Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can choose one that is best hob suited to your preferences and kitchen.

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

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs offer modern and sleek design that can enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and are able to be cleaned up in the event of spills or splatters. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your electricity bills. Ceramic Hobs oven can be slow when changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you are cooking something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. They can be individually controlled with rotary knobs, and then tacked to the power level you require. You can even utilize the boost feature to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have extremely high degree of heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch after being shut off. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's recommended to place them in a location that is away from any flammable items and away from little ones.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be installed on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and can be a great alternative if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. As with any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that either is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, it won't recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas-powered glass hobs have an elegant, modern look. While they can be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to be boiling in four minutes or less. This type of stove is a great choice for cooks who want to control how much heat is produced. However, it should be observed that a glass-based best hob uk can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel models and will likely require cleaning more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to remain instead of slipping off.

A great example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also comes with the wok ring that has 4kW for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.

This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings to the left of the hob features an inner flame that doubles to promote improvement in even heat distribution and increases cooking time. It also features an easy-to-read power indicator that lets you control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine pre-set settings, like the highest setting for sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled eggs.

Its simple yet intuitive controls were liked by our testers, who found them to be extremely easy to use. Some minor issues are that you must physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest temperature and it can be difficult to determine the status of the burners through the glass.

Some of the top gas-on-glass hobs are available for an affordable price, such as this Neff model. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards, it does the job well and is an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than PS120.

Electric hobs

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

One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They are designed with sleek glazed finishes, and have an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature which lets you increase the temperature of your stove for a short period of time.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs cook your food directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.

Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a great alternative for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under a flat glass layer, similar to a standard gas stove. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs have a "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.

Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks, but they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take time to cool down and warm down and their flame can be hard to control. In contrast electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean.

For the ultimate in modern efficiency You can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, so you'll have the flexibility to fit your needs. However, it's important to keep in mind that these best hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a specific 6mm cable for your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field may interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Beneath the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils which run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that create heat directly inside the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from a energy perspective, as there's no residual heat being wasted.

There are many different models of induction hobs, from basic entry level ones that have a single cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots simultaneously on one flex zone. Some of these models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to how you operate on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types 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 term. They heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating which can reduce the cost of energy. They also cool down faster and have a safer design with no hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or elderly people who live in the house. However, they create a magnetic field which could cause interference with medical devices, such as 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'll have to clean your electric hob regularly, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either employ a standard oven cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your stove in good condition and shiny for a longer time. Avoid using any abrasive cleaning product or scouring pad on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.