Blog entry by Lonnie Cundiff
Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best fits your kitchen and your style.
Induction hobs are equipped with flat ceramic surfaces and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs offer modern and sleek design that can really enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your electricity bills. Ceramic ovens hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires quick decrease or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs utilize a solid plate that is heated by electric elements under. They can be controlled individually with rotary knobs, and then tacked to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, and even after they've been shut off, they'll be hot to the touch. This could be a problem for families with children, so it's recommended to install them in an area which is far from any flammable items and out of reach of children.
This type of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be a great option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. Like all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to pan size and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's exactly the same size as the element, or that can fit comfortably into each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it will not recognize it and won't start to heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern look. While they be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up - it's not unusual for a full pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to accumulate grease and residue.
This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners that are matte black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass with cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left of the hob offers a double inner flame to improve uniform heat distribution and increases cooking time. It also features an excellent power level indicator, which allows you to control the exact 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 test participants also liked the controls as they were simple and intuitive. A few minor drawbacks include 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 status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the best ovens gas-on-glass hobs available at an affordable price. While it's not going to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functionality that is safer, quicker and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. These Hobs Oven (Fewpal.Com) have an elegant glazed finish and have an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature that allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.
Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs 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.
A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that's a great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath the glass, which is flat, like a traditional gas stove. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempering glass. A lot of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks, but they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take time to heat up and cool down and their flame can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs, on the other hand are more energy efficient and easier to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern technology You can also find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to fit your needs. But, it's important to remember that these stoves must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils create an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a stove, the coils generate magnetic fields that create heat directly inside the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely energy efficient, as they don't use any heat.
There are a variety of models of an induction hob starting from basic ones with one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones and allow you to cook several pots at once on a flex zone. Some of these models have a touch slider control that resembles to the way you use on an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired temperature, left to right increases the heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models have preset settings for specific food types or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient over the long run. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating space which can lower the cost of energy. They cool down faster and also have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with elderly or children. They do, however, create an electric force that could interfere with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.
As with all electric hobs you will have to clean your electric hob regularly, as food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can make use of a basic oven cleaner or purchase a specialist one to keep your oven in good shape and shiny for a longer time. Be sure to not use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.