20 Things That Only The Most Devoted Hobs Oven Fans Know
Types of Hobs
A hob, also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that is best suited to your kitchen and your style.
Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic cooking surface and have five or four zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
hob uk can give your kitchen a sleek, modern design. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be cleaned if spills or splatters occur. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient, which can reduce the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you have to cook something that requires a rapid decrease or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually by rotating knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high rate of heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch even after being shut off. This can be a problem if you have children, so it's advisable to only install them in a location which is far from any flammable items and not within reach of children.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up on a variety worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and is a great alternative if you are looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. As with all appliances, 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 pan size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's the exact dimensions as the element or that can fit comfortably into each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element will not recognise it and won't begin to heat up the base of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for a sleek, modern aesthetic. Although they may cost more than electric models and require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to come to a boil in four minutes or less. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who need to control how much heat is generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and residue.
A great example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.
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 to the left of the hob features an inner flame that doubles to ensure uniform heat distribution, which in turn speeds up cooking times. It also comes with an excellent power level indicator, which allows you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including a high setting for searing a steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well appreciated by our testers, who found them to be very simple to use. hobs uk include the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest temperature, and that it can be difficult to see the status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. It's not likely to win any design prizes however it's going to do the job and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just more than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. 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 made with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric and gas plates. hob uk are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a special kind of pan and can be costly to install.
Glass hobs with gas are a great alternative for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it comes with the burner underneath the glass is a flat layer. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's easier to clean than the typical glass that's tempered. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is heated.
While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to warm up and cool down and their flames can be difficult to control. However, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
For the ultimate in modern technology, you can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these stoves must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could 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 pot is placed on a hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that create heat directly in the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy perspective since there's no heat being wasted.
There are many models of induction stoves, from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone identified by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves with up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously in one flex space. Certain models come with a touch-slider control that looks very similar to how you operate an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have preset settings for certain food types or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are considered to be more energy efficient over the long term since they heat up faster and use a smaller space to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They cool faster and also are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with children or elderly people. However, they create a magnetic field which could interfere with some medical devices like pacemakers so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your electric hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for longer. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or scouring pad on your induction stove as they may scratch the surface.