Types of Hob and Oven

A hob and oven and hob is commonplace in kitchens and is available in many different styles. You can even mix kinds like domino, electric and gas to fit your cooking requirements.

Safety features such as the controls for child and position can be added to a hob. These are designed to prevent children from touching the stove and stop them from changing the heat settings accidentally.

Types

In the heart of every kitchen, the hob takes centre stage and plays a major role in the way your food comes out. There are many different kinds of hobs and the one you choose will be based on what your specific cooking needs are.

Gas hobs are the classic choice and offer a fast heat-up function and instant reaction to temperature fluctuations. They are a preferred choice for chefs who are professional as they offer precise control. However, they're not as clean as other hobs and may require a higher degree of maintenance.

Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface that has heated elements beneath and are available in various sizes, with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element that you can control individually. This lets you boil potatoes on one ring whilst cooking sausages in another. This kind of hob can be more efficient than gas and is a child-safe option since the cooking area only heats up when you place a pot on it.

Traditional ceramic hobs are a user-friendly alternative to electric and gas and are a elegant choice. They have a smooth, hard-wearing surface that is easy wipe down but aren't as responsive to temperature changes like other hobs and are slower to cool down.

Domino hobs can be a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs that combine ovens below the cooking surface. They are ideal for kitchens that have limited space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are often less expensive than standard hobs, and can be energy-efficient, but they are also prone to breaking and require greater maintenance.

Gas

A gas hob is a cooking surface with burners that can be fitted on kitchen countertops to give an elegant look. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, but they can also be powered with propane gas. They feature a sleek and modern design that can add a touch of sophistication to your modular kitchen.

A traditional gas stove has several burners, usually 4, but sometimes as many as 6. The burners can be lit with a match or knob. The flames are controlled by a set of valves that can be adjusted to regulate the temperature.

Contrary to this, modern built-in gas hobs have multi-flame burners that let you control the inner and outer rings of each burner to control your cooking. These burners are much faster and more reliable than earlier models.

Traditionally, it was important to keep a gas burner lit all the time to ensure the burners were always hot and fuelled. This was a security feature to avoid any mishaps such as not turning off the oven uk when the stove was lit by match or the pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They have a built-in flame failure device that shuts off burners automatically if the pilot light fail.

Gas stoves and hobs need to be checked, cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. To accomplish this, you must make an appointment with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able check your appliance is functioning properly and safely, but they will also offer expert advice and suggestions on how to prevent any problems in the near future.

Electric

When it comes to designing your ideal kitchen, the worktops, fridge freezer and oven will always receive the most attention, however a good hob is equally important. The type of hob you select will influence the way your kitchen works and how easy it is for you to clean.

Electric hobs have heating elements that are placed on a smooth, glass surface. The glass surface is typically cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you turn on the hob and can be adjusted to various power levels by turning or pressing the control knob. They can take a little longer to heat up than a gas cooker, but once they are done, they usually provide better, regular temperature control. They are equipped with indicators that let you know if a zone is hot or not.

They are available in four to six different sizes and can be notch-up to different power levels. They are perfect for cookware that is flat, but aren't the best ovens uk option for cast-iron pans as they can overheat. Some models (such as Belling BELCH602T) come with dual rings which allow you to cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Some models have a Boost function that focuses high heat into one ring. This is helpful for stir-frying, searing meat, or boiling large pots.

Induction hobs differ from regular electric models due to the fact that they make use of electromagnetic fields instead of traditional gas flames to heat your cookware. They can reach precise temperatures quicker and are more efficient in energy use. They have 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 create functional or decorative objects. It's formed by mixing earthen elements, clay, powders and water to an exact shape, and then fired in a very high-temperature oven, also known as the kiln. Once it's made, it can be covered with decorative or paint-like substances to add color and texture.

Ceramic hobs are an exquisite combination of form and function that can be easily integrated into any modern kitchen. They operate by using radiant heating technology, which passes an electric current through coiled elements hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. They generate heat when activated, which is transferred to your pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the level of heating by turning the knobs or touch controls.

Some ceramic hobs have dual rings, with one smaller and one with a larger cooking area. This allows you to select the right size for your pan. There are hobs equipped with booster burners that generate high-powered heat rapidly ideal for searing meat or bringing pans of water to a boil in a short time.

Ceramic cooktops are more efficient in energy than other types of hobs as they take longer to heat up and change temperatures. You can also choose vented cooktops that have a ventilation system with the cooktop made of ceramic. This makes sure that smoke, steam, and cooking smells don't remain in your home.

Induction

Induction hobs are equipped with heating elements that are composed of copper wire coils. The coils create electromagnets, which heat the pans placed on the top of them. The coils stir up free electrons within the base metal of your pan which in turn, distributes heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot and the cooking zones are automatically shut off as soon as your pan is removed.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than other hobs however, they're also more efficient to heat and consume 30-70 percent less energy than gas or ceramic hobs oven. They are also easier to clean, since the surface of the hob isn't hot, and only the contents of the pan do.

Certain manufacturers have an induction model that comes with extra features, such as a pause feature, which cuts the energy to your stove when you walk away, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power for more flexibility. These are sometimes referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They may be more expensive than traditional induction models however, they're worth considering if multitasking is important to you.

This induction hob is our top choice. It comes with four cooking zones with a Bridge function and nine power settings, which gives you plenty of options for those who are ambitious cooks. It was a great performer during our test with a fast heating speed and accurate control when making pancakes. The oven also has an integrated dishwasher as well as an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning a lot more simple. There's a small selection of compatible pans, however it isn't used to cook with appliances that have magnetic bases. This could be a problem if you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or some of it is suitable for induction cooktops.