Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and your style.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and a range of 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 look. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to lower your electric bill. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow to change temperature settings which can be a problem when cooking something that requires immediate reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via rotary knobs. You can even use the 'boost' feature in order to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, and even after they have been turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from flammable items and away from children's reach.
This kind of hob can be installed on a variety worktops, including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is an excellent alternative if you're trying to replace your old hobs, but 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 the new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have modern, sleek design. They can be more expensive than electric models, and could require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating - the water in a full pot can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of hob is also a great option for cooks who prefer to control the amount of heat generated. However, it must be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and may need to be cleaned more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to remain instead of slipping off.
A fantastic example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also comes with an oblong wok ring with 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the hob features an inner flame that doubles to improve uniform heat distribution which increases cooking time. It also comes with an excellent power level indicator that allows you to control the precise temperature of your flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including the high setting for searing steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our testers also liked the controls as they were simple and easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you must 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.
This Neff model is among the best gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. While it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is a ceramic hob. These hobs have a sleek glazed finish, and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a brief period of time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob get more info perfect for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means that they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. They require a specific type of pan, and can be costly to set up.
A gas-on-glass hob is a different option that's an excellent choice for modern homes. It features a burner beneath an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempering glass. A lot of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is hot.
While gas hobs are still an option for many home cooks but 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. Electric hobs, on the other hand are more energy efficient and are easier to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that work with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, so you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. It is important to note that these stoves will require the installation of an approved gas safe engineer. They also require an appropriate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Under the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a stove, the coils generate magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are very efficient in energy use, since they don't waste any heat.
There are many different models of induction hobs, from basic entry level ones with only one cooking zone marked by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously in one flexible zone. Certain models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to how you operate on an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar in the middle to choose the desired level of heat, left to right increases the heat and right to left reduces it. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient in the long run. They can heat faster and have a smaller area for heating which could reduce the cost of energy. They also cool down quicker and feature a safer design without hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or elderly people living in the house. However, they do create a magnetic force that could cause interference with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can purchase a specialist cleaner to help keep your hob shiny and in good condition for longer. You should never use the abrasive cleaning products or the a scouring pad on your stove, as they can scratch the surface.