Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove top 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 is best suited to your kitchen and your style.

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

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek look. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that is easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your energy bills. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow to change temperatures which can be a problem when cooking something that requires a quick reduction or increase in temperature.

Electric Hobs Oven are made of plates that are heated by electric elements beneath. These elements can be controlled individually using rotary knobs and notched to the power level you require. You can also use the boost feature to boost the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have a very high rate of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch even after being shut off. This can be a challenge if you have children, so it's best oven to install them in a place which is far from flammable objects and away from children.

This kind of hob is able to be installed on a variety worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and can be a great option if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. However, just like any other appliance, they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains, so we suggest hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

This type of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. It is essential 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 heat the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern appearance. They are more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster - the water in a full pot can typically boil in less than four minutes. This kind of hob is also a good choice for cooks who want to regulate the amount of heat being generated. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and may need to be cleaned more often, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stick rather than slide off.

This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners that are matte black with metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.

This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass and cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the gas hob features two burners inside to improve the distribution of heat and speed up cooking. It also comes with an excellent power level indicator that assists in regulating the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.

Our testers also liked the controls because they were simple and easy to use. Some minor issues are that you need to physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest temperature, and that it can be difficult to see the status of the burners through the glass.

This Neff model is one of the top gas-on glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards but it can do the job well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs and ovens are ideal for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges or scratches. They also come with a power booster function that lets you increase the heat for a short time.

Induction hobs are yet another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a certain type of pan to work with them and are costly to install.

Gas on glass hobs are a great alternative for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it has the burner underneath a layer of flat glass. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than tempering glass. A lot of these hobs are equipped with a "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.

While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to cool down and warm down and their flames can be difficult to control. On the other hand electric hobs are efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.

For the ultimate in modern efficiency You can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, allowing you the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. However, it's important to remember that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers since the electromagnetic field may interfere with them.

hobs uk with induction

Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a stove, the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are very efficient in energy use, since they don't waste any heat.

There are a variety of models of induction hobs starting from basic ones with one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots simultaneously in one flex zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that looks very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired heat level left to right increases heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models have preset settings for certain food items or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are considered to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much faster 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 that doesn't have hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with children or older people living in the home. However, they create magnetic fields that could affect medical devices like pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your induction hob regularly, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or opt for a specialist product to keep your stove clean and in good shape for a longer time. Just be sure to never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.