Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs feature an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs oven have an elegant and contemporary look that can enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient, which can reduce your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you have to cook something that requires a rapid decrease or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via rotary knobs. You can even use the boost feature to boost the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch even after being turned off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a location that is far from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.
This kind of hob can be installed on a variety worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and is a great option if you want 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 extremely sensitive to pan size and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's either the exact same dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it won't recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs are sleek and contemporary in design. While they can be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who wish to control how much heat is generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they are more likely to accumulate grease and sludge.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal to create a sleek, elegant look. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring for added versatility, plus dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easier to keep clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings to the left of the hob has the double inner flame to ensure even heat distribution which speeds up cooking times. It also features an easy-to-read power level indicator that allows you to control the precise temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine pre-set settings, like a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.
Its simple yet easy-to-use controls were also appreciated by our testers, who found them to be very simple to use. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you need to physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest level of heating and it can be difficult to determine the status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are available at an affordable price. It's not likely to win any design awards but it'll serve its purpose and be a great option for your kitchen at just above 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are many electric hobs that work for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, more efficient and energy-efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They are designed with an elegant glazed finish and have an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost function that allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan, and could be expensive to put in.
A gas on glass hob is a second option that's an excellent option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features a burner beneath the glass is a flat layer. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also have a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is heated.
Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for many home chefs, but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and can take some time to heat up and cool off. Electric hobs, on the other side, are more efficient in energy use and easy to clean.
There are electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to fit your lifestyle. It's important to note, however, that these stoves will require installation by a registered gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're not suitable for those with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field may interfere 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 pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy point of view because there's no leftover heat that is wasted.
There are many models of induction stoves starting with the basic models with a single zone identified by rings up to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously in one flex space. Certain models have 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 even 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 term. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating space which can reduce the cost of energy. They also cool faster and have a more secure design without hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or elderly people who live in the house. However, they create magnetic fields that could cause interference with medical devices such as pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your stove clean and in good shape for a longer time. You should never use the abrasive cleaning products or the scratching pads on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.