Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans with flames or electricity. There are several different types of hobs, and you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs come with flat ceramic surfaces and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide modern and sleek design that can improve the overall look of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient, which can reduce your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you have to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of temperature.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being turned off. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in an area that is safe from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.
This type of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops such as laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It is also relatively affordable and can be a great alternative if you're looking to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's the exact same size as the element or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent results in cooking and makes the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer a sleek, modern aesthetic. They can be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating as a full pot of water can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of stove is ideal for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to build up grease and residue.
A great example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual rings on the left side of the hob offers the double inner flame to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution which speeds up cooking times. It also features a handy power level indicator that assists in regulating the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.
Its simple yet intuitive read more controls were also well liked by our testers, who found them to be very easy to use. A few minor issues are that 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 the burners' actions.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that are available at a low cost. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and can be an ideal addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functions that are safer, more efficient and energy-efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. These hobs are designed with sleek glazed finishes, and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a brief period of time.
Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a particular kind of pan and can be costly to set up.
Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. However it's shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs have an "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.
While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and can take a long time to warm up and cool down. Electric hobs, on other hand are more efficient in energy and easier to clean.
For the ultimate in modern technology, you can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, so you'll be able to fit your needs. It's important to keep in mind that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable for your kitchen. They are also not suitable for people with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils run an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields that heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are very efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't squander heat.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, starting with the basic models with a single zone labelled by rings, to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves that can have up to 6 zones that allow multiple pots to be cooked on one flex area. Some of these models come with the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar located in the middle to choose the desired level of heat left to right increases heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are considered to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much quicker and use a smaller space to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They also cool faster and have a more secure design without hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with children or elderly people who live in the house. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could affect medical devices like pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like 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 an oven cleaner, or you can opt for a specialist product to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for a longer time. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or scouring pad on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.