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 types of hobs. You can pick the one that best suits your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic cooking surface and include five or four zones to heat your pans. hob and oven -operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and are able to be cleaned if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your energy bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you have to cook something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs consist of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. They can be controlled individually by rotary knobs and nipped up to the power level you require. You can even use the 'boost' feature in order to increase the temperature of a single zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they are turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. This could be a problem when you have children, so it's best to only install them in an area which is far from flammable objects and out of reach of young children.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be put in in a variety of worktops such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great option for those looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. Like any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's exactly the same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element won't recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven results in cooking and makes the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have a sleek, modern aesthetic. They are more expensive than electric models, and could require professional installation. However they heat up faster and the water in a full pot will typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of stove is also a good choice for cooks who want to regulate the amount of heat being produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to accumulate grease and residue.
This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated finish. It also has a 4kW wok ring for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left of the hob has the double inner flame to ensure even heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also has an excellent power level indicator, which assists in regulating the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including the highest setting for searing steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well loved by our test subjects, who found them to be very simple to use. Some minor disadvantages are that you need to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level and it may be difficult to see the state of the burners through the glass.
A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs are available for affordable prices like this Neff model. It's not going to win any design prizes but it'll do the job and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just over 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, quicker and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. They are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function which lets you increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.
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 your cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to work with them and can be expensive to install.
A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that's an excellent option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath the glass, which is flat, similar to a standard gas stove. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempering glass. A lot of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is heated.
Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for a lot of home cooks However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and can take a long time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs, on the other side are more energy efficient and are easier to clean.
There are electric stoves that work with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to fit your needs. But, it's important to keep in mind that these hobs need to be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people who have pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
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 produce magnetic fields that directly heat the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't waste any heat.
There are a variety of models of induction stoves from the basic ones with a single zone marked by rings to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves with up to 6 zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously on one flex area. Certain models come with an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar located in the middle to select the desired heat level left to right increases the heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to food items or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are considered to be more energy efficient in the long run as they heat up much quicker and have a smaller surface to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They also cool down faster and have a more secure design without hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or older people who live in the house. However, they do produce magnetic forces that can cause interference with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your induction hob clean, as food and debris can build up over time. You can make use of a basic oven cleaner or purchase a specialist one to keep your oven in good condition and shining for longer. You should never use any abrasive cleaning product or scouring pad on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.