Lonnie Cundiff

Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek look. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can lower the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you are cooking something that requires quick decrease or an increase in the heat.

Electric hobs consist of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually through the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic Hobs oven also have a extremely high degree of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch even after being shut off. This can be a challenge for families with children, so it's best hobs to install them in a place that is well away from flammable objects and out of reach of little ones.

The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be set up in a variety of worktops, such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and is a great alternative if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. As with all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.

The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to pan size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that either matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't fit the element, it will not recognize it and won't begin to heat up the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for an elegant, modern look. They can be more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However they heat up faster and a full pot of water can typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of hob is also a great option for cooks who prefer to regulate the amount of heat generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to build up grease and other residue.

A fantastic example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob offers a double inner flame to ensure uniform heat distribution which speeds up cooking times. It also has an easy-to-read power level indicator, which helps to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-set settings, like a high setting to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled eggs.

Our test subjects also appreciated the controls because they were easy to use and intuitive. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you need to press the controls nine more times to reach the highest heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

This Neff model is among the best gas-on-glass hobs available at an affordable price. While it's unlikely to win any design awards but it can do the job well ovens and hobs is an ideal addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

There are many electric hobs that work for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer modern technology that is safer, quicker and more efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface resistant to scratches or smudges. These hobs also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a brief duration.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. However, they require a specific type of pan to work and can be costly to install.

Gas on glass hobs are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features a burner beneath the glass is a flat layer. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than the typical glass that's tempered. A lot of these hobs have a "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the heat.

Gas hobs are 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 some time to warm up and cool down. Electric hobs, on other hand, are more efficient in energy use and are easier to clean.

You can even find electric stoves that work with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to adapt to your lifestyle. It is important to remember that these hobs require the installation of an approved gas safe engineer. They also require an appropriate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Copper coils create an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.

There are a myriad of models of induction stoves from the basic ones with a single zone labelled by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones that allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously in one flex space. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to how you operate on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have preset settings for certain food items or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more energy efficient in the long term. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller heating space which can reduce the cost of energy. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design without hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or older people living in the house. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could interfere with some medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your electric hob regularly, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either make use of a basic oven and hob cleaning product or invest in a specialist one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for a longer time. It is not recommended to use abrasive cleaning products or scouring pad on your induction stove as they may scratch the surface.