Types of Hobs
A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electric or flames. There are several different types of hobs available, so you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with an elongated ceramic surface and 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, sleek look. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your electricity bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you are cooking something that requires a quick decrease or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs are made of plates that are heated by electric elements underneath. They can be controlled separately with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the power level you require. You can also use the boost feature to increase the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even when they have been turned off, they will still be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in an area that is safe from any flammable objects and away from children's reach.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be set up on a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and is a great option if you want to replace your stove without spending a lot. But, as with all appliances, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains, and we recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.
The downside to this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to pan size and shape. You'll need cookware that's either the exact size as the element, or that is able to fit in the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it won't recognize it and will not begin to heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent results in cooking and makes the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for a sleek, modern aesthetic. They are more expensive than electric models, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster and an entire pot of water can typically boil within less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a good choice for cooks who like to regulate the amount of heat produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and 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 to create a sleek, elegant appearance. It also includes the wok ring that has 4kW for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easier to keep clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass with cutting-edge cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left of the hob has a double inner flame to improve uniform heat distribution and increases cooking time. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator, which assists in regulating the exact temperature of your flame. You can choose between nine pre-set settings, like high settings to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls because they were simple and intuitive. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you need to press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that are available at a low cost. It's not going to win any design prizes however it's going to perform the task and be an excellent option for your kitchen at just over PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer modern technology that is safer, more efficient and efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption.
One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're designed with a sleek, glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a short time.
Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan and could be expensive to put in.
A gas-on-glass hob is a different option that's a great option for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it features an oven that is surrounded by an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs are equipped with a "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the temperature.
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 warm up and cool down, and their flame can be hard to manage. Electric hobs, on the other side, are more energy efficient and easy to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, providing you with the flexibility to meet your needs. But, it's important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Under the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils which run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob the coils produce magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient from a energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.
There are many models of induction stoves from the basic ones with a single zone identified by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that can have up to 6 zones that allow multiple pots to cook simultaneously in one flex space. Some of these premium models feature 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. Certain models have preset settings for specific recipes or food types that can cut down time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are considered to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much quicker and have a smaller area to heat up which could help reduce your energy bills. They cool quicker and also are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them perfect for families that have elderly or children. However, they create magnetic fields that could cause interference with medical devices like pacemakers so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean regularly since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or you can purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your stove clean and in good shape for longer. Be sure to not use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads for scouring on your induction website hob as they could scratch the surface.