Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electricity or flames. There are several different types of hobs available, so you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can easily be wiped down if spills or splatters occur. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can reduce the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you need to cook something that requires quick reduction or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs are made of a solid plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. The power of each element can be adjusted via rotating knobs. You can use the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch after being shut off. It is important to put ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from flammable items and out of reach of children.

The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your stove without spending a large amount of money. But, as with all appliances, they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we suggest hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that your new hobs are safe for use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need to buy cookware that's the exact same size as the element, or that is able to fit in each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, it won't recognize it and won't heat the bottom of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs offer modern, sleek design. They are more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster as an entire pot of water can typically boil in less than four minutes. This kind of hob is also a great option for cooks who like to limit the amount of heat produced. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and may require cleaning more often, since the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stick instead of sliding off.

This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to create a sleek, elegant finish. It also includes an oblong wok ring with 4kW for additional versatility, as well as dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easier to keep clean.

This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the hob offers a double inner flame to ensure uniform heat distribution, which in turn increases cooking time. It also comes with an easy-to-read power indicator that allows you to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including a high setting for searing steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.

The simple, yet intuitive controls were liked by our testers who found them to be very simple to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you need to press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.

A few of the top gas-on-glass hobs can be found at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. It's not going win any design prizes however it's going to perform the task and be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just more than PS120.

Electric hobs

There are a variety of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They not only offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with modern technology that is safer, quicker and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost feature, which allows you to increase the temperature of your stove for a short amount of time.

Induction hobs are a different electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric and gas plates. They are therefore more energy efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. They require a particular kind of pan and can be costly to set up.

A gas on glass hob is another option that is a good option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath a flat glass layer, similar to a standard gas stove. However, this glass is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's much simpler to clean than tempered glass. A majority of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is heated.

While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to heat up and cool down, and their flame can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs on the other side, are more energy efficient and easier to clean.

There are electric stoves that can be used with LPG oven and hob gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, meaning you can adjust your cooking to fit your needs. However, it's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable in your kitchen. They're not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils create an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils generate magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, instead of heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are very efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't use any heat.

There are many different models of an induction hob starting from basic ones that have a single cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously on one flex zone. Some of these premium models have a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models have preset settings for specific food types or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient in the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller area for heating which can lower your energy costs. They cool faster and also are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with elderly or children. They do, however, produce a magnetic force that could cause interference with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean regularly as food and debris can build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your stove in good shape and shiny for a longer time. Make sure you don't use scrubbers or scouring pads on your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.