The Next Big Trend In The Hobs Oven Industry
Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can choose one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic cooking surface and have four or five zones for heating your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern look. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your energy bills. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to change temperature settings and can be a hassle when cooking something that requires an instant reduction or increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. These elements can be individually controlled with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch even after being turned off. This can be a problem when you have children, so it's advisable to install them in a place which is far from any flammable items and out of reach of children.
This type of hob can be installed on a variety worktops such as laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and is a great option for those looking to replace your previous hobs, but without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's the exact same size as the element or that is able to fit in the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't the same dimensions as the element, the element won't recognise it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern look. They can be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installations. However, they heat up faster as the water in a full pot will typically boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob also is ideal for cooks who want to control how much heat is generated. However, it should be noted that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel ones and will likely need to be cleaned more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface rather than slide off.
This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners that are matte black with metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated finish. It also has a 4kW wok ring for additional versatility, as well as pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left side of the gas hob features a double inner burner to improve heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with an easy-to-read power indicator that helps you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for searing steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls, as they were simple and easy to use. Some minor issues include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest temperature, and that it can be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass.
Some of the top gas on glass hobs are available at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. It's not going win any design awards, but it will perform the task and be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just more than PS120.
Electric hobs
There are a variety of electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer modern technology that is safer, quicker and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They're made with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface resistant to scratches or smudges. oven hob equipped with a power boost feature, which allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short amount of time.
Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means they are more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. However, best oven require a specific kind of pan to function and are costly to set up.
A gas-on-glass hob is another option that is a good choice for modern homes. It has a burner underneath the glass, which is flat, similar to a conventional gas stove. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, making it easier to clean than tempered glass. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs remain a preferred 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 get hot and cool off. In contrast, electric hobs are more energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
There are even electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, so you'll be able to suit your lifestyle. It is important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm to be installed in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.
Hobs with induction
On the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils which run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on a hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that generate heat directly inside the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are many different models of induction hob, from basic entry level ones with one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that have up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously on one flex zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired level of heat, left to right increases the heat and right to left reduces it. Some models have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food items which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more energy efficient over the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating area which can reduce your energy costs. They cool down faster, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with children or elderly residents. However, they create a magnetic field which could affect medical devices like pacemakers so it's important to center your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food particles and other debris can build up 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. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or scratching pads on your induction stove as they may scratch the surface.