Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs, so you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic cooking surface and include four or five zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide an elegant and contemporary look that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can help lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you are cooking something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs use a solid plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via rotary knobs. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature in order to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even after they are turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in an area that is away from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be installed on a variety worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be a great alternative if you are looking to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. As with any appliance, 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 either matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it will not recognize it and won't begin to heat the base of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for a sleek, modern aesthetic. They can be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installations. However they heat up faster - the water in a full pot can typically boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a great choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to accumulate grease and other residue.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated finish. It also includes an oblong wok ring with 4kW for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob provides an inner burner that doubles to improve the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also has a handy power indicator that lets you control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well liked by our testers, who found them to be extremely easy to use. A few minor issues are that you must press the controls a further nine times before reaching the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.
A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs can be found at an affordable price like this Neff model. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're designed with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges or scratches. Our Site equipped with a power boost feature which lets you increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means that they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific type of pan and can be costly to set up.
Gas on glass hobs are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs are a popular choice for a lot of home cooks However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to heat up and cool down, and their flame can be difficult to manage. In contrast electric hobs are efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern efficiency You can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to fit your needs. It is important to note that these hobs will need to be installed by an approved gas safe engineer. They also require an appropriate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils produce magnetic fields that direct heat the pan, rather than heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy point of view, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.
There are many models of induction stoves from the basic ones with a single zone identified by rings up to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones that allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously on one flex area. Certain models have a touch slider control that is very similar to how you operate an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are considered to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much faster and use a smaller space for heating up which can help reduce your energy bills. They cool quicker and are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly people. However, they do produce magnetic fields that could cause interference with medical devices such as pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either use a standard oven cleaner or invest in a professional one to keep your hob in good shape and shiny for a longer time. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or scratching pads on your induction stove as they may scratch the surface.