Types of Hobs
A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans with flames or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs have flat ceramic surfaces and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek appearance. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that is easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your energy bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. They can be individually controlled by rotary knobs and nipped up to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have a extremely high degree of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch even after being shut off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from flammable items and away from children's reach.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly affordable and can be a great option if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending too much 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 extremely sensitive to pan size and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that either matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't fit the element, it won't recognize it and won't start to heat the base 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 are sleek and contemporary in design. While they can cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up - it's not unusual for a full pan of water to come to a boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a good choice for cooks who prefer to control the amount of heat being produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to build up grease and sludge.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to create a sleek, elegant finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings on the left of the hob features an inner flame that doubles to improve even heat distribution and accelerates cooking time. It also has an easy-to-read power level indicator, which allows you to control the exact temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as the highest setting for sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were appreciated by our testers who found them be very easy to use. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you need to physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest heating level and it may be difficult to discern the state of the burners through the glass.
A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs are available for affordable prices like this Neff model. It's not going win any design awards however it's going to do the job and can be a great addition to your kitchen at just above 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They're not just sleek and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They are designed with sleek glazed finishes, and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific type of pan to function and are costly to install.
A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that's an excellent option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer similar to a conventional gas stove. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, making it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A majority of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which alerts you best hob when the oven is hot.
Gas hobs are a popular option for many home cooks however they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to cool down and warm down and their flame can be hard to control. However, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
There are even electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, meaning you can adjust your cooking to suit your lifestyle. It is important to note that these stoves will require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated cable of 6mm in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Beneath the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on a stove, the coils generate magnetic fields that create heat directly within the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are efficient in energy use, since they don't squander heat.
There are a variety of models of an induction hob that range from basic models that have one cooking zone that is with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Certain models come with a slider control that is similar to the 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 even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more efficient in the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating which could reduce the cost of energy. They also cool down quicker and feature a safer design without hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with children or older people living in the home. However, they can create a magnetic field which could affect medical devices like pacemakers so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you'll need to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can employ a standard oven cleaner or purchase a specialist one to keep your hob in good condition and shining for longer. Just be sure to never use scrubbers or pads for scouring on your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.