Types of Hobs

A hob, which is also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can pick one that fits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with four or five zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs have an elegant and contemporary look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can quickly be cleaned in the event of spills or splatters. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your energy bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you have to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or culinary Experience increase of heat.

Electric hobs consist of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted through rotating knobs. You can even utilize the boost feature to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even when they've been shut off, they will be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a place that is far from flammable items and away from children's reach.

The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be installed on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is an excellent option for those trying to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. Like all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element will not recognize it and won't begin to heat up the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs offer a sleek, modern aesthetic. While they can cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they often require less time to heat up - it's not unusual for a full pan of water to be boiling within four minutes or less. This type of hob also is ideal for cooks who want to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it must be noted that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and will likely need to be cleaned more often, since the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stick instead of slipping off.

One of the best hob examples of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and oven hob sophisticated appearance. It also has an oblong wok ring with 4kW for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.

This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left side of the gas hob provides a double inner burner to improve heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power indicator that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine pre-set settings, like high settings to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled eggs.

The simple, yet easy-to-use controls were also liked by our testers who found them be very simple to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you have to press the controls nine times before reaching the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. It's not going to win any design awards however it's going to do the job and can be a great option for your kitchen at just over 120 dollars.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.

One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. They're made with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges or scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster function that allows you to increase 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, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a special kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.

A gas on glass hob is another option that is a good choice for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it has a burner beneath a layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is hot.

While gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and can take an extended time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs on the other side, are more energy efficient and easier to clean.

You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to adapt to your lifestyle. It is important to note that these hobs require installation by an approved gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils which run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on a hob the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly in the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). This makes induction Hobs Oven very efficient from a energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.

There are a myriad of models of induction hob that range from basic models that have only one cooking zone that is marked with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones and allow you to cook several pots simultaneously in one flexible zone. Certain models come with a touch-slider control that looks very similar to the way you operate on an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar at the middle to choose the desired temperature, left to right increases heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for certain food items or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are thought to be more efficient in the long run because they heat up faster and have a smaller surface to heat up which could help reduce your energy bills. They cool down faster and also have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with children or elderly people. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could cause interference with medical devices like pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your electric hob on a regular basis, as food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use a standard best oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to help keep your hob sparkling and in good order for a longer time. Make sure you don't use the abrasive cleaning pads or scouring pads on your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.