Types of Hobs

A hob, which is also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are several different types of hobs, and you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs are equipped with a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs offer modern and sleek design which can greatly improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and are able to be cleaned up when spills or splatters happen. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient and can lower the cost of electricity. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to adjust temperature settings, which can be frustrating when cooking something that requires an instant reduction or increase in temperature.

Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. These elements can be individually controlled by rotary knobs and nipped up to the power level you require. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to increase the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they have been turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a location that is away from flammable items and away from children's reach.

The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be set up on a variety worktops, such as laminate and Hob and Oven solid wood as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be a great option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot of money. But, as with all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains power supply, so we would recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

The downside to 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 either matches the element exactly or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, it will not recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven results in cooking and makes the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs have a sleek and modern design. While they be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up. It's not unusual for a full pan of water to come to a boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob also is ideal for cooks who need to control how much heat is generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to build up grease and residue.

This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners that are matte black with metal control knobs to create a sleek, elegant appearance. It also has an oblong wok ring with 4kW for added versatility, plus dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easier to keep clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located to the left of the hob offers an inner flame that doubles to ensure even heat distribution which accelerates cooking time. It also comes with a handy power indicator that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled eggs.

Its simple yet easy-to-use controls were also appreciated by our testers, who found them to be very easy to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you have to press the controls a further nine times before reaching the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.

Some of the best oven uk gas-on-glass hobs are available at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. While it's not going to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just PS120.

Electric hobs

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

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. They also come with a power booster function that allows you to increase the heat for a short time.

Induction hobs are another electric hob perfect for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific type of pan and can be costly to set up.

A gas-on-glass hob is another option that's an excellent option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath a flat glass layer, similar to a conventional gas stove. However it's heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much easier to clean than glass that's tempered. Many of these hobs also include a 'hot-surface indicator', which informs you when the oven is hot.

While gas hobs are still an option that is popular with home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to warm up and cool down and their flame can be hard to manage. Electric hobs on the other hand are more energy efficient and easy to clean.

You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, so you can adjust your cooking to suit your lifestyle. It is important to remember that these hobs will need to be installed by an approved gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils create an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a stove, the coils produce magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy perspective because there's no leftover heat being wasted.

There are a myriad of models of induction hobs that range from basic ones with only one cooking zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs with 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 looks very similar to the way you operate an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar located in the middle to choose the desired level of heat left to right boosts heat and right to left reduces it. Some models have preset settings that are specific to food types or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are believed to be more energy efficient over the long term because they heat up quicker ovens and hobs uk have a smaller surface to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They cool quicker and are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families that have children or elderly residents. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could cause interference with medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your induction hob on a regular basis, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or opt for a specialist product to keep your stove sparkling and in good order for longer. Make sure you don't use scrubbers or pads for scouring on your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.