Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that is best suited to your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic surface and a range of four or five 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 can give your kitchen a modern, sleek design. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower your electric bill. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow in changing temperature settings, which can be frustrating when cooking something that requires immediate reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs are made of plates that are heated by electric elements beneath. They can be controlled individually with rotary knobs, and then tacked to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even when they have been turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a place that is away from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be set up on a variety worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and is a great alternative if you are looking to replace your old stoves without spending a large amount of money. However, like all appliances they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains, so we would recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure your new hobs are safe for use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need to buy cookware that matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, the element won't recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven results in cooking and makes the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern appearance. They can be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating - a full pot of water can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of hob works well for cooks who need to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it must be not forgotten that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel models and will likely require cleaning more often, since the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stick instead of slipping off.
A great example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated look. It also comes with the wok ring that has 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual rings on the left of the hob has a double inner flame to improve even heat distribution, which in turn speeds up cooking times. It also has an excellent power level indicator, which helps to regulate the exact temperature of your flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for searing steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
The simple and intuitive controls were liked by our testers who found them to be very simple to use. Some minor drawbacks are that 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 top gas-on glass hobs that are available at a low cost. While it's not going to win any design awards but it can do the job well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. Best place to buy oven and hob do they have a sleek design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. They're constructed with a sleek glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges or scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature which allows you to boost the heat for a brief period of time.
Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a particular kind of pan to function and are costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is another option that is a good option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath the glass, which is flat, similar to a standard gas stove. However the glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much simpler to clean than standard glass that's tempered. A lot of these hobs have an "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the heat.
While gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and can take an extended time to warm up and cool down. In contrast, 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 a variety of fuels, providing you with the flexibility you need to meet your needs. It's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils that run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils produce magnetic fields which directly heat the pan instead of heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely energy efficient, as they don't squander heat.
There are a variety of models of an induction hob, from basic entry level ones that have one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that can have up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously in one flexible zone. 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 swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have preset settings for specific recipes or food types that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are thought to be more efficient over the long term since they heat up quicker and use a smaller space for heating up which can help reduce your energy bills. They also cool faster and have a more secure design with no hot plates, making them perfect for families with young children or elderly persons living in the house. However, they create magnetic fields that can affect medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean regularly because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can employ a standard oven cleaner or invest in a professional one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for a longer time. Be sure to not use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.