Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans with flame or electricity. There are several different types of hobs, so you can choose one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic cooking surface and have four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek appearance. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They are fast to heat up and are energy-efficient and can lower the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you have to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. They can be individually controlled by rotary knobs and nipped to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they are turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in an area that is far from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and can be a great option if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. As with any appliance, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need to buy cookware that matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for an elegant, modern look. They can be more expensive than electric models, and may require professional installations. However they heat up faster and a full pot of water will typically boil within less than four minutes. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who want to control how much heat is produced. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to accumulate grease and 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 that create a an elegant and sophisticated look. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring for additional versatility, as well as 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 ring design at the left of the gas hob provides a double inner burner to improve the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also has a handy power level indicator, which assists in regulating the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls as they were easy to use and intuitive. Some minor drawbacks are that you must press the controls a further nine times to reach the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.
Some of the best gas-on-glass hobs can be found at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. While it's unlikely to win any design awards but it can do the job well and is an excellent addition to your kitchen at just 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They're not only sleek and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost function, which allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a short period of time.
Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a special kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.
Gas on glass hobs are a great alternative for modern homes. It has a burner underneath a flat glass layer, similar to a conventional gas stove. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than standard glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs also include a 'hot-surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is heated.
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 time to warm up and cool down and their flames can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs, on the other hand are more efficient in energy and easier to clean.
There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to suit your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
On the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob the coils generate magnetic fields that generate heat directly inside the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy standpoint because there's no leftover heat that is wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone marked by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones that allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously on one flex area. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to the way you use an iPhone. ovens and hobs can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models have preset settings for specific food items or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are believed to be more efficient in the long run because they heat up quicker and have a smaller area for heating up which can help you save on energy bills. They cool down faster, and they are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with elderly or children. However, they can create a magnetic field which could cause interference with medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean regularly because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can either use a standard oven cleaner or invest in a professional one to keep your oven in good shape and shiny for longer. Be sure to not use scrubbers or pads for scouring on your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.