Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, so you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.

Induction hobs are equipped with flat ceramic surfaces and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs have a sleek and modern look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can quickly be cleaned in the event of spills or splatters. They are fast to heat up 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 in changing temperature settings and can be a hassle when cooking food that requires immediate reduction or increase in temperature.

Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. They can be controlled individually with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs also have extremely high degree of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being shut off. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's best to install them in a place that is away from objects that are flammable and not within reach of children.

This kind of hob is able to be installed on a variety worktops including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It is also relatively affordable and is an excellent alternative if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. But, as with all appliances, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we suggest hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to pan size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that is either the exact same dimensions as the element or that is able to fit in the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it won't recognize it and won't start to heat up the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and will make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. While they cost more than electric ones and require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to come to a boil in four minutes or less. This kind of stove is also a great option for cooks who prefer to control the amount of heat being generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to build up grease and sludge.

This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to create a sleek, elegant look. It also has the wok ring that has 4kW for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the hob offers an inner flame that doubles to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution and speeds up cooking times. It also features an excellent power level indicator that helps to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including a high setting for searing steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.

Our test participants also liked the controls because they were simple and easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you need to press the controls nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.

This Neff model is among the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that you can buy at a reasonable price. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards, it does the job well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. These hobs have sleek glazed finishes, and have an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a brief period of time.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan, and can be costly to set up.

A gas-on-glass hob is a different option that is a good option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer similar to a standard gas more info stove. However, this glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much easier to clean than tempered glass. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the oven is hot.

Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for a lot of home cooks, but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes an extended time to heat up and cool off. On the other hand, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.

There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, providing you with the flexibility you need to meet your needs. But, it's important to remember that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Under the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly inside the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy point of view, as there's no residual heat being wasted.

There are a variety of models of induction stoves, starting with the basic models with a single zone identified by rings, to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to six zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these premium models come with a touch slider control that is very similar to how you operate an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have preset settings for certain food types or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more energy efficient over the long run. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating area which can reduce the cost of energy. They also cool faster and have a safer design that doesn't have hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the home. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could interfere with some medical devices like pacemakers so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean regularly as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaner or invest in a specialist one to keep your oven in good condition and shiny for a longer time. Avoid using any abrasive cleaning product or scratching pads on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.