Types of Hobs

A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and style.

Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and have four or five zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs have a sleek and modern look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be cleaned in the event of spills or splatters. 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 a problem when you are cooking something that requires quick reduction or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs utilize a solid plate that is heated by electric elements under. The power of each element can be adjusted via rotating knobs. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to boost the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being shut off. This can be a challenge when you have children, so it's recommended to place them in a location which is far from objects that are flammable and away from little ones.

The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be put in in a variety of worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also reasonably priced and is a great option if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. As with all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.

A downside of this type of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's either the exact size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't the same size as the element, the element will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can result in cooking that is uneven and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for an elegant, modern look. Although they may cost more than electric ones and require professional installation, they usually take less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This kind of stove is also a great choice for cooks who want to control the amount of heat being generated. However, it should be observed that a glass-based hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and will likely require cleaning more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stick instead of sliding off.

This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal to create a sleek, elegant look. It also has the wok ring that has 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design at the left side of the gas hob features two burners inside to increase heat distribution and speed up cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator, which helps to regulate the exact temperature of your flame. You can choose between nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled egg.

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

A few of the top gas on glass hobs are available at affordable prices like this Neff model. It's not going to win any design prizes but it'll serve its purpose and be a fantastic addition to your kitchen at just over 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They're not just elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most well-known electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. They're designed with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to scratches or smudges. They also come with a power booster function which allows you to boost the heat for a short time.

Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and ovens hobs electric plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific type of pan to function and can be costly to set up.

Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempering glass. A majority of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.

While gas hobs are still an option that is popular with home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to warm up and cool down and their flames can be hard to control. Electric hobs on the other side, are more energy efficient and are easier to clean.

There are electric stoves that work with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, allowing you the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. It is important to remember that these stoves will require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.

Hobs with induction

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 produce magnetic fields which heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from a energy standpoint because there's no leftover heat that is wasted.

There are a variety of models of an induction hob starting from basic ones that have a single cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones, allowing you to cook several pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Certain models come with a touch slider control that looks very similar to the way you use an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are believed to be more energy efficient in the long run because they heat up quicker and have a smaller surface to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They cool quicker and are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families that have elderly or children. However, they can create magnetic fields that can affect medical devices, such as pacemakers, therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for longer. You should never use abrasive cleaning products or a scouring pad on your stove as they may scratch the surface.