Types of Hobs
A hob, also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans with electric power or flames. There are best hobs uk of hobs. You can pick the one that best fits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek design. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient which means they can cut down on your electric bill. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to change the temperature and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires an instant reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs utilize a solid plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. The power of each element can be adjusted via the rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a place that is far from any flammable objects and away from children's reach.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be installed in a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be a great alternative if you are looking to replace your old stoves without spending a large amount of money. Like all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs will be safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You will need to purchase cookware that is exactly the same as the element or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't match the element, it will not recognize it and won't begin to heat the base of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer modern, sleek design. They can be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating - the water in a full pot can typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who wish to control how much heat is generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and sludge.
A great example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs for a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also comes with the wok ring that has 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the gas hob features a double inner burner to increase the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also has an easy-to-read power indicator that lets you control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-set settings, like the highest setting for sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.
The simple and easy-to-use controls were also appreciated by our testers, who found them to be very easy to use. Some minor issues are that you have to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level and it may be difficult to determine the status of the burners through the glass.
A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs are available for affordable prices, such as this Neff model. It's not likely to win any design awards but it'll do the job and can be an excellent option for your kitchen at just over 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
There are a variety of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They're not only elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're designed with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to smudges or scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster function that allows you to increase the heat for a short time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a certain kind of pan to function and can be expensive to set up.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that is a good choice for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, similar to a standard gas stove. However the glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much simpler to clean than standard glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs also have a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
Although gas hobs are an option that is popular with home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to warm up and cool down and their flames can be hard to manage. However, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, so you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. But, it's important to remember that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
Under the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that heat the pan directly rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are very energy efficient, as they don't use any heat.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone labelled by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that can have up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked on one flex area. Some of these premium models come with an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more energy efficient over the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating area which could reduce your energy costs. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design that doesn't have hot plates, making them perfect for families with children or elderly people who live in the house. They do, however, produce magnetic forces that can cause interference with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your electric hob regularly, as food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can make use of a basic oven cleaning product or invest in a specialist one to keep your oven in good condition and shiny for longer. Be sure to not use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction hob since they could scratch the surface.