Types of Hob and Oven

A hob and oven is an essential part of many kitchens and can come in a variety of designs. You can also mix different types like domino, electric and gas to suit your cooking needs.

Safety features such as the controls for child and position can be included in a hob. These can prevent children from touching the stove and hob and oven stop them changing the heat settings in error.

Types

The hob is the main focal element of any kitchen and has a huge impact on the final outcome of your cooking. There are a variety of hobs available, and which one you pick will depend on the cooking requirements you have.

Gas hobs provide a classic option. They are quick to heat up and react instantly to temperature changes. They are a preferred choice for chefs who are professional as they provide precise control. However, they are not as easy to clean as other hobs, and they may require a higher degree of maintenance.

Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface with heated elements beneath and are available in a variety of sizes with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with a distinct heating element which you can regulate individually. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring whilst making sausages in another. This type of hob is able to be faster to heat than gas and is a child-safe option since the cooking area is only heated when you place a pot on it.

Ceramic hobs are a chic and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have a smooth, hard-wearing surface that is easy to clean, but they aren't as fast at responding to temperature changes as other hobs and are slower to cool down.

Domino hobs are an alternative to electric and gas hobs that incorporate ovens hobs beneath the cooking surface. They can be incorporated into smaller kitchens with little space for installation and are suitable for kitchenettes and apartments. They are usually more affordable than standard hobs, and are energy efficient, however they are also susceptible to damage and require greater maintenance.

Gas

Gas hobs are cooktops equipped with burners that can be easily integrated into kitchen countertops to give a seamless appearance. They are typically used with natural or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but they can also be powered by propane gas. The sleek, modern design could bring sophistication to your kitchen space.

A traditional gas stove comes with various burners, usually 4 but sometimes as many as 6. They are ignited by either the use of a match or a knob. The flames can then be controlled by a set of valves which can be adjusted to regulate the temperature.

In contrast, most modern gas hobs that have built-in gas burners feature multi-flame burners that allow you to manage the outer and inner rings of each burner to control your cooking. These types of burners provide faster heat up times and are more reliable than the old-fashioned ones.

In the past, it was essential to keep a gas stove on constantly to ensure that the burners are always hot and fueled. This was a security feature to avoid any mishaps such as not turning off the oven and hob while the stove was still lit by a match or a the pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They include a built-in flame safety device that shuts off burners automatically should the pilot light fail.

Gas stoves and hobs need to be checked regularly, cleaned and maintained. To do this, you should arrange a visit with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only to ensure that your appliance is operating properly, but will also give you expert guidance on how to prevent any future issues.

Electricity

When it comes time to design your ideal kitchen, the countertops, fridge freezer and oven will always receive the most attention, however the quality of your hob is also essential. Whichever type you choose, traditional, induction or gas cooker the type of hob you choose will affect the way your kitchen functions and how easy it is to clean.

Electric hobs use heating elements that are placed on a smooth glass surface that's typically cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you turn on the oven and can be adjusted to various power levels using a control knob. They can take a little bit longer to get heated up however once they are heated, they are in place, they provide better and more consistent temperature control. They are equipped with indicators that tell you whether a space is hot or not.

These rings are available in a range of four to six sizes and can be notch-up up to different power levels. They are great for cookware with a flat base, but aren't the best ovens option for cast iron pans because they can get hot. Certain models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow you to boil water on one ring while you saute sausages on another. Some even have a 'boost' function that concentrates the power of high-powered heat into one ring for stir fry cooking, searing meat or boiling large pots of water.

Induction hobs differ from regular electric models due to the fact that they use electromagnetic fields instead of traditional gas flames to cook your food. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a smaller time frame, which makes them extremely energy efficient. They also have a cool-to-the-touch surface and flashing heat indicators to inform you that the ring is in use or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to create functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, and firing it in a hot oven uk called a Kiln. After it's formed, it can then be painted or covered with decorative materials in order to add texture and colour.

Ceramic hobs combine design and function to create a stunning piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat ceramic hobs through the passage of an electric current through coiled components that are hidden under the black glass surface. When they are activated, they produce heat, which is then transferred to your pan via an infrared heating system. You can alter the intensity of this heating by adjusting the controls via knobs or a touch.

Certain ceramic hobs feature dual rings, which have the smaller and the larger cooking area. This allows you to select the right size for your pan. You can also find hobs equipped with booster burners that generate high-powered heat rapidly ideal for searing meat or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly.

Compared to other types of cooktops, ceramic cooktops typically take longer to heat up and then change temperature however once they do, they're generally more energy-efficient. You can also choose vented hobs, which integrate ventilation systems with the ceramic cooktop. This ensures that smoke, steam, and cooking smells don't remain in your home.

Induction

The heating elements inside the induction hobs are a set of copper wire coils beneath the surface. They create electromagnets that heat the pans sitting on them. The coils stir up the free electrons in your pan's metal base and then transfer heat evenly and directly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot and the cooking zones are automatically turned off as soon as your pan is removed.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive, however they also get hotter faster and use 30-70% lower energy than gas or other types. Induction hobs are also simpler to clean because only the inside of the pan heat up but not the surface.

Certain manufacturers offer a specific induction model that has additional features, such as a pause feature that cuts off the power to your stove when you leave it, or link up two cooking rings at the same time at the same power level to provide additional flexibility. They are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models however, they're worth considering when multitasking is important to you.

This induction hob is our top pick. It comes with four cooking zones as well as a Bridge function and nine power settings, which gives you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. It did well in our test, with fast heating and accurate control when making pancakes. The hob also has an integrated dishwasher as well as an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning more simple. There is a limited selection of pans that are compatible, Hob and Oven and it can't be used to cook using the utensils with a magnetic base. This can be a challenge if you have a lot of non-compliant cookware, or just some of them are suitable for induction hobs.