Types of Hob and Oven

Hobs and ovens are a popular feature in many kitchens. They are available in many different styles. You can also mix different types like domino, electric and gas to suit your cooking needs.

A hob can also be equipped with safety features such as child and control of the position. They can stop children from touching the hob, and prevent them from changing the temperature settings by accident.

Types

In the center of every kitchen, the hob takes centre stage and can play a huge part in how your food is executed. However, there are a variety of kinds of hobs and the one you pick will depend on what your specific cooking needs are.

Gas hobs are the most popular option and provide a quick heat-up function and instant reaction to temperature fluctuations. Professional chefs prefer them since they provide precise control. However, they're not as clean as other hobs, and they may require a higher level of maintenance.

Electric hobs (resource for this article) are a flat ceramic surface that has heated elements beneath and can come in different sizes that have between four and six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with a distinct heating element which you can regulate individually. This lets you boil potatoes on one ring while making sausages in another. This type of hob is able to be faster to heat than gas and provides a child-safe alternative as the cooking zone only becomes hot when you put a pan on it.

Traditional ceramic hobs are a comfortable alternative to gas and electric and are also a very elegant choice. They have a smooth, hard-wearing surface that is easy wipe down but aren't as quick to respond to temperature changes as other hobs and can be slower to cool down.

Domino hobs can be a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs that have ovens underneath the cooking surface. They are ideal for kitchens with little space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are typically less expensive than standard hobs and can be extremely energy efficient but can be fragile and require more care than other types of cookers.

Gas

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

A traditional gas stove has several burners, usually 4, but sometimes up to 6. The flames are ignited using an igniter or by turning the knob. The flames can then be controlled by the valves that can be adjusted in the temperature.

Contrary to this, modern built-in gas hobs have multi-flame burners that allow you to regulate the outer and inner rings of each burner to precisely manage your cooking. They are also much more efficient and more reliable than older models.

Traditionally, it was necessary to keep a gas burner lit constantly to ensure the burners were constantly fueled and hot. This was a safety feature to prevent any accidents such as having the oven turned on when the stove was lit by a match or a the pilot flame. Modern cookers have been built with safety as a priority. They come equipped with a device to stop the flame that shuts off the burners when the pilot light is not working.

Gas stoves and hobs require to be checked regularly, cleaned and maintained. The best way to accomplish this is to schedule an appointment for maintenance with a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. Not only will they be able to make sure your appliance is functioning properly, but they can offer expert advice and suggestions on how to avoid problems in the near future.

Electricity

A well-designed hob is equally important in making your kitchen the best ovens uk it can be. Refrigerators, worktops, freezers and ovens are the first items that come to the mind. Whichever type you choose, conventional, hobs induction, or gas cooker, the type of hob you select can impact how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to keep clean.

Electric hobs are powered by heating elements underneath a smooth glass surface which is typically cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaner. The heating elements are activated when you turn on the oven and can be adjusted to different power levels using a control knob. They can take a little longer to heat up than a gas cooker, but once they are done, they usually provide better, regular temperature control. They also come with indicators to let you know that a particular zone is being used or hot from cooking.

Typically, they come in a range of four to six sizes that can be cranked up to various power levels. They are ideal for flat-based cookware, but aren't the best ovens uk option for cast-iron pans since they can overheat. Some models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that permit boiling water on one ring and sauté sausages on the other. Some models include a boost function that concentrates the power of high-powered heat into one ring to stir fry cooking, searing meat 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 efficient in energy use. They have a cool-to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that inform you whether a ring was used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to create decorative or functional objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders, and water, and firing it in a high-temperature oven known as Kiln. Once it's made it can be painted or covered with decorative materials to give it texture and color.

Ceramic hobs are a beautiful blend of function and form that can be easily integrated into any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat the ceramic hobs by passing an electric current over coiled elements which are hidden beneath the black glass surface. When they are activated, they create heat that is then transferred to the pan by an infrared system. You can adjust the intensity of the heating using the knobs or the touch controls.

Some ceramic hobs are dual-ring designs, having one smaller and one larger cooking zone which allows you to select the best ovens size for your pan. There are hobs equipped with booster burners that produce high-powered heat in a short time, great for searing meat or bringing pans of water to a boil quickly.

In comparison to other types of hobs, ceramic cooktops take a little longer to heat up and change temperature however once they do, they're generally more energy-efficient. There are vented hobs that integrate a ventilation system within the cooktop's ceramic surface, making sure the cooking smells don't stay within your home.

Induction

The heating elements inside induction hobs consist of copper wire coils that are placed beneath the surface that generate electromagnets to heat pans that sit on them. The coils agitate the free electrons inside your pan's metal base and then transfer heat uniformly and directly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and the cooking zones are automatically turned off when the pan is removed.

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

Certain manufacturers have an induction model that comes with additional features, for instance a pause function, which cuts the energy to your stove when you walk away, or the ability to connect two cooking rings at the same power for greater flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional models, however they're worth considering if you like to multitask.

This induction hob is our top choice. It comes with four large cooking zones, a Bridge function, and nine power settings, offering you a lot of options for cooks who want to be more adventurous. It performed well during our test, with fast heating and accurate control when making pancakes. The cooker comes with dishwasher built-in, as well as automatic pan detection to make cleaning much easier. The only problem is that there are only a handful of compatible pans and you can't use it to cook with the utensils that have magnetic bases. This can be a problem when you have a lot of non-compatible cookware or only some of it is suitable for induction hobs.