Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs, and you can pick one that fits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic cooking surface and include four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs have a sleek and modern look that can enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can quickly be cleaned up when spills or splatters happen. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your electricity bills. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to change the temperature, which can be frustrating when cooking food that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs are made of plates that are heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be individually adjusted through the rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a particular area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, and even after they've been shut off, they will still be hot to the touch. This could be a problem when you have children, so it's best to install them in a location that is away from objects that are flammable and not within reach of children.

The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also reasonably priced and is a great option for those trying to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need cookware that's either the exact same size as the element or that will fit comfortably inside each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element will not recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs offer modern, sleek design. While they be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they typically require less time to heat up. It's not unusual for a full pan of water to be boiling in four minutes or less. This type of stove is a great choice for cooks who want to control the amount of heat that is generated. However, it must be observed that a glass-based hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and will need to be cleaned more often, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface instead of slipping off.

One of the best examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs that create a a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also has the wok ring that has 4kW for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.

This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass and cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the gas hob features a double inner burner to increase the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also comes with a handy power level indicator, which allows you to control 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.

Our testers also liked the controls, as they were simple and easy to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you have to press the controls nine more times to reach the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.

This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. While it's not going to win any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is an ideal addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

There are a number of electric hobs that are perfect for modern households. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature which allows you to boost the heat for a short duration.

Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to function and are costly to set up.

A gas on glass hob is a different option that's an excellent option for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it features the burner underneath the glass is a flat layer. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than the typical glass that's tempered. Many of these hobs also include a 'hot-surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.

Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for a lot of home cooks however they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and take an extended time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs, on the other hand, are more energy efficient and easier to clean.

For the ultimate in modern technology You can also find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, so you'll be able to fit your needs. However, it's important to keep in mind that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a specific 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils create an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils generate magnetic fields that directly heat the pan instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are very efficient in energy use, since they don't squander heat.

There are a variety of models of induction hobs starting from basic ones that have a single cooking zone marked by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Certain models have a touch slider control that is very similar to how you operate on an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar in the middle to choose the desired heat level left to right increases heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are thought to be more energy efficient over the long term because they heat up quicker and use a smaller space to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They also cool faster and have a safer design that doesn't have hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or elderly people living in the home. They do, however, produce an electric force that could interfere with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can opt for a specialist product to keep your stove clean and in good shape for a longer time. Be sure to not use scrubbers or pads to scour your induction hob as they can hob uk scratch the surface.