Types of Hobs

A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best hob uk 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 are elegant and stylish, and easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs have a sleek and modern look that can enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can quickly be cleaned up if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your electricity bills. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to adjust temperatures and can be a hassle when cooking food that requires an instant reduction or increase in heat.

Electric hobs are made of a solid plate that is heated by electric elements under. The elements can be controlled individually by rotary knobs and nipped up to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, and even after they are turned off, they will be hot to the touch. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's recommended to place them in a location which is far from any flammable items and out of reach of little ones.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be put in on a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and is a great option if you want to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. As with any appliance, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.

The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to pan size and shape. It is essential to purchase cookware that matches the element exactly or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, the element won't recognise it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern look. While they be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to come to a boil within four minutes or less. This type of hob also works well for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they are more likely to accumulate grease and residue.

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

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob provides two burners inside to improve heat distribution and accelerate cooking. It also has an indicator for power that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.

Our testers also liked the controls as they were easy to use and intuitive. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you have to press the controls nine more times to reach the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.

This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are available at an affordable price. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen for just over PS120.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic hob. These hobs have a sleek glazed finish, and have an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a brief period of time.

Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy efficient and provide 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's an excellent choice for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features an oven that is surrounded by the glass is a flat layer. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is hot.

Gas hobs are a popular option for many home cooks however they can be noisy and hard to clean. They can take a long time to heat up and cool down and their flames can be difficult to control. Electric hobs, on the other side are more efficient in energy best ovens and hobs uk easier to clean.

There are even electric stoves that work with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, allowing you the flexibility you need to fit your lifestyle. It is important to remember, however, that these hobs require installation by an approved gas safe engineer. They also require a dedicated cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Copper coils create an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob the coils generate magnetic fields which directly heat the pan instead of heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from a energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.

There are a variety of models of induction hobs, from basic entry level models that have one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots at once on a flex zone. Some of these premium Kitchen appliances models have a touch slider control that looks very similar to how you operate an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models have preset settings for specific food types or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more efficient in the long term. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating area which can lower your energy costs. They cool down faster and are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly residents. They do, however, generate magnetic forces that can interfere with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.

Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can employ a standard oven cleaner or invest in a professional one to keep your stove in good condition and shiny for a longer time. You should never use any abrasive cleaning product or a scouring pad on your stove, as they can scratch the surface.