can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs, on the other hand, are more energy efficient and easy to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern efficiency, you can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to remember that these stoves must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can 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 produce magnetic fields that create heat directly within the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are very efficient in energy use, since they don't use any heat.
There are a myriad of models of induction hob starting from basic ones with a single cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously in one flexible zone. Some of these models feature a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. ovens uk can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are thought to be more energy efficient in the long run as they heat up much faster and use a smaller space to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They also cool down faster and have a safer design that doesn't have hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the house. However, they do create an electric force that could interfere with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your induction hob clean regularly because food and debris could build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your stove sparkling and in good order for longer. Just be sure to never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on your induction hob since they can scratch the surface.