Types of Hobs
A hob, also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs, so you can choose one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs have flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and have five or four zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic
Hobs oven provide modern and sleek design that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be wiped down in the event of spills or splatters. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can help lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you need to cook something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs utilize an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. The power of each element can be adjusted individually through rotary knobs. You can also use the 'boost' feature in order to increase the temperature of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch even after being turned off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a location that is away from flammable items and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up in a variety of worktops, such as laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and can be a great alternative if you're looking to replace your previous hobs without spending a lot of money. Like all appliances, they must be installed correctly and
oven and hob connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of
best hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. It is essential to purchase cookware that either matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven results in cooking and makes the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern design. Although they may cost more than electric ones and require professional installation, they typically require less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This type of stove works well for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is generated. However, it must be noted that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and will need to be cleaned more often, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface rather than slide off.
A fantastic example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni
oven hob, which boasts four black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs that create a a stylish and sophisticated finish. The wok ring is 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and
Hobs oven cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob has two burners inside to increase the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also features an easy-to-read power indicator that helps you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings including the highest setting for searing steaks and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls as they were simple and easy to use. A few minor issues are that you have to press the controls a further nine times to reach the maximum heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.
Some of the top gas on glass hobs are available for an affordable price like this Neff model. It's not going win any design prizes but it'll perform the task and be a great addition to your kitchen at just above PS120.
Electric hobs
There are a variety of electric hobs that are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functions that are safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They are designed with a sleek glazed finish, and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster function that lets you increase the heat for a short duration.
Induction hobs are another electric hob perfect for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. They require a special kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.
A gas-on-glass hob is a different option that's a great option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath an unidirectional glass layer similar to a conventional gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with an "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the temperature.
Gas hobs remain a preferred option for many home cooks, but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take a long time to get hot and cool off. However, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to remember that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference 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 pan is placed on the hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy standpoint because there's no leftover heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone marked by rings up to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves with up to 6 zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked within a flex area. Some of these premium models have an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have preset settings for specific food items or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient over the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating area which can reduce your energy costs. They also cool faster and have a more secure design with no hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or older people living in the home. However, they do create magnetic forces that can affect certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean, since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time.