Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best ovens and hobs suits your kitchen and your style.

Induction hobs come with an elongated 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 can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower your electric bill. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow in changing the temperature which can be a problem when cooking food that requires an instant reduction or increase in heat.

Electric hobs utilize plates that are heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted individually through rotating knobs. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being turned off. This could be a problem when you have children, so it's advisable to only install them in an area which is far from any flammable items and not within reach of little ones.

This kind of hob can be installed on a variety worktops such as laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It is also relatively affordable and is an excellent option if you're looking to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. However, just like any other appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains power supply, so we recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe for use.

The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's either the exact size as the element or that can fit comfortably into each heating zone on the hob uk. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, it won't recognise it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs are sleek and contemporary in look. They can be more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster as a full pot of water can often boil within less than four minutes. This type of stove is a great choice for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they are more likely to accumulate grease and other residue.

A fantastic example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also includes the wok ring that has 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with the latest 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 features a handy power level indicator that assists in regulating the exact temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.

The simple, yet intuitive controls were appreciated by our testers who found them to be very simple to use. Some minor issues are that you need to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest level of heating and it can be difficult to discern the state of the burners through the glass.

This Neff model is one of the top gas-on glass hobs that are available at a low cost. While it's not going to win any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be an ideal addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

There are a number of electric hobs that work for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They're constructed with a sleek glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges and scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature which lets you increase the heat of your hob for a short amount of time.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan and can be costly to set up.

A gas on glass hob is a second option that's a great option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features a burner beneath a layer of flat glass. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempering glass. A lot of these hobs have the "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the temperature.

While gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to cool down and warm down and their flame can be hard to manage. However 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, allowing you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. These best hobs uk are also not suitable for people with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils run an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, instead of heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy perspective since there's no heat that is wasted.

There are a myriad of models of an induction hob starting from basic models that have a single cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs Oven with up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots at once on a flexible zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that looks very similar to how you operate on an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have preset settings that are specific to food items or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient over the long term. They heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating which could reduce your energy bills. They cool faster and are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with children or elderly people. However, they can create magnetic fields that could affect medical devices such as pacemakers so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to clean your induction hob regularly, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can make use of a basic oven and hob cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your oven in good shape and shiny for longer. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or a scouring pad on your stove since they could scratch the surface.