Types of Hobs
A hob, also referred to as stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best fits your kitchen and style.
Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic cooking surface and come with five or four zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek design. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient which means they can cut down on your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you have to cook something that requires a quick decrease or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs utilize plates that are heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted via rotating knobs. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even after they've been shut off, they will be hot to the touch. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's advisable to place them in a location which is far from objects that are flammable and out of reach of little ones.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be put in in a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be an excellent alternative if you are looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot of money. But, as with all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we suggest hiring an electrician professional to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. You will need to purchase cookware that either matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in all of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't match the element, it will not recognise it and will not begin to heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. While they can be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who need to control the amount of heat that is generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require more frequent cleaning because they tend to accumulate grease and other residue.
This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners finished in matt black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated look. It also has an oblong wok ring with 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left of the gas hob provides two burners inside to improve heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also features an excellent power level indicator, which helps to regulate the exact temperature of your flame. You can select from nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.
The simple and intuitive controls were liked by our testers who found them be extremely easy to use. Some minor issues include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest temperature and it may be difficult to determine the status of the burners through the glass.
Some of the top gas on glass hobs can be found at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. While it's not going to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is an excellent addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are many electric hobs that are perfect for modern households. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functionality that is safer, faster and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. These hobs have sleek glazed finishes, and have an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They also come here with a power booster function that allows you to increase your heat for a short time.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a special kind of pan and can be costly to install.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that is a good choice for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, like a traditional gas stove. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much simpler to clean than the typical tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with the "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.
While gas hobs are still a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to warm up and cool down, and their flame can be difficult to manage. In contrast, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
For the highest level of modern efficiency, you can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to fit your needs. It is important to remember that these stoves will require installation by an accredited gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers since the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils run an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that create heat directly within the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy point of view, as there's no residual heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction hob starting from basic models that have one cooking zone that is marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots simultaneously in one flexible zone. Some of these premium models have a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you use an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar in the middle to choose the desired temperature left to right boosts heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for certain food items or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are believed to be more efficient over the long term since they heat up quicker and use a smaller space to heat up which could help reduce your energy bills. They cool faster, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families that have children or elderly residents. However, they do produce magnetic fields that can interfere with some medical devices like 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 frequently, since food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can purchase a specialist cleaner to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. Just be sure to never use scrubbers or scouring pads on your induction hob as they can scratch the surface.