Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electric or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, so you can pick one that fits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic cooking surface and have four or 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 can give your kitchen a modern, sleek look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be wiped down if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your electricity bills. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow in changing temperature settings, which can be frustrating if you're cooking something that requires immediate reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs utilize an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted individually through rotating knobs. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature in order to increase the temperature of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high rate of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch even after being turned off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is away from flammable items and out of reach of children.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be set up in a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent option if you want to replace your old stoves without spending a large amount of money. Like all appliances, they must be properly installed 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 very sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either the exact same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it won't recognize it and won't begin to heat up the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer a sleek, modern aesthetic. They can be more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster - a full pot of water can typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of stove works well for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it must be noted that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel ones and will require cleaning more often, since grease and residue build up tends to stay on the surface rather than slide off.
This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners in matt black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated finish. It also has a 4kW wok ring for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass with cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left of the hob has a double inner flame to improve even heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator that allows you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, such as a high setting to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.
Our test participants also liked the controls as they were simple and easy to use. Some minor disadvantages are the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest temperature, and that it can be difficult to discern the status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs that are available at a low cost. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, more efficient and efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. These hobs 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 function that allows you to increase the heat for a brief time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to work and can be costly to install.
A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that is a good choice for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it comes with the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs are equipped with the "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.
Gas hobs are a popular choice for a lot of home cooks however they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and take an extended time to warm up and cool down. Electric hobs, on other side, are more efficient in energy and are easier to clean.
There are electric stoves that work with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to adapt to your lifestyle. It is important to note, however, that these stoves will need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils create an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils create magnetic fields that direct heat the pan, rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are very energy efficient, as they don't use any heat.
There are a myriad of models of induction hobs, from basic entry level models that have only one cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that can have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Some of these premium models have a touch slider control that resembles to the way you operate an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired heat level left to right increases the heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are considered to be more efficient over the long term since they heat up faster and use a smaller space for heating up which can help lower your energy costs. They cool quicker and are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with children or elderly people. They do, however, create magnetic forces that can affect certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for a longer time. It is not recommended to use here abrasive cleaning products or scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.