Types of Hob and Oven

A oven and hob is an essential part of many kitchens and can come in a variety of designs. You can mix different types, like gas and electric to meet your requirements.

A hob may also have safety features like child and control of the position. These features can stop children from accidentally changing the temperature setting or touching the hob.

Types

The hob is the central point of any kitchen and can have a significant impact on the final outcome of your cooking. However, there are a number of different kinds of hobs, and the one you select will depend on what your particular cooking requirements are.

Gas hobs are a popular option. They are quick to heat up and respond instantly to temperature changes. Professional chefs favor them because they offer precise control. They aren't as simple as other hobs to clean and could require more frequent maintenance.

Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface with heated elements beneath. They are available in a variety of sizes with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has a separate heating element that you can control separately. This lets you boil potatoes on one ring and cooking sausages in a different. This type of hob is able to be faster to heat than gas and offers an option for children to be safe because the cooking zone is only heated when you place a pot on it.

Ceramic hobs are a fashionable and user-friendly alternative to gas and electric hobs. They have a smooth, durable surface that is easy to clean, but they aren't as fast at responding to temperature changes like other hobs, and may be slower to cool down.

The Domino hob is a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs. It incorporates ovens under the cooking surface. They can be incorporated into smaller kitchens with small installation space and work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are often cheaper than standard hobs, and can be energy-efficient, but they are also susceptible to damage and require greater maintenance.

Gas

Gas hobs are cooktops equipped with burners that are easily integrated into the kitchen countertop to give a seamless appearance. They are usually powered by natural or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but can also be powered by propane gas. They are modern and sleek design that can give a sophisticated touch to your modular kitchen.

A traditional gas stove comes with a number of burners. Usually there are four, but there can be up to six. The burners can be ignited by a match or a knob. The flames are controlled by an array of valves that can be adjusted to regulate temperature.

Contrary to this, modern gas hobs with built-in gas are equipped with multi-flame burners that let you manage the outer and inner ring of each burner to control your cooking. These types of burners allow for much faster heat up times and are more reliable than traditional ones.

In the past, it was essential to keep a gas burner lit continuously to ensure that the burners are constantly fueled and hot. This was a security feature to avoid accidents like accidentally turning on the oven while the stove was still lit by a match or the pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They come with a built-in fire failure device that shuts down the burners immediately should the pilot light fail.

Gas stoves and hobs must be checked, cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. To do this, you should make an appointment with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only to ensure that your appliance functions properly, but will also offer expert advice on how to prevent any future issues.

Electric

A good hob is just as crucial when it comes to making the perfect kitchen. Worktops, refrigerators freezers, and ovens are the first things that come to the mind. The type of hob you select will influence the way your kitchen operates and how easy it is to clean.

Electric hobs have heating elements under the glass surface, which is typically cleaned with an non-abrasive cleaner. The elements turn on when you turn on the hob and can be adjusted to various power levels by turning or clicking the control knob. It can take them some time to get heated up however once they are heated, they tend to provide more stable and reliable temperature control. They have built-in indicators that tell you whether a space is hot or not.

They are available in four to six different sizes and can be notch-up to different power levels. They are ideal for cookware with a flat base, but aren't the best hob option for cast iron pans since they can overheat. Certain models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs that let you cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Certain models come with a Boost function that concentrates high heat into one ring. This is great for stirring-frying, searing meat or boiling large pots.

Induction hobs are different from standard electric models because they use electromagnetic fields instead of conventional gas flames to cook your food. This allows them to reach precise temperatures in a shorter time frame, which makes them highly energy efficient. They have a cool-to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that inform you if a ring has been used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramic is an ingredient that can be made into functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders, and water, and firing it in a high temperature oven hob known as a Kiln. After it's formed, it can then be coated or painted with decorative materials to add texture and colour.

Ceramic hobs are a beautiful combination of form and function, sitting comfortably in any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat the ceramic hobs by passing an electrical current through coiled components which are hidden beneath the black glass surface. They produce heat when activated. This is then transferred to the pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the degree of heating by using the knobs or touch controls.

Certain ceramic hobs have dual ring designs, with one smaller and one larger cooking zone, allowing you to choose the best hob size for your pan. There are hobs that have boosters that create powerful heat quickly. This is great for searing food or bringing pans to boil quickly.

Ceramic cooktops are more energy efficient than other kinds of hobs due to the fact that they take longer to heat up and switch temperatures. You can also find vented cooktops that incorporate a ventilation system within the ceramic cooktop, ensuring the cooking smells don't stay in your home.

Induction

The heating elements inside induction hobs consist of a set of copper wire coils under the surface that create electromagnets that heat the pans sat on them. The coils agitate the free electrons inside the base of your pan, which then transmits heat uniformly and directly to your food. The surface of the hob never gets hot and, when you take off your pan the cooking zones are turned off automatically.

Induction hobs are typically more expensive than other hobs however, they're also more efficient to heat and use 30-70% less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. They are also easier to clean, because the surface of the hob doesn't get hot and only the contents of the pan do.

Certain manufacturers offer a specific induction model that has additional features such as a pause function that shuts off the power to your cooker when you step away from it, or connect two cooking rings at the same power level for added flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models but they're worth a look if you like to multitask.

Our favorite is this induction hob made by Smeg, which has four cooking zones that are large enough that have a bridge function, as well as nine power levels that give you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. In our tests, it performed very well with precise control and quick heating when making pancakes. The oven comes with dishwasher built-in, as well as automatic pan detection, which makes cleaning easier. The only problem is that there are only a few compatible pans, and you cannot use it to cook using utensils with magnetic bases. It can be a problem when you have a large amount of cookware that is not compatible or only a small portion of it is compatible with induction hobs.