Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best fits your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you need to cook something that requires a quick decrease or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted through the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, and even after they've been shut off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge for families with children, so it's advisable to place them in a location that is well away from any flammable items and away from little ones.
This type of hob can be used on a variety of worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and is a great alternative if you are looking to replace your stove without spending a lot. Like all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's exactly the same dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, it won't recognise it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern appearance. They can be more expensive than electric hobs, and could require professional installation. However they heat up faster - the water in a full pot can often boil in less than four minutes. This kind of hob is also a good choice for cooks who prefer to regulate the amount of heat generated. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to accumulate grease and residue.
One of the best examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob provides an inner burner that doubles to increase the distribution of heat and speed up cooking. It also has a handy power indicator that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-set settings, like high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.
Its simple yet intuitive controls were appreciated by our testers who found them to be very simple to use. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest heating level, and that it can be difficult to determine the status of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass hobs available at an affordable price. It's not going win any design awards however it's going to serve its purpose and be a fantastic option for your kitchen at just more than 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are many electric hobs that work for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that fits in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functionality that is safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're made with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature which lets you increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a certain type of pan to function and can be costly to set up.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that's a great choice for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under an unidirectional glass layer similar to a standard gas stove. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than standard tempered glass. A lot of these hobs have a "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.
Gas hobs remain a preferred option for many home cooks however they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to cool down and warm down and their flames can be difficult to control. In contrast electric hobs are efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.
For the ultimate in modern technology You can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, providing you with the flexibility needed to meet your needs. It is important to note, however, that these hobs will require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and require an appropriate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils create an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are energy efficient, as they don't use any heat.
There are a myriad of models of induction more info stoves starting with the basic models with a single zone labelled by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that have up to six zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked within a flex area. Some of these premium models feature a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar in the middle to choose the desired heat level, left to right increases heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for certain recipes or food types, which can save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are thought to be more energy efficient over the long term since they heat up faster and have a smaller area to heat up, which can help you save on energy bills. They also cool faster and have a safer design without hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or older people who live in the house. However, they can create a magnetic field which could interfere with some medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
As with all electric hobs you will have to clean your induction hob on a regular basis, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can either employ a standard oven cleaning product or invest in a specialist one to keep your stove in good shape and shiny for longer. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or scratching pads on your induction stove as they may scratch the surface.