Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans by using electricity or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, and you can pick one that fits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are elegant and chic and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs offer a sleek and modern look that can really enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, which means spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They heat up quickly and are energy-efficient, which can reduce the cost of electricity. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to adjust the temperature which can be a problem when cooking food that requires immediate reduction or increase in heat.
Electric hobs use an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. They can be controlled separately by rotary knobs and nipped up to the level of power you require. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch even after being turned off. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a location that is away from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.
This type of hob can be used on a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It's also reasonably priced and is an excellent alternative if you're looking to replace your previous hobs without spending a lot of money. 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.
A downside of this type of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's exactly the same dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, the element will not recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs have a sleek and modern design. While they can cost more than electric ones and require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a great option for cooks who like to regulate the amount of heat generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to build up grease and sludge.
A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also has the wok ring that has 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings to the left of the hob offers the double inner flame to ensure uniform heat distribution and increases cooking time. It also features a handy power indicator that allows you to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.
Our test participants also liked the controls because they were easy to use and intuitive. A few minor drawbacks are the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest level of heating and it may be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that are available at a low cost. It's not going win any design prizes, but it will do the job and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functionality that is safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. These hobs are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster function that lets you increase your heat for a short duration.
Induction hobs are another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. They are therefore more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a specific type of pan, and can be costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that's a great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer similar to a conventional gas stove. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's easier to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs also include a 'hot-surface indicator', which informs you when the oven is hot.
While gas hobs remain an option that is popular with home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also ovens hobs be difficult to control and take some time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs, on the other side, are more efficient in energy use and are easier to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, so you can adjust your cooking to fit your needs. It is important to note that these hobs will need to be installed by an approved gas safe engineer. They also require a separate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field may interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils run an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy perspective because there's no leftover heat that is wasted.
There are many models of induction stoves, starting with the basic models with a single zone marked by rings up to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones and allow for multiple pots to cook simultaneously in one flex space. Some of these models have a touch slider control that looks very similar to how you operate an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have preset settings that are specific to food items or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are thought to be more energy efficient over the long term because they heat up faster and use a smaller space for heating up which can help you save on energy bills. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design without hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or older people who live in the house. They do, however, create an electric force that could interfere with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore crucial 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 because food and debris could build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for a longer time. It is not recommended to use abrasive cleaning products or a scouring pad on your stove since they could scratch the surface.