Types of Hobs

A hob, also referred to as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using flames or electricity. There are several different types of hobs available, so you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.

Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.

Ceramic ovens hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and are able to be cleaned when spills or splatters happen. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient which means they can cut down on your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing the temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you need to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of the heat.

Electric hobs use an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted individually by the rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they are turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is far from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.

This kind of hob can be used on a variety of worktops, including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a lot. Like all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. You'll need to buy cookware that's the exact size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element will not recognise it and will not begin to heat the base of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas-powered glass hobs and ovens have a sleek, modern aesthetic. While they can cost more than electric models and require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to come to a boil in four minutes or less. This kind of hob works well for cooks who need to control how much heat is generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to accumulate grease and residue.

This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners that are matte black with metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated appearance. It also has an oblong wok ring with 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean.

This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual rings that are located to the left of the hob uk offers an inner flame that doubles to ensure even heat distribution which speeds up cooking times. It also has an excellent power level indicator that allows you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including a high setting for searing a steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.

The simple and intuitive controls were liked by our testers who found them to be extremely easy to use. A few minor issues are that you must press the controls nine times before reaching the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.

Some of the top gas-on-glass hobs are available for affordable prices, such as this Neff model. It's not going to win any design prizes however it's going to do the job and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They're not only elegant 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 an elegant glazed finish and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They also come with a power booster function which allows you to boost the heat for a short duration.

Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs cook your food directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a certain kind of pan to work with them and can be costly to set up.

Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. However the glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which informs you when the oven is hot.

While gas hobs remain an option that is popular with home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and take a long time to get hot and cool off. In contrast electric hobs are efficient in energy use and easier to clean.

There are even electric stoves that work with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a specific 6mm cable in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for those with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils which run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely energy efficient, as they don't squander heat.

There are a variety of models of induction stoves from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone identified by rings up to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones that allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these models come with a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired temperature, left to right boosts heat and right to left reduces it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food items that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction ovens hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more efficient in the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating which can lower your energy costs. They cool quicker, and they have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with children or elderly people. They do, however, create an electric force that could cause interference with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.

Like all electric Hobs Oven you'll need to keep your induction hob clean, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your stove sparkling and in good order for longer. Be sure to not use scrubbers or scouring pads on your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.