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. You can choose the one that best fits your kitchen and design.

Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic surface and a range of 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 provide modern and sleek design that can 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 wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your energy bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or an increase in the heat.

Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually through the rotary knobs. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature in order to increase the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they are turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from flammable items and away from children's reach.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be put in on a variety worktops, such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be a great alternative if you are looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. But, as with all appliances, they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we suggest hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that your new hobs are safe for use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You will need to purchase cookware that either is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it won't recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas-powered glass hobs have an elegant, modern look. While they cost more than electric models and require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to be boiling in four minutes or less. This kind of hob works well for cooks who need to control how much heat is produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and other residue.

A great example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.

This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass and modern cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left of the gas hob provides an inner burner that doubles to increase the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also features a handy power indicator that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.

Our testers also liked the controls, as they were easy to use and intuitive. Some minor drawbacks are that you must press the controls a further nine times before reaching the maximum temperature and the glass hobs uk can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.

This Neff model is among the best gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. It's not likely to win any design prizes, but it will do the job and can be an excellent option for your kitchen at just more than 120 dollars.

Electric hobs

There are a number of electric hobs that work for modern households. 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, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges or scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short amount of time.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific type of pan to function and can be expensive to set up.

Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, similar to a conventional gas stove. However it's shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than the typical tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with a "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.

Gas hobs are a popular choice for many home chefs However, they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take a while to cool down and warm down and their flames can be hard to control. Electric hobs, on other hand, are more efficient in energy and are easier to clean.

You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, providing you with the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. However, it's important to remember that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. They're not suitable for those with pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.

Hobs with induction

Copper coils conduct an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs are energy efficient, as they don't waste any heat.

There are a myriad of models of induction stoves starting with the basic models with a single zone identified by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones and allow for multiple pots to cook simultaneously in one flex space. Some of these models come with a touch slider control that is very similar to how you operate an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar at the middle to choose the desired temperature, left to right boosts heat and right to left reduces it. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are believed to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much quicker and have a smaller surface to heat up which could help lower your energy costs. They also cool down faster and have a safer design without hot plates, making them perfect for families with children or older people living in the home. However, they do produce magnetic forces that can affect certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.

As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean, since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your stove clean and in good shape for a longer time. Avoid using any abrasive cleaning product or scouring pad on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.