Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electric power or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs available, so you can choose one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic surface and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek appearance. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can quickly be cleaned when spills or splatters happen. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient and can lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you have to cook something that requires quick decrease or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs are made of a solid plate that is heated by electric elements under. The elements can be controlled individually using rotary knobs and notched up to the level of power you require. You can even use the 'boost' feature to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, and even after they are turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from flammable items and away from children's reach.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be installed in a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a lot. But, as with all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we would recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. It is essential to purchase cookware that matches the element exactly or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element will not recognize it and won't begin to heat up the base of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas-powered glass hobs have a sleek, modern aesthetic. They are more expensive than electric hobs, and may require professional installations. However, they heat up faster - an entire pot of water can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of hob works well for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they are more likely to accumulate grease and sludge.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal to create a sleek, elegant finish. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring for added versatility, plus dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easy to clean.
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 has two burners inside to improve the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also comes with an excellent power level indicator, which assists in regulating the precise temperature of your flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including the highest setting for searing steak and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls, as they were simple and intuitive. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you need to press the controls a further nine times before reaching the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are available at an affordable price. It's not going to win any design awards however it's going to serve its purpose and be a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just over PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functions that are safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. They are designed with sleek glazed finishes, and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost function which lets you increase the temperature of your stove for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means they are more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. However they require a certain kind of pan to work and can be costly to install.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that is a good choice for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it has an oven that is surrounded by an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is heated.
Gas hobs are a popular choice for many home chefs however they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take a long time to warm up and cool down. Electric hobs, on the other side are more energy efficient and easier to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that work with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. But, it's important to keep in mind that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils run an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils generate magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, instead of heating the surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are energy efficient, as they don't squander heat.
There are a myriad of models of an induction hob starting from basic ones that have a single cooking zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones, allowing you to cook several pots simultaneously on one flex zone. Some of these models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to how you operate an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to food items or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are believed to be more energy efficient in the long run since they heat up quicker and have a smaller area for heating up which can help lower your energy costs. They also cool down quicker and feature a safer design with no hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or older people living in the home. However, they do generate an electric force that could affect certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
As with Our Site will have to clean your electric hob regularly, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can opt for a specialist product to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. Just be sure to never use scrubbers or pads for scouring on your induction hob since they could scratch the surface.