Types of Hob and Oven

Hobs and ovens are a popular feature in many kitchens. They are available in a variety of designs. You can even mix kinds like domino, electric and gas to fit your cooking needs.

A hob can also have safety features like child and control of the position. These features will prevent children from accidentally changing the temperature setting or touching the hob.

Types

In every kitchen, the stove is at the center of the room and plays a major part in how your food comes out. There are many different types of hobs available, and which one you pick will depend on the needs of your kitchen.

Gas hobs are a classic choice, and they provide a rapid heating process and instant reaction to temperature changes. They are a favorite choice for professional chefs as they are precise in their control. However, they are not as easy to clean as other hobs and could require a higher degree of maintenance.

Electric hobs have a flat ceramic surface and heated elements underneath. They come in a variety of sizes and come with four to six cooking zones. Each zone has a separate heating element which you can regulate individually. You can boil potatoes on one ring, while cooking sausages on another. This type of hob is able to be more efficient than gas and is a child-safe option since the cooking area only heats up when you place a pot on it.

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

Domino hobs can be a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs that have ovens hobs underneath the cooking surface. They can be fitted into smaller kitchens that have limited installation space and are ideal for kitchenettes and apartments. They are often cheaper than standard hobs, and are energy efficient, however they are also susceptible to damage and require more frequent maintenance.

Gas

A gas hob is a cooking surface with burners that can be incorporated on kitchen countertops to give seamless appearance. They are usually powered by natural or the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) however they can be powered by propane gas. The sleek, modern design can bring sophistication to your cooking space that is modular.

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

Contrary to this, modern gas hobs with built-in gas are equipped with multi-flame burners that allow you to control the inner and outer ring of each burner to precisely manage your cooking. These burners are much faster and more reliable than earlier models.

In the past, it was necessary for gas stoves to be constantly lit to ensure that the burners remained hot and well-fueled. This was done to prevent accidents, such as accidentally turning on an oven when the stove is still lit with an igniter or a match. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They have a built-in flame failure device that shuts down the burners automatically if the pilot light fail.

Gas stoves and hobs have to be regularly checked, cleaned and maintained. The best way to ensure this is to schedule a maintenance visit with a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able to make sure your appliance is working correctly as well, but they'll offer professional advice and guidance on how to avoid problems in the future.

Electric

When it comes time to design your dream kitchen, the countertops, fridge freezer and oven will always get the most attention, however the quality of your hob is also essential. If you choose a conventional, induction or gas cooker, the type of hob you select can affect how your kitchen functions and how easy it is to clean.

Electric hobs are powered by heating elements underneath the glass surface, which is typically wiped down with a non-abrasive cleaning agent. These elements switch on when you turn the hob on and can be notched up to a range of power levels by turning or clicking on a knob. They may take longer to heat up than a gas cooker, but once they do they tend to offer more constant temperature control. They also have built-in indicators that let you know that a zone is being used or hot from cooking.

Typically, they come in a range of four to six sizes that can be notched up to different power levels. These are great for flat-based cookware but not for cast iron cookware, since they can get hot. Some models have dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow boiling water on one ring and saute sausages on another. Certain models come with a Boost feature that concentrates high heat into one ring. This is great for stirring-frying, searing meat or boiling large pots.

Induction hobs differ from normal electric models because they employ electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, instead of the traditional method of gas flames. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a short period of time, making them highly energy efficient. They also have a cool-to-the-touch surface and flashing heat indicators to inform you that the ring is in use or still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramic is a material that can be made into functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing earthen elements, clay, powders and water to the desired shape, then subsequently fired in a high-temperature oven called a Kiln. Once it's been made, it can then be decorated or covered with decorative materials to add texture and colour.

Ceramic hobs are a stunning blend of form and function and can be found in any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is used to heat the ceramic hobs by passing an electric current through coiled elements that are concealed beneath the black glass surface. When they are activated, hobs and ovens they create heat that is then transferred to the pan via an infrared heating system. You can adjust the intensity of the heating by adjusting the controls via touch or knobs.

Some ceramic hobs are dual ring designs, with one smaller and a larger cooking zone that lets you select the most suitable size for your pan. You can also buy hobs with boosters that produce powerful heat quickly. This is perfect to cook food in or bring pans to boil fast.

Compared to other types of hobs, ceramic cooktops generally take longer to heat up and then change temperature, but once they do they're generally more energy-efficient. You can also opt for vented hobs, which integrate a ventilation system with the cooktop made of ceramic. This ensures that smoke, steam and cooking smells don't stay in your home.

Induction

Induction hobs have heating elements that are comprised of copper wire coils. They generate electromagnets, which make the pans hot on top of them. The coils stir up free electrons within the base metal of your pan which in turn, distributes heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and the cooking zones are automatically turned off when your pan is removed.

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

Certain manufacturers provide an induction model that has additional features, for instance the pause feature that shuts off energy to your stove after you have left or link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same time for increased flexibility. These are sometimes called FlexInduction hobs. They are more costly than traditional induction models however, they're worth considering when multitasking is important to you.

Our favorite is this induction cooktop from Smeg. It has four cooking zones of good size that have a bridge function, as well as nine power levels that give you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. In our tests, it performed very well with accurate control and fast heating when making pancakes. The oven also has an integrated dishwasher as well as an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning easier. There is a limited selection of compatible pans it isn't used to cook with appliances that have a magnetic base. It can be a problem when you have a large amount of cookware that is not compatible or only some of it is compatible with induction cooktops.