Types of Hobs

A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are many different kinds of hobs available, so you can choose one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.

Induction hobs come with flat ceramic surfaces and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and ovens hobs fashionable, and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires quick decrease or an increase in the heat.

Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted by the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even when they are turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a location that is away from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.

The advantage 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 can be a great option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a large amount of money. As with all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

A downside of this type of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either exactly the same size as the element or that can fit comfortably into the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't match the element, it will not recognise it and won't begin to heat up the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. They can be more expensive than electric hobs, and may require professional installations. However they are also more efficient in heating - an entire pot of water will typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who need to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it must be noted that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel models and may require cleaning more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface rather than slide off.

One of the best examples of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual rings on the left of the hob features a double inner flame to promote improvement in even heat distribution which accelerates cooking time. It also comes with a handy power level indicator that assists in regulating the precise temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including a high setting for searing steaks and an option for scrambled eggs.

The simple and easy-to-use controls were also appreciated by our testers, who found them to be extremely easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you have to press the controls a further nine times to reach the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.

Some of the best gas on glass hobs can be found at an affordable price like this Neff model. It's not going win any design prizes, but it will perform the task and be a fantastic addition to your Kitchen innovation for just above 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

There are a number of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They're not just sleek and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. They're made with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. They also come with a power booster function that allows you to increase your heat for a short duration.

Induction hobs are yet another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a special kind of pan and can be costly to set up.

ovens hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a different option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it features a burner beneath an underlying layer of flat glass. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much simpler to clean than glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs are equipped with a "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.

Gas hobs are a popular 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 an extended time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs, on other side, are more efficient in energy and are easier to clean.

For the highest level of modern technology You can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to suit your lifestyle. It is important to note, however, that these stoves will require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and will require an appropriate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils run an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a stove, the coils generate magnetic fields that create heat directly inside the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy perspective, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.

There are many different models of induction hobs starting from basic ones with one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously on one flex zone. Certain models feature a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Certain models have preset settings for certain food types or recipes, which can save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more efficient in the long run. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller heating space which can reduce your energy bills. They also cool faster and have a more secure design that doesn't have hot plates, making them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the house. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could interfere with some 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 need to keep your induction hob clean because food and debris could build up over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your hob in good condition and shining for longer. Make sure you don't use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads to scour your induction hob as they can scratch the surface.