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 types of hobs. You can choose the one that best ovens and hobs suits your kitchen and style.

Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic cooking surface and include five or four zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs offer a sleek and modern look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They have a flat glass ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you have to cook something that requires quick reduction or increase of the heat.

Electric hobs are comprised of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via 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've been shut off, they will still be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from flammable items and out of reach of children.

This kind of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great option for those looking to replace your previous hobs without spending too much money. Like all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. You will need to purchase cookware that either 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 recognise it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs offer an elegant, modern look. They can be more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating as an entire pot of water can often boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a great option for cooks who like to control the amount of heat being produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to accumulate grease and sludge.

This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left side of the gas hob features a double inner burner to improve the distribution of heat and speed up cooking. It also features an excellent power level indicator that allows you to control the exact temperature of your flame. You can choose between nine preset settings, such as a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.

Our test subjects also appreciated the controls, as they were easy to use and oven with hob intuitive. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you need to press the controls nine 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 an affordable price. While it's not going to win any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, faster and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most well-known electric hobs oven is a ceramic glass hob. They're designed with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges and scratches. They also come with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a short duration.

Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However they require a particular kind of pan to work and can be costly to set up.

A gas on glass hob is a different option that's an excellent choice for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it comes with the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. However the glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than standard tempered glass. A majority of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which informs you when the oven hob is hot.

While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to warm up and cool down and their flame can be difficult to control. In contrast, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.

You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. But, it's important to keep in mind that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a 6mm cable in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Beneath the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that create heat directly in the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from a energy perspective since there's no heat being wasted.

There are many models of induction stoves, from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone marked by rings, Oven With Hob to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these premium models have a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs do 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 faster and have a smaller area for heating up which can help reduce your energy bills. They cool quicker, and they have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with elderly or children. They do, however, produce an electric force that could cause interference with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.

As with all electric hobs you will have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for longer. You should never use abrasive cleaning products or scratching pads on your induction stove as they may scratch the surface.