Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electricity or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that is best suited to your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and come with five or four zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek appearance. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your electricity bills. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to change temperatures and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires an instant reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made of an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted individually via rotating knobs. You can also use the 'boost' feature in order to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even after they have been turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. This can be a problem when you have children, so it's recommended to only install them in a location which is far from objects that are flammable and away from little ones.
This kind of hob is able to be installed on a variety worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be a great option if you want to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. As with all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. It is essential to purchase cookware that matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions 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 stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer an elegant, modern look. Although they may cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to come to a boil within four minutes or less. This kind of stove is also a great choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being produced. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to accumulate grease and other residue.
A fantastic example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated look. It also comes with an oblong wok ring with 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob provides a double inner burner to increase the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also has an excellent power level indicator, which helps to regulate the exact temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled egg.
Our testers also liked the controls, as they were simple and easy to use. A few minor issues are that you need to press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
A few of the top gas on glass hobs are available for affordable prices like this Neff model. While it's unlikely to be a winner of 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 many electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They're not only sleek and stylish, but they are also safer, faster, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. They are designed with a sleek glazed finish, and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a brief time.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a particular kind of pan to function and can be expensive to install.
Glass hobs with gas are a great alternative for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, like a traditional gas stove. However it's shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
Gas hobs remain a popular option for many home cooks However, they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take time to heat up and cool down and their flame can be hard to control. On the other hand electric Hobs Oven are energy-efficient and simpler 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 different fuels, allowing you the flexibility needed to fit your lifestyle. It's important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're also 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 plate is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields which heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are very energy efficient, as they don't squander heat.
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 with up to 6 zones that allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously in one flex space. Some of these premium models have a touch slider control that resembles to the way you operate an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar located in the middle to select the desired level of heat, left to right increases heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models have preset settings for specific food items or recipes which can help you save time 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 as they heat up much quicker and have a smaller surface to heat up which could help lower your energy costs. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design that doesn't have hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with children or elderly people living in the home. However, they create magnetic fields that could cause interference with medical devices, such as pacemakers, therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your electric hob clean since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your hob sparkling and in good order for a longer time. Be sure to not use the abrasive cleaning pads or scouring pads on your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.