Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electric or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that is best suited to your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic surface and 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 have an elegant and contemporary look which can greatly improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can easily be cleaned up when spills or splatters happen. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient which means they can cut down on the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of the heat.
Electric hobs are made of a solid plate that is heated by electric elements under. The elements can be controlled separately using rotary knobs and notched up to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high rate of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. This can be a problem if you have children, so it's best to only install them in a place that is well away from objects that are flammable and out of reach of young children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be installed in a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, 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 drawback of this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. It is essential to purchase cookware that either is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it won't recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs are sleek and contemporary in appearance. They are more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster as a full pot of water will typically boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who need to control the amount of heat that is generated. However, it must be not forgotten that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel models and will need to be cleaned more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface instead of slipping off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners finished in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual rings on the left side of the hob offers the double inner flame to ensure even heat distribution which increases cooking time. It also features an indicator for power that allows you to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings, including the high setting for searing steaks and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
Its simple yet intuitive controls were also well loved by our test subjects, who found them to be very simple to use. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you need to physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest level of heating and it may be difficult to discern the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. It's not likely to win any design awards, but it will perform the task and be an excellent option for your kitchen at just above 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that work for modern households. They're not just sleek and stylish, they are they are also more efficient, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is a ceramic hob. 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 allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.
Induction hobs are yet 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 that they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific type of pan, and could be expensive best ovens and hobs to put in.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a different option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with an oven that is surrounded by the glass is a flat layer. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the oven is hot.
Although gas hobs are an option that is popular with home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to warm up and cool down and their flames can be difficult to control. Electric hobs, on other hand are more efficient in energy use and easy to clean.
For the ultimate in modern technology You can also find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, allowing you the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. It is important to remember that these hobs will require the installation of an accredited gas safe engineer. They also require a dedicated cable of 6mm for your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Under the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy standpoint since there's no heat that is wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction hobs that range from basic models that have only one cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots at once on a flexible zone. Certain models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to how you operate on an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar in the middle to choose the desired heat level, left to right increases heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for certain food items or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more efficient in the long term. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller area for heating which can reduce the cost of energy. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design without hot plates, making them perfect for families with children or elderly people living in the house. However, they do produce magnetic fields that could interfere with some medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaner or invest in a professional one to keep your stove in good shape and shiny for a longer time. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or scratching pads on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.