Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electric or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best hob suits your kitchen and style.

Induction hobs come with flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and have four or five zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern appearance. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can quickly be cleaned when spills or splatters happen. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient, which can reduce your electricity bill. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to adjust temperatures and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires a quick reduction or increase in temperature.

Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The elements can be controlled individually using rotary knobs and notched up to the power level you require. You can even use the boost feature to increase the temperature of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high rate of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being shut off. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.

The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety of worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great alternative if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. As with all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.

The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't fit the element, it will not recognize it and won't start to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs oven with hob (click to find out more)

Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern design. They are more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating and a full pot of water can typically boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is produced. However, it must be observed that a glass-based hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel ones and will need to be cleaned more often, since grease and residue build up tends to remain instead of sliding off.

A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring to increase versatility, oven and hob pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob features two burners inside to increase heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an indicator for power that lets you control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine preset settings, including the highest setting for sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled egg.

Our testers also liked the controls, as they were simple and intuitive. Some minor issues include the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest heating level and it may be difficult to discern the state of the burners through the glass.

This Neff model is one of the top gas-on glass hobs that are available at a low cost. It's not going win any design awards but it'll serve its purpose and be a great option for your kitchen at just over PS120.

Electric hobs oven

Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They are not only sleek and stylish, they are also faster, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. These hobs have a sleek glazed finish, and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster function which allows you to boost your heat for a short duration.

Induction hobs are another electric hob perfect for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a certain kind of pan to work and can be costly to install.

Glass hobs with gas are a great alternative for modern homes. It features a burner beneath a flat glass layer, like a traditional gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs are equipped with an "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the heat.

Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for many home chefs However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and takes some time to warm up and cool down. Electric hobs, on other hand are more efficient in energy use and easy to clean.

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

Induction hobs

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

There are many different models of induction hobs starting from basic ones that have only one cooking zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Certain models feature the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar located in the middle to select the desired heat level, left to right increases the heat and right to left decreases it. Some models have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are believed to be more efficient over the long term as they heat up much faster and have a smaller surface to heat up, which can help you save on energy bills. They cool down faster and also are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with children or elderly residents. They do, however, generate a magnetic force that could cause interference with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.

As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can make use of a basic best oven cleaner or invest in a specialist one to keep your stove in good shape and shiny for a longer time. Make sure you don't use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads to scour your induction hob since they could scratch the surface.