Types of Hob and Oven

A hob and oven is commonplace in kitchens, and comes in a variety of styles. You can even mix kinds like domino, electric, and gas to meet your cooking requirements.

A hob could also come with safety features such as child and control of the position. These can prevent children from touching the hob, and stop them changing the temperature settings in error.

Types

In every kitchen, the stove takes centre stage and plays a major part in how your food is executed. There are many kinds of hobs, and the one you choose depends on the cooking requirements you have.

Gas hobs are a classic choice, and they provide a rapid heating process and instant reaction to temperature fluctuations. They are a popular choice for chefs who are professional as they offer precise control. They aren't as easy to clean as other hobs and could require more frequent maintenance.

Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface that has heated elements beneath. They can come in various sizes, with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with its own heating element that can be controlled by you. You can boil potatoes in one ring, while cooking sausages on another. This kind of hob can be quicker to heat than gas and offers a child-safe alternative as the cooking zone only becomes hot when you place a pot on it.

Ceramic hobs offer a stylish and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have an extremely smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However they aren't as fast to respond to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.

Domino hobs are a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs that have ovens and hobs underneath the cooking surface. They can be incorporated into smaller kitchens that have small installation space and are suitable for kitchenettes and apartments. They are often less expensive than conventional hobs and can be energy-efficient, but they are also susceptible to damage and require more frequent maintenance.

Gas

A gas hob is a cooktop with burners that can be installed on kitchen countertops to give seamless appearance. They are usually powered by natural or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) but can also be powered by propane gas. The sleek, modern design could add sophistication to your modular cooking space.

A traditional gas stove has several burners, usually 4, but often as many as 6. The burners can be lit by a match or a knob. The flames are controlled by an array of valves that can be adjusted in the temperature.

In contrast, most modern gas hobs with built-in gas are equipped with multi-flame burners that allow you to control the inner and outer rings of each burner to control your cooking. These kinds of burners offer faster heat up times and are more reliable than the older models.

In the past, it was necessary for the gas stove to be lit at all times to ensure that the burners remained hot and well-fueled. This was to avoid accidents, such as the mistake of turning on an oven with hob when the stove was still lit by a match or pilot light. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They come with a built-in fire failure device that shuts off the burners immediately should the pilot light fail.

Gas stoves and hobs should be cleaned, checked and maintained on a regular basis. The best method to accomplish this is to arrange an appointment for maintenance with a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able to make sure your appliance is working correctly, but they can also provide expert advice and suggestions on how to prevent any issues in the future.

Electric

When it comes to creating your perfect kitchen the worktops, fridge freezer and oven hob will always get the most attention, but a good hob is equally important. Whichever type you choose, traditional, induction or gas cooker the kind of hob you pick can impact how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to clean.

Electric hobs feature heating elements that are placed on a smooth, glass surface. This is usually cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you turn on the hob and can be notched up to various power levels by turning or clicking the control knob. They may take longer to heat up than a gas cooker but once they have done so, they usually provide more regular temperature control. They also have built-in indicators that let you know when a space is in use or still hot from cooking.

Typically, they are available in a range of four to six sized rings that can be notched up to various power levels. They are perfect for cookware with a flat base however they aren't the ideal option for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Some models have dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that permit boiling water on one ring and saute sausages on a different. Some models have a Boost function that concentrates the highest heat in one ring. This is helpful for stir-frying, searing meat, or boiling large pots.

Induction hobs are different from conventional electric hobs because they use electromagnetic fields instead of conventional gas flames to heat your cookware. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a shorter time frame, which makes them extremely energy efficient. They have a cool-to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that let you know that a ring has been used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to create decorative or functional objects. It is formed by mixing clay, earthen elements powders and water into the desired shape, then fired in a high-temperature oven known as a"kiln. Once it's made it is then covered with decorative or paint-like substances to give it a more textured and vibrant look.

Ceramic hobs are a perfect blend of design and function to create an exquisite piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. Radiant heating technology is used to heat the ceramic hobs by passing an electrical current through coiled elements that are hidden under the black glass surface. When they are activated, they produce heat that is then transferred to your pan via an infrared heating system. You can adjust the strength of the heating by adjusting the controls using a knobs or a touch.

Some ceramic hobs are dual ring designs, with one smaller and a larger cooking zone that lets you select the best size for your pan. You can also buy hobs with boosters that generate powerful heat quickly. This is ideal for searing food or bringing pans to boil fast.

Ceramic cooktops are more efficient in energy than other types of hobs due to the fact that they take longer to heat up and alter temperatures. You can also find vented hobs that integrate a ventilation system within the ceramic cooktop, ensuring steam, smoke and cooking smells don't stay in your home.

Induction

Induction hobs contain heating elements comprised of copper wire coils. The coils create electromagnets that heat the pans placed on the top of them. The coils stir the free electrons in the base metal of your pan, which in turn, distributes heat evenly to your food. The surface of the hob never gets hot and, the moment you remove your pan the cooking zones switch off automatically.

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. They are also easier to clean since the surface of the hob isn't hot, and only the contents of the pan do.

Certain manufacturers offer an induction model with additional features, like a pause function, which cuts the power to the stove after you have left or link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same time for more flexibility. These are sometimes referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They may be more costly than traditional induction models but they're well worth considering if multitasking is important to you.

Our top pick is this induction cooktop from Smeg, with four cooking zones that are large enough with a bridge function as well as nine power levels that give you a wide range of options for those who want to cook with a lot of passion. In our tests, it performed well with precise control and quick heating when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with a built-in dishwasher and an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning more simple. The only issue is that there are only a few compatible pans, and you cannot make use of it for cooking with appliances with magnetic bases. It can be a problem if you have a large amount of cookware that's not compatible or the smallest portion is compatible with induction hobs.