Types of Hob and Oven

A oven and hob is a common part of most kitchens and can come in a variety of styles. You can mix different types, such as electric and gas, to suit your needs.

A hob can also have safety features such as child and position controls. These are designed to prevent children from touching the hob and stop them from changing the heat settings in error.

Types

In every kitchen, the hob is at the center of the room and plays a significant role in the way your food comes out. There are a number of different kinds of hobs, and the one you choose will depend on what your particular cooking requirements are.

Gas hobs are the classic choice and offer a fast heating function and instant response to temperature changes. They are a favorite choice for professional chefs as they provide precise control. They aren't as simple as other hobs to clean and could require more care.

Electric hobs are made of ceramic with a flat surface with heated elements underneath. They are available in a variety of sizes and come with four to six cooking zones. Each zone includes its own heating element which can be controlled by you. You can boil potatoes on one ring while cooking sausages in another. This kind of hob is easier to heat up than gas, and is an alternative that is safer for children as the cooking zone gets hot only when you place a pot on it.

Ceramic hobs are a chic and user-friendly alternative to gas and electric hobs. They have a smooth, durable surface which is easy to wipe down but aren't as fast at responding to temperature changes like other hobs and are slower to cool down.

Domino hobs are an alternative to electric and gas hobs that have ovens underneath the cooking surface. They can be incorporated into smaller kitchens that have limited installation space and are suitable for kitchenettes and apartments. They are usually more affordable than standard hobs and ovens, and can be energy efficient, but they are also susceptible to damage and require more frequent maintenance.

Gas

Gas hobs are cooktops equipped with burners that can be easily integrated into the kitchen countertop to create a seamless look. They are usually powered by natural or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) however they can be powered by propane gas. They are sleek and modern design that can bring a touch of class to your modular kitchen.

A traditional gas stove comes with a range of burners, typically 4 but often as many as 6. The burners can be lit with a match or knob. The flames are controlled by a set of valves that can be adjusted to regulate the temperature.

Most modern built-in gas stoves, on the other hand include burners with multiple flames. This lets you control both the outer and the inner rings for each burner, to allow you to precisely control your cooking. These types of burners provide faster heating times and are more reliable than old-fashioned ones.

Traditionally, it was important to keep a gas stove lit continuously to ensure the burners were constantly fueled and hot. This was done to prevent accidents, like the mistake of turning on an oven when the stove was still lit by a match or pilot light. Modern cookers have been designed with safety as a priority. They come equipped with a flame failure device which shuts down the burners when the pilot light fails to work.

Gas stoves and hobs must be inspected, cleaned, and maintained regularly. To do this, you should arrange a visit with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able make sure that your appliance is operating correctly, but also offer expert guidance on how to avoid any future problems.

Electricity

A good hob is equally important in creating the perfect kitchen. Worktops, refrigerators freezers, and ovens and hobs are the first things that pop up to your mind. The type of hob you select will impact the way your kitchen works and also how easy it is to clean.

Electric hobs are equipped with heating elements that are placed on a smooth glass surface. This is typically cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. The elements turn on when you turn on the hob and can be adjusted to a range of power levels by turning or adjusting the control knob. They may take longer to heat up than gas cookers, but once they are done, they are able to provide more regular temperature control. They also come with indicators that inform you that a zone is being used or hot from cooking.

They are available in four to six different sizes and are notch-upable to different power levels. They are ideal for cookware with a flat base however they aren't the ideal option for cast iron pans because they can get hot. Certain models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow you to boil water on one ring while you sauté sausages on the other. Some models have a Boost feature that concentrates high-temperature elements into one ring. This is useful for stirring-frying, searing meat or boiling large pots.

Induction hobs differ from standard electric models because they employ electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, rather than the conventional method of gas flames. This allows them to reach precise temperatures in a short period of time, making them extremely energy efficient. They also have a cool to the touch surface and flashing heat indicators that inform you that the ring is either in use or oven and hob is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to create functional or decorative objects. It's formed by mixing earthen elements, clay, powders and water to a specific shape, then fired in a very high-temperature oven known as a Kiln. Once it's made, it can be covered with paint-like or decorative materials to give it a more textured and vibrant look.

Ceramic hobs are a stunning combination of form and function and can be found in any modern kitchen. They operate using radiant heating technology that passes an electric current through the coiled elements hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. They generate heat when activated, and this is then transferred to the pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the strength of the heating by adjusting the controls via knobs or a touch.

Certain ceramic hobs feature dual rings, which have the smaller and the larger cooking zone. This allows you to select the right size for your pan. You can also buy hobs that have boosters that create high-powered heat quickly. This is perfect for searing food or bringing pans to boil fast.

Ceramic cooktops are more efficient in energy than other types of hobs due to the fact that they take longer to heat up and alter temperatures. There are vented hobs that integrate an air-conditioning system inside the cooktop's ceramic surface, making sure the cooking smells aren't left within your home.

Induction

The heating elements of hobs with induction are made up of a series of copper wire coils that are placed beneath the surface, which produce electromagnets to heat the pans sitting on them. The coils stir up the free electrons in the base of your pan which transmits heat efficiently and directly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot and the cooking zones automatically turn off when your pan is removed.

Induction hobs are generally more expensive, but they also heat up faster and use 30-70% lower energy than gas or other kinds. Induction hobs are also less difficult to clean since only the inside of the pan gets hot but not the surface.

Certain manufacturers provide an induction model that has extra features, such as a pause feature, which cuts the power to your stove when you walk away or link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power for greater flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models, but they're worth a look if you like to multitask.

Our top choice is this induction hob made by Smeg, which has four cooking zones of good size with a bridge function as well as nine power levels, oven and hob giving you plenty of choice for ambitious cooks. In our tests, it performed well with precise control and quick heating when making pancakes. The oven comes with a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection, which makes cleaning much easier. The only problem is that there are only a few compatible pans, and you cannot make use of it for cooking with the utensils that have magnetic bases. This could be a problem in the event that you have a large amount of cookware that isn't compatible or certain pieces are suitable for use on induction hobs.