Types of Hob and oven with hob

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

A hob may also be equipped with safety features like child and position controls. These can prevent children from touching the hob and stop them from changing the temperature settings in error.

Types

The hob is the central feature of any kitchen, and has a huge impact on the outcome of your cooking. However, there are a number of different kinds of hobs, and the one you pick will depend on what your particular cooking needs are.

Gas hobs are a classic option and provide a quick heating function and instant response to temperature fluctuations. Professional chefs prefer them since they provide precise control. They aren't as easy as other hobs to clean and could require more care.

Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface that has heated elements beneath and can be found in various sizes, with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has a separate heating element that you can control separately. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring whilst making sausages in another. This kind of hob is quicker to warm up than gas, and is an alternative that is safer for children since the cooking area is heated only when you put an oven on it.

Traditional ceramic hobs and ovens are an extremely convenient alternative to gas and electric and are a elegant choice. They have a smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However, they are not as fast to respond to temperature changes or cool down as other hobs.

The Domino hob is an alternative to gas and electric hobs. It has ovens and hobs uk underneath the cooking surface. They can be incorporated into smaller kitchens with limited installation space and work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are usually less expensive than standard hobs and are energy efficient however they are also fragile and require more care than other types of cooker.

Gas

Gas hobs are cooktops with burners that can easily be integrated into kitchen countertops to give a seamless appearance. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, but they can also be powered by propane gas. They have a sleek and modern design that can bring a touch of class to your modular kitchen.

A traditional gas stove has a range of burners, typically 4 but sometimes as many as 6. The burners can be lit by a match or a knob. The flames are controlled by a series of valves which can be adjusted to control the temperature.

In contrast, most modern built-in gas hobs have multi-flame burners that allow you to manage the outer and inner rings of each burner to control your cooking. These types of burners allow for much quicker heat up times and are more reliable than older models.

Traditionally, it was important to keep a gas stove on constantly to ensure that the burners are always hot and fuelled. This was a safety measure to avoid any mishaps like not turning off the oven when the stove was lit by a match or a pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They come with a built-in fire failure device that shuts down the burners automatically should the pilot light fail.

Gas stoves and hobs need to be checked, cleaned and maintained regularly. To achieve this, it is recommended to make an appointment with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able to make sure your appliance is functioning properly, but they can also provide expert advice and guidance on how to avoid problems in the future.

Electricity

When it comes to creating your dream kitchen, the kitchen worktops, fridge freezer, and oven will always get the most attention, however the quality of your hob is equally important. Whether you opt for a conventional, induction or gas cooker the type of hob you choose can affect how your kitchen functions and how easy it is to clean.

Electric hobs have heating elements under a smooth glass surface. This is usually cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaning product. The heating elements are activated when you turn on the oven hob and can be adjusted to various power levels by turning a knob. They can take a little bit longer to get heated up however once they are heated, they have a tendency to offer better and more consistent temperature control. They also come with indicators to let you know that a particular zone is active or hot from cooking.

They are available in four to six different sizes and can be notch-up up to various power levels. They are ideal for cookware with a flat base but aren't the best hob option for cast iron pans because they can get hot. Certain models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs that allow you to cook sausages and boil water on the same ring. Some models come with a Boost function that focuses high heat into one ring. This is great for stir-frying, searing meat, or boiling large pots.

Induction hobs are different from regular electric models due to the fact that they utilize electromagnetic fields instead of traditional gas flames to cook your food. They can reach precise temperatures faster and are more energy efficient. They feature a cool to the touch surface, and flashing indicators that let you know whether a ring was used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramic is an ingredient which can be transformed into functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, and then firing it in a high-temperature oven called a Kiln. After it's formed, it can then be painted or covered with decorative materials to give it texture and colour.

Ceramic hobs combine design and function to create a stunning piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat the ceramic hobs by passing an electric current through coiled elements that are hidden under the black glass surface. They generate heat when activated, and this is then transferred to the pan through an infrared system. You can adjust the intensity of the heating by using the knobs or the touch controls.

Certain ceramic hobs feature two rings, each with the smaller and the larger cooking zone. This lets you choose the ideal size for your pan. You can also purchase 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 energy efficient than other kinds of hobs as they take longer to heat up and alter temperatures. You can also choose vented hobs, which integrate ventilation systems with the ceramic cooktop. This ensures that steam, smoke and cooking smells don't stay in your home.

Induction

Induction hobs contain heating elements comprised of copper wire coils. They generate electromagnets which heat the pans placed on top of them. The coils agitate the free electrons within the base of your pan, which then transmits heat efficiently and directly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and as soon as you remove your pan the cooking zones switch off automatically.

Induction hobs are typically more expensive than other hobs however, they're also more efficient to heat and use 30-70 percent less energy than gas or ceramic hobs. Induction hobs are also less difficult to clean since only the inside of the pan are heated but not the surface.

Certain manufacturers provide an induction model that comes with additional features, for instance the pause feature that cuts off the power to the stove after you have left, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same time for greater flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs and can be more expensive than traditional induction models but they're worth considering if you are a multi-tasker.

This induction hob is our top pick. It has four large cooking zones with a Bridge function and nine power settings, offering you a variety of options for cooks who want to be more adventurous. In our tests, it did well with precise control and rapid heating when making pancakes. The cooker comes with dishwasher built-in, as well as automatic pan detection to make cleaning easier. There's a small selection of compatible pans, however, and it can't be used to cook using utensils that have a magnetic base. It can be a problem when you have a large quantity of cookware that is not compatible, or only some of it is compatible with induction cooktops.