Types of Hobs A hob, also referred to as stovetops in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans using flames or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and style. Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with five or four zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are elegant and chic and are easy to clean. Ceramic hobs Ceramic hobs offer an elegant and contemporary look that can improve the overall look of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps 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 a quick decrease or an increase in temperature. Electric hobs consist of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The elements can be controlled separately by rotary knobs and nipped up to the level of power you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even when they are turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's advisable to place them in a place which is far from flammable objects and not within reach of children. The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be set up on a variety worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and can be a great alternative if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. As with any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs will be safe to use. This type of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's either the exact dimensions as the element or that is able to fit in the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element will not recognize it and won't start to heat the base of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient. Gas on glass hobs Gas on glass hobs offer an elegant, modern look. Although they may cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up - it's not unusual for a full pan of water to be boiling within four minutes or less. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they are more likely to accumulate grease and other residue. One of the best examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated look. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean. Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is an attractive slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob has a double inner burner to improve the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator, which allows you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including the highest setting for searing steaks and a low setting for scrambled eggs. Its simple yet intuitive controls were liked by our testers who found them to be very easy to use. Some minor issues are that you must physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level, and that it can be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass. This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass hobs 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 great option for your kitchen at just more than 120 dollars. Electric hobs Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functions that are safer, quicker and more energy-efficient than their predecessors. Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. These hobs are also fitted 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. Induction hobs heat cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific kind of pan and can be costly to set up. A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that's an excellent choice for modern homes. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer similar to a standard gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs come with an hot surface indicator that warns you of the heat. While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and takes a long time to warm up and cool down. Electric hobs on the other side, are more efficient in energy and are easier to clean. You can even find electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, providing you with the flexibility to meet your needs. It is important to remember that these hobs require installation by an accredited gas safe engineer and require an appropriate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could cause interference 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 a hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that generate heat directly within the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy point of view, as there's no residual heat that is wasted. There are a variety of models of induction hob that range from basic ones with only one cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones and allow you to cook several pots at once on a Flex zone. Some of these premium models have a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you operate on an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar located in the middle to choose the desired level of heat, left to right boosts heat and right-to-left decreases it. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort 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 because they heat up faster and have a smaller surface to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. breaking news cool down faster and have a more secure design with no hot plates, making them perfect for families with young children or elderly persons living in the home. However, they do generate a magnetic force that could affect certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners. Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your stove shiny and in good condition for longer. Make sure you don't use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.
breaking news
