Herbert Printz

Types of Hobs

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

Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic cooking surface and include five or four zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are elegant and chic and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs provide a sleek and modern look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your energy bills. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow in changing temperatures and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires an instant reduction or increase in temperature.

Electric hobs utilize an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. The power of each element can be adjusted by rotary knobs. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature in order to increase the temperature of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have a extremely high degree of heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch even after being shut off. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.

The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be installed on a variety worktops, including laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and can be a great option if you're looking to replace your previous hobs without spending too much money. But, as with all appliances, they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.

The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's either exactly the same size as the element or that will fit comfortably inside each heating zone on the best hob uk. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element will not recognise it and won't start to heat up the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs offer a sleek, modern aesthetic. They can be more expensive than electric hobs, and may require professional installations. However they heat up faster as the water in a full pot can often boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob also works well for cooks who need to control how much heat is generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and residue.

This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners finished in matt black, with control knobs made of metal to give it a chic, sophisticated appearance. The wok ring is 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob provides a double inner burner to increase the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an excellent power level indicator, which allows you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings, including the high setting for searing a steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.

The simple and intuitive controls were also well appreciated by our testers who found them to be extremely easy to use. A few minor issues are that you must press the controls nine more times before reaching the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

Some of the top gas on glass hobs oven are available for affordable prices like this Neff model. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards, it does the job well and can be an ideal addition to your kitchen at just 120 dollars.

Electric hobs

There are many electric hobs that work for modern households. 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 energy-efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. These hobs are designed with sleek glazed finishes, and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature which allows you to boost your heat for a short duration.

Induction hobs are a different electric hob perfect for modern homes. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan best ovens and hobs uk can be costly to install.

Gas on glass hobs are a great alternative for modern homes. It has a burner underneath the glass, which is flat, similar to a conventional gas stove. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's easier to clean than the typical glass that's tempered. Many of these hobs also include a 'hot-surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.

While gas hobs are still an option that is popular with home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and can take an extended time to get hot and cool off. On the other hand, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.

For the highest level of modern efficiency, you can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, providing you with the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. It's important to keep in mind that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a 6mm cable in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

On the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a stove, the coils produce magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.

There are many different models of induction hobs starting from basic models that have one cooking zone that is with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously on one flex zone. Some of these models come with the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are thought to be more energy efficient in the long run as they heat up much faster and use a smaller space to heat up, which can help lower your energy costs. They cool down faster, and they are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with children or elderly residents. However, they do generate magnetic forces that can cause interference with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean, because food and debris could build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or you can opt for 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 for scouring on your induction hob since they can scratch the surface.