Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are a variety of hobs, so you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.

Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic surface and either 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 offer modern and sleek design that can enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can easily be cleaned if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or increase of temperature.

Electric hobs use a solid plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. The power of each element can be adjusted individually through rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a specific zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they've been shut off, they'll be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in an area that is away from flammable items and out of reach of children.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be installed in a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also reasonably priced and is an excellent option for those looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. Like any appliance, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.

A downside of this type 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 precisely or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't fit the element, it will not recognize it and will not begin to heat up the base of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern design. They can be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installations. However, they heat up faster - the water in a full pot can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of stove is a great choice for cooks who want to control how much heat is produced. However, it should be observed that a glass-based hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and may require cleaning more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain instead of slipping off.

A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left side of the gas hob features an inner burner that doubles to improve the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power indicator that allows you to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.

The simple and intuitive controls were also well loved by our test subjects who found them to be very simple to use. A few minor issues are that you need to press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.

This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that you can buy at a reasonable price. It's not going to win any design awards, but it will serve its purpose and be an excellent option for your kitchen at just above PS120.

Electric hobs

There are a variety of electric hobs that are perfect for modern households. They're not only 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 the ceramic glass hob. They are designed with an elegant glazed finish and have an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster function which allows you to boost your heat for a short time.

Induction hobs are another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means that they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a certain type of pan to function and can be expensive to install.

A gas on glass hob is a second option that's an excellent option for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it features an oven that is surrounded by an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempering glass. A majority of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which alerts you when the oven is hot.

Gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks However, they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes an extended time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs, on other side are more efficient in energy use and easy to clean.

For the ultimate in modern technology, you can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, so you can adjust your cooking to fit your needs. It is important to note that these hobs require the installation of an accredited gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Under the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils which run an alternating electrical current. 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 very efficient in energy use, since they don't waste any heat.

There are a variety of models of induction stoves starting with the basic models with a single zone labelled by rings, to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that can have up to 6 zones that allow multiple pots to be cooked on one flex area. Some of these premium models feature 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 located in the middle. 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 do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are thought to be more efficient in the long run since they heat up quicker and use a smaller space to heat up which could help reduce your energy bills. They also cool faster and have a more secure design with no hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or elderly people living in the home. However, they do produce a magnetic force that could interfere with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean, because food and debris could click here build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or scratching pads on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.