Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans with electric power or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, and you can choose one that fits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs come with flat ceramic surfaces and 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 provide a sleek and modern look that can really enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, so spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient and can lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires quick decrease or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted through rotating knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, so 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 install them in a place that is well away from any flammable items and away from young children.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be put in in a variety of worktops, such as laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and can be a great option for those looking to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. Like all appliances, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs will be safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either the exact same dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, it won't recognise it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have modern, sleek design. Although they may be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation, they often require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a full pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a great option for cooks who prefer to regulate the amount of heat produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to accumulate grease and sludge.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated appearance. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob provides an inner burner that doubles to increase heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an excellent power level indicator that assists in regulating the precise temperature of your flame. You can choose between nine pre-set settings, like the highest setting for sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.
Its simple yet intuitive controls were loved by our test subjects who found them be extremely easy to use. Some minor issues are that you have to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level and it can be difficult to discern the status of the burners through the glass.
Some of the best gas on glass hobs are available at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. It's not going to win any design awards, but it will do the job and can be a great addition to your kitchen for just more than PS120.
Electric hobs
There are many electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They are not only sleek and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. 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 typically equipped with a power boost feature which lets you increase the heat of your cooker for a brief period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific type of pan to function and are costly to install.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that's a great choice for modern homes. It has a burner underneath a flat glass layer, similar to a conventional gas stove. However it's heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much easier to clean than standard tempered glass. Many of these hobs also have a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is heated.
Gas hobs are a popular option for many home cooks However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and takes a long time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs on the other side are more efficient in energy use and easy to clean.
There are even electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, so you'll be able to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these stoves must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a specific 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils create an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a stove, the coils generate magnetic fields that create heat directly within 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 use any heat.
There are many different models of an induction hob that range from basic models that have only one cooking zone with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch slider control that looks very similar to how you operate an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models 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 efficient in the long term. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating area which could reduce your energy costs. They cool down faster, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with children or elderly residents. They do, however, create an electric force that could interfere with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.
Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your hob sparkling and in good check here order for a longer time. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the a scouring pad on your stove since they could scratch the surface.