Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that best fits your kitchen and your style.

Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and include five or four zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek appearance. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your energy bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs use a solid plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. The elements can be controlled individually by rotary knobs and nipped up to the level of power you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a particular area. Ceramic hobs also have extremely high degree of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch even after being shut off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.

The benefit of this kind 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 option if you want to replace your stove without spending a large amount of money. However, like all appliances they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains power supply, so we recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure your new hobs oven are safe for use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to pan size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that either matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't fit, then the element will not recognise it and won't begin to heat up the base of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs offer a sleek, modern aesthetic. They are more expensive than electric models, and may require professional installations. However they are also more efficient in heating and a full pot of water can often boil within less than four minutes. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat is generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and other residue.

This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.

This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the hob has the double inner flame to promote improvement in even heat distribution which speeds up cooking times. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator, which allows you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including the highest setting for searing steaks and a low setting for scrambled eggs.

Our testers also liked the controls because they were simple and easy to use. A few minor issues are that you have to press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

Some of the best gas-on-glass hobs can be found at an affordable price like this Neff model. It's not likely to win any design awards but it'll serve its purpose and be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just over PS120.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They're not just elegant and stylish, but they are also safer, faster, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges and scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster function which allows you to boost your heat for a short time.

Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike 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. They require a special type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.

A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that is a good option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven hob is hot.

Gas hobs are a popular option for many home cooks however they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take an extended time to heat up and cool off. In contrast, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.

There are electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, allowing you the flexibility needed to meet your needs. It is important to note, however, that these stoves will require the installation of an accredited gas safe engineer. They also require an appropriate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for people with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Copper coils conduct an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob the coils produce magnetic fields that generate heat directly within the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are very energy efficient, as they don't waste any heat.

There are many different models of an induction hob starting from basic ones that have a single cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones oven and hob allow you to cook several pots simultaneously on one flexible zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to the way you operate on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to food types or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic ovens hobs. However they are also more energy efficient over the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating space which can lower your energy bills. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design with no hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or elderly people living in the home. However, they can create magnetic fields that can interfere with some medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for longer. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the scouring pad on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.