Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electric power or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that is best suited to your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and include 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 have a sleek and modern look that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be cleaned when spills or splatters happen. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can reduce your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you have to cook something that requires quick reduction or increase of the heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually by the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a specific zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is away from any flammable objects and away from children's reach.
This type of hob can be used on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. However, just like any other appliance, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe for use.
This type of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You'll need to buy cookware that either matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, it will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern design. While they can cost more than electric ones and 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 kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who wish to control how much heat is produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to build up grease and other residue.
A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring is 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines an attractive slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left side of the gas hob features two burners inside to improve heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with a handy power level indicator that allows you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as the highest setting for sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.
Its simple yet easy-to-use controls were also appreciated by our testers who found them to be extremely easy to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you have to press the controls a further nine times to reach the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that are available at a low cost. It's not likely to win any design awards but it'll serve best oven its purpose and be a great addition to your kitchen at just more than 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
There are a variety of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. Not only do they have a sleek design that fits into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functionality that is safer, more efficient and efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. These hobs have an elegant glazed finish and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature that allows you to increase the heat for a short duration.
Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. They require a specific kind of pan and can be costly to install.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that is a good choice for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under an unidirectional glass layer similar to a standard gas stove. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with an "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.
Although gas hobs are an option that is popular with home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to cool down and warm down and their flame can be hard to manage. However electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
For the ultimate in modern efficiency, you can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to keep in mind that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a specific 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob the coils create magnetic fields that create heat directly inside the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't use any heat.
There are a myriad of models of an induction hob that range from basic ones with only one cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that have up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Certain models come with a touch slider control that is very similar to how you operate on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are thought to be more efficient over the long term because they heat up faster and have a smaller area to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They also cool faster and have a more secure design without hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or older people living in the home. However, they do produce magnetic fields that can cause interference with medical devices like pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your induction hob regularly, as food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaner or invest in a specialist one to keep your hob in good shape and shiny for a longer time. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or a scouring pad on your stove as they may scratch the surface.