Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can pick the one that is best hobs uk suited to your kitchen and design.

Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic cooking surface and have five or four zones for heating 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 appearance. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They are fast to heat up and are energy-efficient and can lower the cost of electricity. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to change temperature settings which can be a problem when cooking food that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs consist of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted individually by rotary knobs. You can use the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic best hobs uk retain heat very well, and even after they have been turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.

This kind of hob is able to be mounted on a variety of worktops such as laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and is a great option if you want to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. However, just like any other appliance, Ovens they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains, and we would recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

A downside of this type of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to pan size and shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either exactly the same dimensions as the element or that will fit comfortably inside each heating zone on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element will not recognise it and won't start to heat up the base of the pan. This can lead to uneven results in cooking and makes the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern design. While they cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they usually require less time to heat up - it's not unusual for a full pan of water to be boiling within four minutes or less. This kind of hob is a great choice for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is produced. However, it must be observed that a glass-based hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel ones and may require cleaning more often, as grease and residue build up tends to remain instead of slipping off.

This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to create a sleek, elegant look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.

This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a fashionable piece of toughened glass and cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left of the gas hob has two burners inside to increase heat distribution and accelerate cooking. It also comes with a handy power indicator that allows you to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-set settings, like the highest setting for sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.

The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well liked by our testers who found them be very simple to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you have to press the controls nine times to reach the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

This Neff model is among the top gas-on glass hobs uk available at an affordable price. It's not going win any design prizes but it'll serve its purpose and ovens be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just above PS120.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They're not just sleek and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They're made with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to scratches or smudges. They also come with a power booster function which allows you to boost the heat for a brief period of time.

Another electric hob that is suitable 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 specific kind of pan and can be costly to install.

Gas on glass hobs are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath a layer of flat glass. However the glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs come with the "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the heat.

Gas hobs are a popular choice for many home chefs However, they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take a while to warm up and cool down and their flames can be hard to manage. Electric hobs on the other side, are more energy efficient and are easier to clean.

For the highest level of modern efficiency, you can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, allowing you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these stoves will need to be installed by an approved gas safe engineer and will require an appropriate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for those with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from a energy point of view since there's no heat that is wasted.

There are many different models of induction hob starting from basic models that have only one cooking zone with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Some of these premium models come with the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models have preset settings for certain food types or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient over the long term. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating area which can reduce your energy costs. They cool down faster and are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with children or elderly residents. However, they can create magnetic fields that could affect medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your electric best hob regularly, as 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 clean and in good shape for longer. Be sure to not use scrubbers or pads to scour your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.