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 many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and your style.
Induction hobs come with flat ceramic surfaces and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide an elegant and contemporary look which can greatly enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient, which can reduce the cost of electricity. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to adjust the temperature which can be a problem if you're cooking something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. These elements can be controlled individually with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the power level you require. You can also use the 'boost' feature to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even when they've been shut off, they will be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in an area that is safe from flammable items and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be installed on a variety worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly affordable and can be a great 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 that your new hobs will be safe to use.
A downside of this type of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to pan size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element won't recognise it and will not heat 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 have a sleek and modern appearance. Although they may be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who need to control how much heat is generated. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel models and will likely require cleaning more often, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface instead of sliding off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated look. It also includes the wok ring that has 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left of the hob offers an inner flame that doubles to promote improvement in even heat distribution, which in turn increases cooking time. It also features a handy power indicator that helps you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings including a high setting for searing steaks and an option for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls as they were easy to use and intuitive. A few minor issues are that you have to press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs available at an affordable price. While it's unlikely to win any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just PS120.
Electric hobs
There are many electric hobs that are ideal for modern homes. They're not only sleek and stylish, they are they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to scratches or smudges. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster function that allows you to increase the heat for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric and gas plates. They are therefore more energy efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. They require a specific kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that's an excellent option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs come with an "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and can take an extended time to get hot and cool off. On the other hand, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
There are even electric stoves that work with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, giving you the flexibility needed to meet your needs. It's important to note, however, that these stoves will need to be installed by an accredited gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for people with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils that generate an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a stove, the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy point of view since there's no heat that is wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, from the basic ones with a single zone labelled by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked in one flex space. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to how you operate an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired heat level left to right boosts heat and right-to-left decreases it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food items which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are thought to be more efficient over the long term since they heat up faster and have a smaller surface for heating up which can help reduce your energy bills. They cool down faster, and they are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. hob uk This makes them a great choice for families with elderly or children. However, they can create magnetic fields that could interfere with some medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or a scouring pad on your stove, as they can scratch the surface.