Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, so you can choose one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs offer an elegant and contemporary look that can enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and are able to be cleaned up if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your electricity bills. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to change the temperature and can be a hassle when cooking something that requires an instant reduction or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs use a solid plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. The power of each element can be individually adjusted through rotating knobs. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to increase the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even when they've been shut off, they will still be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in an area that is far from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be installed on a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be a great option if you want to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. However, like all appliances they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You'll need to buy cookware that is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it won't recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs are sleek and contemporary in design. Although they may cost more than electric ones and require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up. It's not unusual for a full pan of water to be boiling in four minutes or less. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel ones and may require cleaning more often, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain instead of slipping off.
This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is an attractive slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left side of the gas hob provides a double inner burner to increase heat distribution and speed up cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator, which assists in regulating the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including the high setting for searing steaks and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
The simple and easy-to-use controls were also loved by our test subjects who found them to be extremely easy to use. Some minor disadvantages are the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest heating level and 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 that you can buy at a reasonable price. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be an ideal addition to your kitchen for just over PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They are not only elegant and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. These hobs are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a short time.
Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a certain kind of pan to work and are costly to set up.
Glass hobs with gas are a different option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under an unidirectional glass layer similar to a conventional gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs have a "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.
Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for a lot of 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 hard to control. Electric hobs on the other hand, are more efficient in energy use and are easier to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, so you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. It's important to note that these stoves will need to be installed by an accredited gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Under the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that generate an electrical current that varies. When Home Page -compatible plate is placed on the hob the coils generate magnetic fields which directly heat the pan rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from a energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of an induction hob that range from basic models that have only one cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that have up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Certain models have the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar located in the middle to select the desired level of heat left to right increases heat and right-to-left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to food items or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are believed to be more efficient over the long term as they heat up much quicker and have a smaller surface to heat up which could help reduce your energy bills. They also cool down quicker and feature a safer design that doesn't have hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or older people living in the house. However, they do produce magnetic fields that could affect medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean, as food and debris can build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to help keep your hob sparkling and in good order for a longer time. It is not recommended to use the abrasive cleaning products or the scouring pad on your induction stove since they could scratch the surface.