Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best fits your kitchen and your style.
Induction hobs have flat ceramic surfaces and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide a sleek and modern look that can improve the overall look of your kitchen. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your electricity bills. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires a rapid decrease or an increase in heat.
best hobs uk are made up of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually by rotary knobs. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to boost the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in an area that is safe from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.
This type of hob can be used on a variety of worktops including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and is a great option if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. Like all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.
This type of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You'll need cookware that's either the exact same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, it will not recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and will make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. Although they may be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they often require less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to be boiling within four minutes or less. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is generated. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and will likely require cleaning more often, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain rather than slide off.
One of the best examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated look. The wok ring is 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left side of the gas hob provides an inner burner that doubles to increase the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator, which helps to regulate the exact temperature of your flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls because they were simple and intuitive. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you must press the controls a further nine times before reaching the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.
A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs are available at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be an ideal addition to your kitchen for less than 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they have a sleek design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functions that are safer, faster and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to smudges or scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a brief period of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. They require a specific kind of pan and can be costly to install.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that's a great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath the glass, which is flat, similar to a standard gas stove. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's easier to clean than standard tempered glass. A lot of these hobs are equipped with an "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for many home chefs However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to heat up and cool down, and their flame can be hard to manage. On the other hand electric hobs are efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
There are electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, providing you with the flexibility to meet your needs. But, it's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field may 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 the hob, the coils create magnetic fields which directly heat the pan instead of heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy point of view because there's no leftover heat being wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction stoves from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone labelled by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these premium models have a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient in the long run. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating area which could reduce your energy costs. They cool faster and also are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families that have children or elderly residents. However, they create a magnetic field which could affect medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your stove clean and in good shape for a longer time. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the scratching pads on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.