Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans with flame or electricity. There are many different kinds of hobs, so you can choose one that fits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic cooking surface and come with four or five zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek appearance. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can easily be cleaned up in the event of spills or splatters. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you need to cook something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in temperature.
Electric hobs are made of an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements under. The elements can be controlled individually using rotary knobs and notched to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a particular area. Ceramic hobs also have very high rate of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being shut off. It's important to install ceramic hobs in an area that is safe from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.
This kind of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and is a great alternative if you're trying to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. Like all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs will be safe to use.
A downside of this type of hob is that it's sensitive to pan size and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's exactly the same dimensions as the element or that is able to fit in each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element will not recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs have a sleek and modern appearance. They are more expensive than electric models, and could require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating - an entire pot of water can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of hob is also a great choice for cooks who prefer to limit the amount of heat produced. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and other residue.
One of the best examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs for a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings on the left side of the hob features an inner flame that doubles to ensure uniform heat distribution and accelerates cooking time. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator that assists in regulating the precise temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for more info scrambled eggs.
Its simple yet easy-to-use controls were also appreciated by our testers who found them to be very simple to use. A few minor issues are that you must press the controls nine times to reach the maximum heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
A few of the top gas on glass hobs are available for an affordable price, such as this Neff model. While it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and is an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functionality that is safer, more efficient and efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function, which allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means they are more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a particular type of pan to work and can be costly to install.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that's a great choice for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under a flat glass layer, similar to a standard gas stove. However it's shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than the typical glass that's tempered. Many of these hobs also have a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.
Although gas hobs are an option for many home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to warm up and cool down and their flame can be hard to manage. Electric hobs on the other hand are more efficient in energy use and are easier to clean.
For the ultimate in modern technology, you can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, allowing you the flexibility you need to meet your needs. It is important to remember that these stoves will require installation by an accredited gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for those who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils run an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient from a energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction hob, from basic entry level ones that have only one cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots at once on a flexible zone. Some of these models come with a touch-slider control that looks very similar to how you operate an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar at the middle to choose the desired level of heat left to right increases the heat and right to left reduces it. Some models have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are believed to be more energy efficient in the long run as they heat up much faster and have a smaller area to heat up which could help reduce your energy bills. They also cool down faster and have a safer design without hot plates, making them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the house. However, they create magnetic fields that can affect medical devices such as pacemakers so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can either employ a standard oven cleaner or invest in a specialist one to keep your stove in good shape and shiny for a longer time. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or a scouring pad on your stove since they could scratch the surface.