Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans with flame or electricity. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek design. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can easily be cleaned up in the event of spills or splatters. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your energy bills. 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 temperature.
Electric hobs consist of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted through the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have extremely high degree of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being shut off. This can be a problem if you have children, so it's best to install them in a place that is well away from flammable objects and not within reach of young children.
This kind of hob is able to be installed on a variety worktops including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and is a great option for those looking to replace your old hobs 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 would recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe for use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's exactly the same size as the element, or that is able to fit in each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element won't recognize it and will not begin to heat up the base of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for modern, sleek design. While they can cost more than electric models and require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up. It's not unusual for a full pan of water to be boiling in four minutes or less. This kind of hob is also a good choice for cooks who prefer to control the amount of heat being generated. hobs and ovens are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to build up grease and residue.
One of the best examples of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs that create a a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also comes with the wok ring that has 4kW to increase versatility, and dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easier to keep clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass and cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob provides an inner burner that doubles to increase heat distribution and accelerate cooking. It also features a handy power level indicator that helps to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.
The simple and intuitive controls were liked by our testers who found them be very simple to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you have to press the controls a further nine times before reaching the maximum heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
A few of the top gas on glass hobs are available at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. It's not going to win any design prizes, but it will perform the task and be a great addition to your kitchen at just above 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide modern technology that is safer, quicker and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
One of the most well-known 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. They're also usually fitted with a power boost function, which allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a short amount of time.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs cook your food directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means they are more energy-efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a particular kind of pan to function and can be expensive to install.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that's an excellent choice for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath the glass is a flat layer. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's easier to clean than standard glass that's tempered. A lot of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs are a popular choice for many home chefs however they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes a long time to get hot and cool off. In contrast, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern efficiency You can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, allowing you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a specific 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for those with pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
Under the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils which run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils generate magnetic fields which directly heat the pan rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are efficient in energy use, since they don't squander heat.
There are a variety of models of induction hob starting from basic models that have a single cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Some of these models have an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types 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 in the long run as they heat up much faster and use a smaller space to heat up which could help lower your energy costs. They cool quicker, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with elderly or children. They do, however, generate a magnetic force that could affect certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your electric hob regularly, as food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaning product or invest in a specialist one to keep your stove in good shape and shiny for a longer time. Be sure to not use scrubbers or pads to scour your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.