Types of Hobs
A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans with electric or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that is best suited to your kitchen and your style.
Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic cooking surface and have four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and are able to be cleaned up in the event of spills or splatters. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can reduce your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you need to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of the heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. These elements can be individually controlled by rotary knobs and nipped up to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a specific zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even when they are turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. This could be a problem for families with children, so it's advisable to place them in a place which is far from objects that are flammable and away from young children.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be installed in a variety of worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly affordable and is an excellent option for those trying to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. However, like all appliances they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we would recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe for use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. It is essential to purchase cookware that either matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same size 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 efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have an elegant, modern look. Although they may be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they often take less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a full pan of water to be boiling in four minutes or less. This kind of stove is also a great option for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning since 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 that have precise metal control knobs to create a stylish and sophisticated finish. The wok ring is 4kW for extra 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 with modern cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left of the gas hob features a double inner burner to improve heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator that allows you to control the precise temperature of your flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings, including the highest setting for searing steaks and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our testers also liked the controls as they were simple and easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you have to press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest 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. It's not going to win any design awards however it's going to do the job and can be a great addition to your kitchen for just more than 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They're not just elegant and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. These hobs are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost feature which lets you increase the temperature of your stove for a brief period of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a particular kind of pan to work and are costly to install.
Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath a flat glass layer, similar to a standard gas stove. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. ovens hobs Ovens & Hobs of these hobs have a "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the temperature.
While gas hobs are still an option for many home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to warm up and cool down and their flame can be difficult to manage. However electric hobs are efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to meet your needs. It's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
On the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient from a energy point of view since there's no heat that is wasted.
There are a variety of models of an induction hob, from basic entry level ones with only one cooking zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones, allowing you to cook several pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Certain models have the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar in the middle to choose the desired heat level, left to right increases the heat and right-to-left decreases it. Some models have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are thought to be more energy efficient in the long run since they heat up faster and use a smaller space for heating up which can help lower your energy costs. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design without hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the house. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could affect medical devices, such as 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 need to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaner or invest in a professional one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for longer. Avoid using any abrasive cleaning product or a scouring pad on your stove since they could scratch the surface.