Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that is best suited to your kitchen and design.

Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and have five or four zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant 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 if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you need to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of temperature.

Electric hobs consist of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually by rotating knobs. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch even after being shut off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a location that is far from flammable items and out of reach of children.

This kind of hob can be used on a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be an excellent option if you want to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. However, just like any other appliance, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we would recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.

The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to pan size and shape. You'll need cookware that's the exact same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it will not recognise it and will not begin to heat the base of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs have a sleek and modern appearance. They are more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster and a full pot of water can typically boil within less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a great option for cooks who prefer to control the amount of heat being generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and sludge.

A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also includes an oblong wok ring with 4kW for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob features an inner flame that doubles to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also has a handy power indicator that allows you to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including the highest setting for searing a steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.

Our test subjects also appreciated the controls because they were simple and easy to use. A few minor issues are that you have to 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.

This Neff model is one of the top gas-on glass hobs available at an affordable price. It's not going win any design prizes however it's going to serve its purpose and be a great addition to your kitchen at just more than 120 dollars.

Electric hobs

There are a number of electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functionality that is safer, more efficient and efficient in energy use than their predecessors.

One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're made with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges and scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster function that lets you increase the heat for a short duration.

Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a particular type of pan to work with them and can be expensive to install.

A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that's more info a great option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, similar to a conventional gas stove. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much easier to clean than glass that's tempered. Many of these hobs have the "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the heat.

While gas hobs are still a popular option for many home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to heat up and cool down, and their flame can be hard to manage. In contrast electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean.

For the ultimate in modern efficiency You can also find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, giving you the flexibility to meet your needs. It is important to note that these hobs will need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require an appropriate 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

Copper coils create an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a stove, 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). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.

There are a variety of models of an induction hob starting from basic ones that have a single cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that have up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots at once on a flex zone. Some of these models come with an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more efficient in the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating area which can lower your energy costs. They cool quicker and are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families that have elderly or children. However, they create a magnetic field which could interfere with some medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your stove clean and in good shape for a longer time. Make sure you don't use scrubbers or pads to scour your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.