Types of Hobs

A hob, also referred to as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans with flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs, so you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs come with flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and come with four or five zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs offer a sleek and modern look which can greatly improve the overall look of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your energy bills. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of temperature.

Electric hobs utilize plates that are heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted individually through rotating knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, so even when they've been shut off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge when you have children, so it's advisable to only install them in a place which is far from objects that are flammable and out of reach of little ones.

The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be installed on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and can be a great option if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they must be properly installed and connected to the mains, so we suggest 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. You'll need to buy cookware that is either the exact size as the element or that can fit comfortably into each of the heating zones 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 can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs and ovens

Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for modern, sleek design. They can be more expensive than electric hobs, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster and the water in a full pot will typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of hob works well for cooks who want to control how much heat is produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and sludge.

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

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the hob offers a double inner flame to ensure even heat distribution which accelerates cooking time. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator, which helps to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine preset settings, including the highest setting for sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled eggs.

Its simple yet intuitive controls were also well appreciated by our testers, who found them to be very simple to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you must 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 among the top gas-on glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. While it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over 120 dollars.

Electric hobs

There are a variety of electric hobs that are perfect for modern households. Not only do they offer a sleek design that fits into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer modern technology that is safer, faster and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. These hobs have sleek glazed finishes, and feature a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function which lets you increase the heat of your cooker for a brief period of time.

Induction hobs are yet another electric best hob uk that is perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and could be expensive to put in.

A gas on glass hob uk is another option that's a great choice for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with an best oven uk that is surrounded by the glass is a flat layer. However it's heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the oven is hot.

While gas hobs are still a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take an extended time to heat up and cool off. 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, providing you with the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these stoves will require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish 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 an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs are energy efficient, as they don't squander heat.

There are a variety of models of induction stoves, starting with the basic models with a single zone marked by rings up to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to six zones that allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously on one flex area. Certain models come with a touch-slider control that looks very similar to the way you operate an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models 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 energy efficient in the long run. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating area which can lower the cost of energy. They also cool faster and have a more secure design that doesn't have hot plates, making them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the house. However, they can create magnetic fields that could cause interference with medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean regularly since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to help keep your hob shiny and in good condition for a longer time. Just be sure to never use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads for scouring on your induction hob since they could scratch the surface.