Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best suits your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs have flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and come with four or five zones for heating your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide a sleek and modern look which can greatly 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 wiped away. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient which means they can cut down on your electric bill. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to change the temperature and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires immediate reduction or increase in heat.
best hob uk utilize an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. These elements can be controlled separately using rotary knobs and notched up to the power level you require. You can also use the boost feature to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even when they have been turned off, they will be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge when you have children, so it's recommended to place them in a location which is far from any flammable items and out of reach of little ones.
This type of hob can be installed on a variety worktops, including laminate and 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. As with any appliance, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to pan size and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's the exact same size as the element, or that is able to fit in each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't fit, then the element will not recognize it and will not begin to heat up 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. Although they may cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up. It's not unusual for a full pan of water to be boiling within four minutes or less. This type of stove 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 can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and will need to be cleaned more often, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface instead of sliding off.
A great example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs for a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also includes a 4kW wok ring for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass and modern cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob has the double inner flame to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also comes with a handy power level indicator that helps to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.
Our testers also liked the controls as they were simple and intuitive. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, 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 discern what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on glass hobs available at an affordable price. It's not going win any design awards but it'll do the job and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just above 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functions that are safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They are designed with a sleek glazed finish, and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature, which allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob 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 have precise temperature control. They require a particular 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 features a burner beneath the glass is a flat layer. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with a "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the heat.
While gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to heat up and cool down and their flame can be hard to manage. Electric hobs, on the other hand are more efficient in energy and are easier to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, providing you with the flexibility to adapt to your lifestyle. It is important to note that these stoves will require installation by a registered gas safe engineer and require an appropriate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils create an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob the coils create magnetic fields that direct heat the pan, rather than heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't waste any heat.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, from the basic ones with a single zone marked by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves with up to 6 zones that allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously within a flex area. Certain models come with a touch slider control that resembles to the way you operate an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired level of heat left to right boosts heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food types that can help you save 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 quicker and have a smaller surface to heat up which could help reduce your energy bills. They cool down faster and also are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them perfect for families that have children or elderly residents. However, they do produce magnetic fields that can affect medical devices such as pacemakers so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to clean your induction hob frequently, since food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either employ a standard oven cleaning product or invest in a professional one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for a longer time. Just be sure to never use abrasive cleaners or pads for scouring on your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.