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 several different types of hobs, and you can choose one that fits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with an elongated ceramic surface and 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 and sleek appearance. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and are able to be cleaned up when spills or splatters happen. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your energy bills. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to adjust temperature settings which can be a problem when cooking something that requires immediate reduction or increase in heat.
Electric hobs use plates that are heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted individually through rotating knobs. You can also use the boost feature to boost the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hob s also have a very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being shut off. This can be a problem if you have children, so it's best to install them in a place which is far from flammable objects and out of reach of little ones.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be installed on a variety of worktops, such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great alternative if you're trying to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's exactly the same dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it will not recognize it and won't begin to heat up the base of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. Although they may cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a full pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who want to control how much heat is generated. However, it should be noted that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel models and will likely need to be cleaned more often, since grease and residue build up tends to stick instead of slipping off.
This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners finished in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated look. It also has a 4kW wok ring to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob has a double inner flame to ensure uniform heat distribution and accelerates cooking time. It also comes with a handy power level indicator, which allows you to control the exact temperature of your flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings including the high setting for searing steak and an option for scrambled eggs.
Our testers also liked the controls as they were simple and easy to use. A few minor drawbacks are the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest level of heating, and that it can be difficult to see the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs that are available at a low cost. It's not going win any design prizes, but it will serve its purpose and be an excellent addition to your kitchen for just above PS120.
Electric hobs
There are many electric hobs that are ideal for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. They're made with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature, which allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means that they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a particular kind of pan to work with them and can be expensive to set up.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that's a great option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is heated.
While gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes an extended time to heat up and cool off. Electric hobs, on other side are more energy efficient and are easier to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern technology You can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, allowing you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to remember that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Beneath the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils which run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields that directly heat the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy perspective since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction hob starting from basic models that have only one cooking zone that is marked with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously on one flexible zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are thought to be more efficient over the long term since they heat up quicker and have a smaller area to heat up, which can help reduce your energy bills. They cool faster and have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly residents. They do, however, create an electric force that could affect certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your electric hob clean, since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaning product or invest in a specialist one to keep your hob in good condition and shiny for a longer time. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.