Types of Hobs
A hob, also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs, so you can choose one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with flat ceramic surfaces and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can easily be wiped down when spills or splatters happen. 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 the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of heat.
Electric hobs use plates that are heated by electric elements underneath. These elements can be controlled separately by rotary knobs and nipped to the power level you require. You can even utilize the boost feature to boost the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, and even after they have been turned off, they will be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in an area that is far from items that could ignite and away from children's reach.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up in a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and is an excellent option for those looking to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. Like any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's either the exact same size as the element, or that is able to fit in each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it will not recognise it and will not begin to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent results in cooking and makes the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs have a sleek and modern look. They can be more expensive than electric hobs, and could require professional installation. However, they heat up faster and a full pot of water can typically boil within less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a good choice for cooks who prefer to limit the amount of heat generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to accumulate grease and other residue.
One of the best examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs for a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also has an oblong wok ring with 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and modern cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob has two burners inside to improve heat distribution and accelerate cooking. It also comes with a handy power indicator that allows you to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-set settings, like the highest setting for sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.
Our testers also liked the controls because they were simple and easy to use. Some minor drawbacks are that you have to press the controls a further nine times before reaching the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.
This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. While it's not going to win any design awards but it can do the job well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functionality that is safer, quicker and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. They're made with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to smudges and scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature, which allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs cook your food directly with electromagnetic fields unlike more info traditional electric and gas plates. This means they are more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and can be costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that is a good option for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it has the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. However the glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much simpler to clean than the typical tempered glass. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for many home chefs, but they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take a while to heat up and cool down, and their flame can be difficult to manage. On the other hand electric hobs are efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.
For the highest level of modern technology, you can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, giving you the flexibility to adapt to your lifestyle. It is important to note, however, that these hobs will require installation by an accredited gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy point of view because there's no leftover heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone labelled by rings, to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves that can have up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously within a flex area. Certain models feature the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's 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. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient in the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating space which can reduce your energy costs. They cool faster and have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families that have children or elderly people. However, they can create a magnetic field which could interfere with some medical devices such as pacemakers so it is important to place your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your induction hob frequently, since food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your stove sparkling and in good order for longer. Just be sure to never use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.