Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electric power or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best suits your kitchen and style.

Induction hobs are equipped with an elongated ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs offer a sleek and modern look that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can quickly be wiped down when spills or splatters happen. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient and can help lower your electric bill. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to change temperatures, which can be frustrating when cooking food that requires immediate reduction or increase in temperature.

Electric hobs consist of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually by rotating knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even after they are turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a problem when you have children, so it's best hob to only install them in a place that is away from objects that are flammable and away from young children.

This type of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great option for those trying to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains, so we would recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

A downside of this type of hob is that it's sensitive to pan size and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either 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 size as the element, it won't recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs offer a sleek, modern aesthetic. They are more expensive than electric hobs, and require professional installation. However they heat up faster as a full pot of water can often boil within less than four minutes. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to build up grease and sludge.

One of the best hob examples of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated look. It also includes an oblong wok ring with 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left side of the gas hob features two burners inside to improve the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also comes with a handy power indicator that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings, including the highest setting for searing steak and an option for scrambled eggs.

The simple and easy-to-use controls were also liked by our testers, who found them to be very easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you need to press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

A few of the top gas on glass hobs are available at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. While it's not going to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over PS120.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are perfect 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 popular electric stoves. They're made with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to smudges and scratches. They also come with a power booster function that allows you to increase the heat for a brief duration.

Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and can be costly to set up.

Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a different option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it has the burner underneath a layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs uk have a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is hot.

Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and can take some time to get hot and cool off. However, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.

There are even electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, so you'll be able to adapt to your lifestyle. It is important to note, however, that these hobs need to be installed by an approved gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They're not suitable for people who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Copper coils conduct an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields which directly heat the pan rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction Hobs oven very efficient from a energy perspective, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.

There are a myriad of models of induction stoves from the basic ones with a single zone identified 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. Some of these models have a touch slider control that looks very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar located in the middle to choose the desired heat level left to right increases heat and right to left reduces it. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs and ovens. However, they are thought to be more efficient over the long term as they heat up much quicker and use a smaller space to heat up which could help lower your energy costs. They also cool faster and have a safer design with no hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons who live in the house. However, they do create an electric force that could affect certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.

Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can either use a standard oven cleaning product or invest in a specialist one to keep your hob in good condition and shiny for a longer time. You should never use the abrasive cleaning products or the a scouring pad on your stove as they may scratch the surface.