Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans with electric power or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best fits your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and come with four or five zones for heating your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have an elegant and contemporary look that can really enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and are able to be cleaned if spills or splatters occur. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower your electricity bill. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow in changing temperatures which can be a problem if you're cooking something that requires an instant reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made of an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via rotating knobs. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high rate of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's recommended to place them in a location which is far from flammable objects and out of reach of little ones.
This kind of hob can be used on a variety of worktops including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent alternative if you are looking to replace your stove without spending a lot. However, like all appliances they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we would recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure your new hobs are safe for use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You'll need cookware that's either exactly the same size as the element, or that can fit comfortably into the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element won't recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent results in cooking and makes the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in look. They can be more expensive than electric hobs, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster - a full pot of water can typically boil within less than four minutes. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who want to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel ones and may need to be cleaned more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain instead of sliding off.
One of the best examples of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated look. The wok ring is 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob has an inner burner that doubles to increase the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power indicator that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including the high setting for searing a steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls because they were simple and intuitive. Some minor disadvantages include the fact that you need to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature and it may be difficult to discern the status of the burners through the glass.
Some of the top gas-on-glass hobs can be found at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. It's not likely to win any design prizes however it's going to serve its purpose and be a great addition to your kitchen at just more than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. Not only do they have a sleek design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. These hobs have an elegant glazed finish and feature an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature 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 by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. This means that they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan and could be expensive to put in.
A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that's a great choice for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, similar to a conventional gas stove. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much easier to clean than tempered glass. A majority 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 best oven and hard to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and take an extended time to heat up and cool off. In contrast, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
For the highest level of modern efficiency You can also find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to adapt to your lifestyle. But, it's important to note that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a specific 6mm cable for your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils create an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat being wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction stoves from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone marked by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously on one flex area. Certain models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to the way you operate on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models even 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 over the long term as they heat up much faster and use a smaller space to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They cool quicker and are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly residents. However, they do produce an electric force that could cause interference with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean, since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can either employ a standard oven cleaner or invest in a professional one to keep your hob in good condition and shining for a longer time. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the a scouring pad on your stove, as they can scratch the surface.