Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electric or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that is best oven suited to your kitchen and design.

Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic surface and a range of four or Hobs Oven 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 provide modern and sleek design that can really enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They are fast to heat up and are energy-efficient which means they can cut down on your electric bill. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow in changing temperatures and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires immediate reduction or increase in heat.

Electric hobs utilize an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements under. These elements can be individually controlled by rotary knobs and nipped up to the level of power you require. You can even use the 'boost' feature to boost the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, and even after they have been turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.

This kind of hob can be used on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be a great option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. However, just like any other appliance, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, so we suggest hiring an electrician professional to ensure that your new hobs are safe for use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. It is essential to purchase cookware that either matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element won't recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for modern, sleek design. Although they may be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation, they typically require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who wish to control how much heat is produced. However, it must be observed that a glass-based hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel models and will need to be cleaned more often, since the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain instead of slipping off.

This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners finished in matt black, with control knobs mirectly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a particular type of pan to function and can be costly to set up.

Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, like a traditional gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs have an "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.

Gas hobs remain a popular choice for many home chefs however they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take an extended time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs on the other side are more energy efficient and are easier to clean.

There are even electric stoves that work with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, providing you with the flexibility you need to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field may interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Under the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that generate an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob the coils create magnetic fields that heat the pan directly instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs Oven are extremely efficient from an energy perspective, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.

There are a variety of models of induction stoves starting with the basic models with a single zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to six zones that allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that resembles to how you operate on an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar at the middle to select the desired level of heat left to right boosts heat and right-to-left decreases it. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are believed to be more efficient over the long term because they heat up faster and have a smaller area to heat up, which can help reduce your energy bills. They cool quicker and also are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with children or elderly people. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could interfere with some medical devices such as pacemakers so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

As with all electric hobs you'll need to clean your induction hob regularly, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can either use a standard oven and hob cleaning product or invest in a specialist one to keep your hob and oven in good shape and shiny for longer. Make sure you don't use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction hob since they can scratch the surface.