Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have modern and sleek design that can enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient and can lower the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of temperature.
Electric hobs consist of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. These elements can be controlled individually with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the level of power you require. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs also have very high rate of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from flammable items and away from children's reach.
This kind 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 any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
A downside of this type of hob is that it's very sensitive to pan size and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't fit the element, it will not recognise it and won't begin to heat up the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. They are more expensive than electric models, and may require professional installations. However they heat up faster and a full pot of water can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of stove is also a great option for cooks who prefer to regulate the amount of heat generated. However, it must be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel ones and may need to be cleaned more often, since grease and residue build up tends to stay on the surface instead of sliding off.
A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated look. It also includes an oblong wok ring with 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 is the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left side of the gas hob has a double inner burner to increase heat distribution and speed up cooking. It also features an excellent power level indicator, which assists in regulating the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, such as the highest setting for sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.
Its simple yet intuitive controls were loved by our test subjects, who found them to be very simple to use. A few minor issues are that you need 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.
Some of the top gas-on-glass hobs can be found at affordable prices like this Neff model. It's not going win any design prizes, but it will do the job and can be a great addition to your kitchen for just more than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a variety of electric hobs that are ideal for modern homes. They're not just sleek and stylish, they are they are also safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're made with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to smudges and scratches. They also come with a power booster function which allows you to boost the heat for a brief duration.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs cook your food directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.
Gas on glass hobs are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features an oven that is surrounded by an underlying layer of flat glass. However it's shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much simpler to clean than glass that's tempered. A lot of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
Although gas hobs are a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time 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.
You can even find electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, allowing you the flexibility to meet your needs. It is important to remember that these hobs will require the installation of an accredited gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference best hob uk with them.
Hobs with induction
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are efficient in energy use, since they don't waste any heat.
There are many different models of induction hobs starting from basic ones with a single cooking zone with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Some of these 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 select the desired level of heat left to right increases heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for certain food items or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient over the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating area which can lower your energy costs. They cool quicker and also are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them ideal for families that have elderly or children. However, they create magnetic fields that can interfere with some medical devices such as pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner or invest in a specialist one to keep your oven in good condition and shiny for longer. Just be sure to never use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.