Looking For Inspiration? Try Looking Up Hobs Oven
Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using electric or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that is best suited to your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs have flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and have four or five zones for heating your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern design. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your energy bills. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow in changing temperatures which can be a problem when cooking something that requires an instant reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The elements can be controlled individually by rotary knobs and nipped up to the level of power you require. You can even utilize the boost feature to increase the temperature of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. This can be a problem when you have children, so it's best to only install them in a location that is well away from any flammable items and out of reach of young children.
This kind of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops, including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and can be a great alternative if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we would recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.
This type of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's either the exact same dimensions as the element or that can fit comfortably into the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't match the element, it won't recognize it and won't begin to heat the base of the pan. This can lead to uneven results in cooking and makes the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern appearance. They can be more expensive than electric models, and could require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating - an entire pot of water can typically boil within less than four minutes. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to accumulate grease and residue.
This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners finished in matt black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated look. It also has the wok ring that has 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the hob offers the double inner flame to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution which increases cooking time. It also features a handy power indicator that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including a high setting for searing steaks and an option for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls because they were simple and intuitive. A few minor issues are that you have to press the controls nine times to reach the maximum heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. While it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards but it can do the job well and is an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a variety of electric hobs that work for modern households. They're not only elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. They're constructed with a sleek glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges and scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a brief duration.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific type of pan and can be costly to set up.
Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. However the glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs have the "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.
While gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and takes some time to warm up and cool down. Electric hobs, on other side are more efficient in energy use and are easier to clean.
For the ultimate in modern efficiency, you can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, so you can adjust your cooking to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to keep in mind that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly inside the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat being wasted.
There are many different models of an induction hob that range from basic ones that have only one cooking zone with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Certain models come with a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. Simply slide best hobs across the power bar located in the middle to select the desired heat level left to right increases heat and right-to-left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for specific recipes or food types which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient in the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating space which can reduce the cost of energy. They also cool faster and have a more secure design with no hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or older people who live in the house. However, they do generate magnetic forces that can affect certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with 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 use an oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. Avoid using any abrasive cleaning product or scouring pad on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.