Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are several different types of hobs, and you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek look. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient and can help lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you need to cook something that requires quick decrease or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs consist of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via the rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs also have extremely high degree of heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. This can be a problem when you have children, so it's recommended to place them in a location that is away from flammable objects and not within reach of young children.
This kind of hob can be installed on a variety worktops including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It's also fairly affordable and is an excellent alternative if you're trying to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. However, just like any other appliance, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we suggest hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe for use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You'll need to buy cookware that is either exactly the same size 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 won't recognize it and will not begin to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs are sleek and contemporary in design. They are more expensive than electric models, and could require professional installation. However they heat up faster - the water in a full pot can typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of hob is also a great choice for cooks who prefer to limit the amount of heat produced. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they are more likely to accumulate grease and sludge.
A great example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs that create a a stylish and sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob provides two burners inside to increase the distribution of heat and speed up cooking. It also comes with a handy power indicator that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.
Its simple yet intuitive controls were appreciated by our testers who found them be very simple to use. A few minor drawbacks are that you need to physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest level of heating and it may be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. It's not going to win any design awards but it'll serve its purpose and be an excellent addition to your kitchen for just more than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are many electric hobs that are perfect for modern households. They're not just sleek and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges or scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster function that lets you increase the heat for a brief time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob perfect for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.
Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it features an oven that is surrounded by the glass is a flat layer. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with the "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the heat.
While gas hobs are still a popular option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and can take an extended time to warm up and cool down. Electric hobs on the other side, are more efficient in energy use and easy to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note, however, that these stoves will require installation by an approved gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob the coils generate magnetic fields that direct heat the pan, rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are very energy efficient, as they don't squander heat.
There are a variety of models ovensandhobs.uk of induction stoves from the basic ones with a single zone labelled by rings up to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves that can have up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to the way you use on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have preset settings for certain food types or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more efficient in the long run. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller heating area which could reduce your energy costs. They cool down faster, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with elderly or children. However, they can create magnetic fields that can affect medical devices such as pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you will have to clean your induction hob on a regular basis, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or opt for a specialist product to help keep your hob sparkling and in good order for longer. Just be sure to never use scrubbers or scouring pads on your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.