Types of Hob and Oven

A hob and oven is commonplace in kitchens, and comes in many different styles. You can mix different types of ovens, such as electric and gas to meet your needs.

Safety features such as child and position controls could be included in a hob. These can prevent children from touching the hob, and stop them from changing the heat settings by accident.

Types

The hob is the focal feature of any kitchen, and can have a significant impact on the final outcome of your cooking. However, there are many different kinds of hobs and the one you pick will depend on what your specific cooking needs are.

Gas hobs are a classic option and provide a quick heat-up function and instant reaction to temperature changes. They are a popular choice for chefs who are professional as they offer precise control. However, they aren't as clean as other hobs, and they may require a higher level of maintenance.

Electric hobs are made of ceramic with a flat surface and heated elements beneath. They come in different sizes and with four to six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with its own heating element which can be controlled separately by you. You can boil potatoes on one ring, while cooking sausages on another. This kind of hob is quicker to warm up than gas, and it offers an alternative that is safer for children as the cooking zone is heated only when you place a pot on it.

Ceramic hobs are a fashionable and user-friendly option to gas and electric hobs. They have an even and smooth surface that is easy to clean. However, they are not as quick to react to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.

Domino hobs can be a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs that have ovens underneath the cooking surface. They can be fitted into smaller kitchens that have small installation space and are suitable for kitchenettes and flats. They tend to be more affordable than standard hobs and can be energy efficient, but they are also susceptible to damage and require greater maintenance.

Gas

A gas hob is a cooktop with burners that can be fitted into kitchen countertops for an elegant look. They are typically used with natural or the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but they can also be powered by propane gas. They feature a modern and sleek design that can give a sophisticated touch to your modular kitchen.

A traditional gas stove comes with a variety of burners. Usually there are four, but there can be as many as six. The flames are ignited using an igniter or by turning a knob. The flames are then controlled by a series of valves that can be adjusted to regulate the temperature.

In contrast, most modern gas hobs with built-in gas are equipped with multi-flame burners that allow you to regulate the outer and inner ring of each burner to precisely manage your cooking. These burners are much faster and more reliable than older models.

In the past, it was essential for the gas stove to be lit at all times to ensure that the burners remained hot and fueled. This was to avoid accidents, such as accidentally turning on an oven and hob when the stove is still lit by an igniter or a match. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They have a built-in flame failure device that shuts down the burners automatically should the pilot light fail.

Gas stoves and hobs must be inspected, cleaned, and maintained regularly. To achieve this, it is recommended to book a visit from an Gas Safe registered engineer. Not only will they be able to make sure your appliance is functioning properly and safely, but they will also offer professional advice and guidance on how to avoid problems in the future.

Electricity

When it comes to creating your ideal kitchen, the countertops, fridge freezer and oven will always receive the most attention but a quality hob is also essential. Whichever type you choose, traditional, induction or gas cooker, the type of hob you select can impact the way your kitchen functions and how easy it is to keep clean.

Electric hobs are equipped with heating elements that are placed on a smooth, glass surface. This is usually cleaned using a nonabrasive cleaner. The heating elements are activated when you switch on the hob and can be adjusted to different power levels by turning a knob. It may take them some time to warm up however once they are heated, they tend to provide more stable and reliable temperature control. They have built-in indicators that inform you whether a space is hot or not.

These rings are available in four to six different sizes and are notch-upable to various power levels. They are great for flat-based cookware but aren't the best ovens and hobs choice for cast iron pans because they can get hot. Certain models (such as Belling BELCH602T) come with dual rings which allow you to cook sausages and boil water on the same ring. Some models come with a 'boost' feature that concentrates the power of high-powered heat into one ring for stir fry cooking, searing meat or boiling large pots of water.

Induction hobs are different from regular electric models as they use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware rather than the conventional method of gas flames. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a smaller time frame, which makes them highly energy efficient. They feature a cool to the touch surface, and flashing indicators that indicate if a ring has been used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to make functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders, and water, before firing it in a hot oven, also known as a Kiln. Once it's been made, it can then be decorated or covered with decorative materials in order to add texture and colour.

Ceramic hobs combine design and function to create a stunning piece of modern kitchen furniture. Radiant heating technology is used to heat the ceramic hobs through the passage of an electric current through coiled elements that are hidden under the black glass surface. When activated, they generate heat which is then transferred to the pan via an infrared heating system. You can adjust the intensity of the heating by turning the knobs or touch controls.

Certain ceramic hobs have dual-ring designs, having one smaller and one larger cooking zone that lets you select the most suitable size for your pan. You can also find hobs with booster burners which produce high-powered heat quickly perfect for searing food or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly.

Ceramic cooktops are more energy efficient than other kinds of hobs because they take longer to heat up and switch temperatures. You can also find vented hobs that integrate a ventilation system into the ceramic cooktop, ensuring steam, smoke and cooking smells don't linger within your home.

Induction

Induction hobs contain heating elements that are comprised of copper wire coils. They generate electromagnets that make the pans hot on top of them. The coils stir the free electrons within your pan's base metal, which then transfer heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and as soon as you remove your pan, the cooking zones turn off automatically.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than other hobs, but they're also faster to heat and consume 30-70 percent less energy than gas or ceramic hobs. Induction hobs are also less difficult to clean because only the contents of the pan are heated but not the surface.

Some manufacturers have an induction model that has additional features, like a pause feature, which cuts the energy to your stove when you walk away, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously with the same power to provide greater flexibility. These are sometimes called FlexInduction hobs. They may be more costly than traditional induction models however, they're worth considering when multitasking is important to you.

This induction hob is our top choice. It has four large cooking zones with a Bridge function and nine power settings, offering you a lot of options for cooks who want to be more adventurous. It did well during our test with a fast heating speed and accurate control when making pancakes. The hob has a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection, which makes cleaning easier. There's a limited range of compatible pans, however, and it can't be used to cook with utensils that have magnetic bases. This can be a challenge when you have a lot of non-compatible cookware or only some of it is suitable for use on induction hobs.