Types of Hobs

A hob, also referred to as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are several different types of hobs available, so you can choose one that fits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs feature an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with five or four zones for heating 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 design. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and are able to be wiped down when spills or splatters happen. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient which means they can cut down on the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you need to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of temperature.

Electric hobs consist of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even when they are turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a location that is away from any flammable objects and away from children's reach.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be put in in a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be an excellent option if you want to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. However, like all appliances they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains, and we suggest hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.

The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need cookware that's exactly the same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, it won't recognise it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs have a sleek and modern design. Although they may cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they often take less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This kind of stove is also a good choice for cooks who like to control the amount of heat being produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to build up grease and sludge.

This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated appearance. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.

This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob provides an inner burner that doubles to increase heat distribution and speed up cooking. It also features a handy power indicator that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings, including the highest setting for searing a steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.

The simple, yet intuitive controls were loved by our test subjects, who found them to be extremely easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you need to press the controls a further nine times to reach the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

This Neff model is among the best ovens gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. It's not likely to win any design awards however it's going to do the job and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just above 120 dollars.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they offer a sleek design that fits into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, faster and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs oven are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They're constructed with a sleek glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also often equipped with a power boost feature that allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.

Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.

Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a different option for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it features an oven that is surrounded by an underlying layer of flat glass. However the glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much simpler to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs also include a 'hot-surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is hot.

Gas hobs are a popular choice for a lot of home cooks however they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and can take an extended time to get hot and cool off. However, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.

There are electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, meaning you can adjust your cooking to adapt to your lifestyle. It is important to note that these hobs will require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for those with pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.

Induction hobs

On the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils that run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that generate heat directly inside the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are very efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't use any heat.

There are many models of induction stoves, from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone labelled by rings, to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously within a flex area. Certain models have a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar located in the middle to choose the desired heat level left to right increases the heat and right-to-left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for certain recipes or food types that can cut down time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more efficient in the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating space which can lower your energy costs. They also cool down faster and have a safer design with no hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or elderly people who live in the house. However, they do produce a magnetic force that could interfere with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.

Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your induction hob clean regularly since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can use an oven hob cleaner, or you can opt for a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for a longer time. Be sure to not use scrubbers or pads for scouring on your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.