Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using flames or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that is best oven suited to your kitchen and your style.

Induction hobs are equipped with a flat ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek appearance. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. 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 problem when you are cooking something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of heat.

Electric hobs use plates that are heated by electric elements underneath. These elements can be individually controlled using rotary knobs and notched up to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a specific zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being shut off. This can be a problem for families with children, so it's recommended to place them in a location which is far from flammable objects and not within reach of children.

This kind of hob can be used on a variety of worktops including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and is a great alternative if you are looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot of money. As with any appliance, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You will need to purchase cookware that either is exactly the same as the element or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, it won't recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for a sleek, modern aesthetic. While they be more expensive than electric ones and require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a good choice for cooks who want to regulate the amount of heat produced. However, it must be observed that a glass-based hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and will need to be cleaned more often, since grease and residue build up tends to stay on the surface instead of slipping off.

One of the best oven examples of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs that create a a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also includes an oblong wok ring with 4kW for additional versatility, as well as dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easy to clean.

This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and modern cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the hob has a double inner flame to improve uniform heat distribution, which in turn speeds up cooking times. It also comes with an excellent power level indicator, which helps to regulate the precise temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including a high setting for searing steaks and the low setting for scrambled eggs.

The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well loved by our test subjects, who found them to be very easy to use. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you need to physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest heating level, and that it can be difficult to determine the status of the burners through the glass.

This Neff model is among the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that you can buy at a reasonable price. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than 120 dollars.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. Not only do they offer a sleek design that fits into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functionality that is safer, quicker and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They are designed with a sleek glazed finish, and feature an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature that allows you to increase the heat for a brief time.

Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs oven (related internet page) use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan and could be expensive to put in.

Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are another great option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under a flat glass layer, like a traditional gas stove. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much simpler to clean than glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which informs you when the oven is hot.

While gas hobs are still a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to cool down and warm down and their flame can be difficult to control. In contrast electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean.

For the ultimate in modern technology You can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs require the installation of an accredited gas safe engineer and will require an appropriate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.

Hobs with induction

Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs are very efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't waste any heat.

There are a variety of models of an induction hob starting from basic models that have a single cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones, allowing you to cook several pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Certain models have a touch slider control that looks very similar to how you operate on 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 even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are considered to be more energy efficient over the long term because they heat up faster and have a smaller surface for heating up which can help reduce your energy bills. They cool faster and also are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with elderly or children. They do, however, produce a magnetic force that could affect certain medical devices, such as 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, because food and debris could build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can opt for a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for longer. Be sure to not use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads for scouring on your induction hob as they can scratch the surface.