Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans by using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that is best suited to your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs feature an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with four or five zones for heating your pans. hobs and ovens -operated designs are elegant and stylish, and 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 quickly be cleaned in the event of spills or splatters. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can help lower your electric bill. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow to adjust temperatures which can be a problem if you're cooking something that requires a quick reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high rate of heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch even after being shut off. This can be a problem for families with children, so it's recommended to only install them in an area that is away from flammable objects and away from young children.
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 can be an excellent option if you want to replace your stove without spending a large amount of money. Like all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs will be safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. It is essential to purchase cookware that is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, it won't recognise it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for modern, sleek design. They can be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installations. However they are also more efficient in heating as an entire pot of water will typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of stove is ideal for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is generated. However, it must be not forgotten that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel models and will likely require cleaning more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stick instead of sliding off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to create a sleek, elegant finish. It also has an oblong wok ring with 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. hob and oven to the left of the gas hob features a double inner burner to improve heat distribution and accelerate cooking. It also features an excellent power level indicator that assists in regulating the exact temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.
The simple, yet easy-to-use controls were also loved by our test subjects who found them be very simple to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you must press the controls nine more times to reach the highest heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.
Some of the best gas on glass hobs 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 for less than 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that work for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, more efficient and efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
One of the most well-known electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're constructed with a sleek glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges or scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function which lets you increase the temperature of your stove for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a particular type of pan to work with them and are costly to install.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a great alternative for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it features a burner beneath an underlying layer of flat glass. However, this glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than standard glass that's tempered. A lot of these hobs are equipped with the "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the heat.
Gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks, but they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take time to heat up and cool down and their flames can be difficult to manage. In contrast, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern efficiency You can also find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, allowing you the flexibility you need to fit your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
On the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly within the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy standpoint since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone labelled by rings up to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that have up to six zones that allow multiple pots to be cooked on one flex area. Some of these models feature the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar at the middle to select the desired heat level, left to right boosts heat and right-to-left decreases it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are thought to be more efficient in the long run since they heat up quicker and have a smaller area to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They cool down faster and have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with children or elderly people. However, they can create a magnetic field which could cause interference with medical devices like pacemakers so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaner or invest in a professional one to keep your hob in good condition and shining for longer. Make sure you don't use abrasive cleaners or pads for scouring on your induction hob as they can scratch the surface.