Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that best fits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have modern and sleek design that can improve the overall look of your kitchen. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They heat up quickly and are energy-efficient which means they can cut down on the cost of electricity. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow to change temperature settings and can be a hassle when cooking food that requires a quick reduction or increase in heat.
Electric hobs utilize an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements under. They can be individually controlled using rotary knobs and notched up to the power level you require. You can even use the 'boost' feature in order to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, and even after they are turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a location that is far from any flammable objects and away from children's reach.
This kind of hob is able to be installed on a variety worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a large amount of money. Like 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.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You'll need cookware that's either the exact same dimensions as the element or that can fit comfortably into each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't fit the element, it will not recognize it and won't begin to heat up the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in design. They can be more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However they heat up faster and the water in a full pot can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of stove is also a great choice for cooks who want to regulate the amount of heat being generated. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel models and will likely need to be cleaned more often, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stick rather than slide off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal to create a sleek, elegant finish. The wok ring is 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.
hob and oven is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob has the double inner flame to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution, which in turn speeds up cooking times. It also has an easy-to-read power level indicator, which assists in regulating the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for searing steaks and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls because they were simple and intuitive. A few minor drawbacks are that you need to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level, and that it can be difficult to discern the status of the burners through the glass.
Some of the top gas on glass hobs are available for an affordable price, such as this Neff model. 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 for less than PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function which lets you increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.
Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. They require a special kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.
Gas on glass hobs are a different option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it has a burner beneath a layer of flat glass. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also include a 'hot-surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
While gas hobs remain an option that is popular with home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take some time to heat up and cool off. Electric hobs on the other hand, are more energy efficient and are easier to clean.
There are electric stoves that work with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, allowing you the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
On the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils generate magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from a energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are many different models of an induction hob that range from basic ones that have only one cooking zone that is marked with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Some of these premium models have a slider control that is similar to the 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 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 energy efficient in the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating which could reduce the cost of energy. They cool faster, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with children or elderly people. However, they do produce magnetic fields that could affect medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean regularly since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaner or purchase a specialist one to keep your hob in good condition and shiny for longer. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or a scouring pad on your stove, as they can scratch the surface.