Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs come with flat ceramic surfaces and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide a sleek and modern look that can really enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, so spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient which means they can cut down on your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires quick decrease or an increase in temperature.
Electric hobs are made of an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. The power of each element can be adjusted through rotary knobs. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being shut off. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and is an excellent option for those looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. Like all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs will be 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. You'll need cookware that is either exactly the same dimensions as the element or that can fit comfortably into each of 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 uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are sleek and contemporary in look. While they can be more expensive than electric ones and require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up. It's not unusual for a full pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat is produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and sludge.
One of the best examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the gas hob provides a double inner burner to improve the distribution of heat and speed up cooking. It also has an easy-to-read power indicator that allows you to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including the highest setting for searing steak and an option for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were loved by our test subjects, who found them to be extremely easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you must press the controls a further nine times before reaching the maximum heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
Some of the top gas on glass hobs are available for affordable prices like this Neff model. It's not likely to win any design awards however it's going to do the job and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen for just above 120 dollars.
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, more efficient and efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. These hobs have 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 which allows you to boost your heat for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. They are therefore more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific kind of pan and can be costly to set up.
Glass hobs with gas are a different option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath a flat glass layer, similar to a standard gas stove. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs come with an "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.
While best ovens and hobs uk Ovens & Hobs remain an option that is popular with home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and can take a long time to heat up and cool off. On the other hand, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
There are electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, meaning you can adjust your cooking to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that generate an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob the coils generate magnetic fields which directly heat the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy standpoint because there's no leftover heat that is wasted.
There are many different models of an induction hob starting from basic models that have one cooking zone that is with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones and allow you to cook several pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Some of these premium models feature 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 heat level left to right increases the heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to recipes or food types that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are considered to be more efficient in the long run because they heat up faster and use a smaller space to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They also cool down faster and have a more secure design with no hot plates, making them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the home. However, they can create magnetic fields that can cause interference with medical devices like pacemakers so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either use a standard oven cleaner or purchase a specialist one to keep your oven in good shape and shiny for longer. Just be sure to never use scrubbers or pads to scour your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.