Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans by using electricity or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best suits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be cleaned up when spills or splatters happen. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you have to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of the heat.
Electric hobs are made of an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. The power of each element can be adjusted through the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high rate of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch even after being shut off. This could be a problem when you have children, so it's best to place them in a location that is away from any flammable items and not within reach of young children.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be installed on a variety of worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a large amount of money. As with oven hob , they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You will need to purchase cookware that either matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it won't recognize it and won't begin to heat the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are sleek and contemporary in look. They can be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installations. However, they heat up faster as an entire pot of water will typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of stove is ideal for cooks who want to control how much heat is produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and sludge.
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 an elegant and sophisticated look. The wok ring is 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is a stylish slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob offers the double inner flame to ensure even heat distribution which speeds up cooking times. It also features an indicator for power that helps you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings, including a high setting for searing steaks and an option for scrambled eggs.
The simple and easy-to-use controls were also liked by our testers, who found them to be very easy to use. Some minor disadvantages are the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest temperature and it can be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that are available at a low cost. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be an ideal addition to your kitchen for just over 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, quicker and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. These hobs are designed with 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 feature that allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short amount of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob perfect for modern homes. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific type of pan to function and can be costly to set up.
Gas on glass hobs are a great alternative for modern homes. It features a burner beneath the glass, which is flat, similar to a conventional gas stove. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much simpler to clean than tempered glass. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.
While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to heat up and cool down and their flames can be hard to manage. On the other hand, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.
There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to fit your needs. It's important to remember that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for those with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils run an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that heat the pan directly rather than heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy point of view since there's no heat that is wasted.
There are a variety of models of an induction hob starting from basic models that have only one cooking zone with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones, allowing you to cook several pots simultaneously in one flex zone. Certain models come with a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient over the long run. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller area for heating which could reduce the cost of energy. They cool faster, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with children or elderly people. However, they create magnetic fields that could cause interference with medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. ovens and hobs can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your hob sparkling and in good order for longer. Be sure to not use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads to scour your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.