Types of Hob and Oven

A hob and oven is commonplace in kitchens and can come in a variety of styles. You can mix different types, like gas and electric, to suit your needs.

A hob may also have safety features, such as child and position controls. These can prevent children from touching the hob and stop them changing the heat settings accidentally.

Types

In the heart of every kitchen, the stove takes centre stage and plays a major part in how your cooking comes out. There are many different types of hob and the one you select will be based on what your specific cooking needs are.

Gas hobs provide a classic option. They are quick to heat up and respond immediately to temperature changes. Professional chefs favor them because they offer precise control. They aren't as simple to clean as other stoves and could require more frequent maintenance.

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 which you can regulate individually. It is possible to boil potatoes in one ring, while cooking sausages in another. This type of hob can be quicker to heat than gas and offers a child-safe option because the cooking zone only heats up when you place a pan on it.

Ceramic hobs are a fashionable and user-friendly alternative to gas and electric hobs. They have a smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However, they are not as quick to respond to temperature changes or to cool down as other hobs.

Domino hobs are an alternative to electric and gas hobs that incorporate ovens beneath the cooking surface. They are great for kitchens that have small space. They can also be used in kitchenettes and flats. They are often cheaper than a standard hob and can be extremely energy efficient but can be fragile and require more maintenance than other types of cookers.

Gas

A gas hob is a cooktop that has burners that can be incorporated into kitchen countertops for an elegant look. Gas hobs are typically powered by LPG or natural gas, but they can also be powered with propane gas. The modern, sleek design can enhance your cooking space that is modular.

A traditional gas stove is fitted with a number of burners. There are usually four burners, however it can be up to six. The flames are ignited using an igniter or by turning a knob. The flames are controlled by a series of valves that can be adjusted to set the temperature.

In contrast, most modern gas hobs with built-in gas are equipped with multi-flame burners that let you manage the outer and inner rings of each burner to manage your cooking. These burners are much faster and more reliable than earlier models.

Traditionally, it was necessary to keep a gas stove lit constantly to ensure that the burners were always hot and fuelled. This was a security feature to avoid accidents such as not turning off the best oven even though the stove was lit by a match or a the pilot flame. Modern cookers have been made with safety in mind as a priority. They are equipped with a flame failure device that shuts off the burners when the pilot light fails.

Gas stoves and hobs have to be regularly inspected and cleaned, as well as maintained. To do this, you should arrange a visit with an Gas Safe registered engineer. Not only will they be able to make sure your appliance is working correctly, but they can offer expert advice and guidance on how to avoid issues in the future.

Electric

When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, the kitchen worktops, fridge freezer, and oven will always receive the most attention, but a good hob is also essential. Whether you opt for a traditional, induction or gas cooker, the type of hob you select will affect how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to clean.

Electric hobs have heating elements set beneath a smooth, glass surface. The glass surface is typically cleaned using a nonabrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you turn on the oven hob and can be adjusted to different power levels using a control knob. They may take longer to heat up than a gas cooker, but once they have done so, they tend to offer better, consistent temperature control. They also come with indicators to let you know that a particular zone is in use or still hot from cooking.

Typically, they come in four to six different sized rings that can be cranked up to various levels of power. They are ideal for flat-based cookware but aren't the best hobs uk choice for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Some models have dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow you to boil water on one ring and saute sausages on another. Some models even come with a 'boost' feature that concentrates the power of high-powered heat into a single ring for stir fry cooking sauteing meats, searing or boiling large pots of water.

Induction hobs differ from standard electric hobs in that they utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware rather than the conventional method of gas flames. They can reach precise temperatures faster and are more energy efficient. They also have a cool-to touch surface and flashing heat indicators that inform you that a ring is in use or still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to create functional or decorative objects. It's formed by mixing clay, earthen elements powders and water into a specific shape, then fired in a high-temperature oven called the"kiln. Once it's made, it can then be coated or painted with decorative materials in order to add texture and color.

Ceramic hobs are an exquisite blend of function and form, sitting comfortably in any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is used to heat the ceramic hobs through the passage of an electric current through coiled elements that are hidden under the black glass surface. They produce heat when activated, which is transferred to your pan through an infrared system. You can alter the intensity of the heating by adjusting the controls using a knobs or a touch.

Some ceramic hobs have dual rings, which have one smaller and one with a larger cooking area. This allows you to select the right size for your pan. You can also find hobs with booster burners which produce high-powered heat in a short time perfect for searing food or bringing pots of water to a boil in a short time.

As compared to other types of hobs ceramic cooktops typically take longer to heat up and alter temperature, but once they do they are generally more efficient in energy use. You can also find vented hobs that incorporate an air-conditioning system inside the cooktop's ceramic, making sure that steam, smoke and cooking smells don't linger within your home.

Induction

Induction hobs contain heating elements that are made up of copper wire coils. The coils create electromagnets, which make the pans hot on the top. The coils stir up the free electrons in the base of your pot which transmits heat uniformly and directly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot, and when you take off your pan the cooking zones are turned off automatically.

Induction hobs are typically more expensive than other models however, they're also more efficient to heat and consume 30 to 70% less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. Induction hobs are also easier to clean since only the contents of the pan heat up but not the surface.

Certain manufacturers provide an induction model with extra features, such as the pause feature that shuts off power to the stove after you have left, or the ability to connect two cooking rings with the same power to provide greater flexibility. These are often called FlexInduction hobs. They can be more expensive than traditional models, however they're worth a look if you prefer to multitask.

This induction hob is our top choice. It has four large cooking zones as well as a Bridge function and nine power settings, giving you a lot of options for ambitious cooks. It was a great performer in our tests with fast heating and accurate control when making pancakes. The hob has a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection to make cleaning much easier. The only issue is that there are only a handful of compatible pans and you can't use it to cook with appliances with magnetic bases. It could be a problem if have a large quantity of cookware that's not compatible, or only a small portion of it is compatible with induction cooktops.