Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Hobs Oven?
Types of Hobs
A hob, which is also known as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans by using electric or flames. There are a variety of hobs, and you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with flat ceramic surfaces and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs have modern and sleek design that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to reduce your energy bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you need to cook something that requires a rapid decrease or an increase in heat.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted via the rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they have been turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge if you have children, so it's advisable to install them in an area which is far from any flammable items and not within reach of children.
This kind of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops, including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and is a great alternative if you are looking to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs will be safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You will need to purchase cookware that matches the element exactly or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, the element won't recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less 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 as the water in a full pot can often boil in less than four minutes. This type of stove is a great choice for cooks who want to control the amount of heat that is generated. Glass hobs are more vulnerable to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to build up grease and residue.
A great example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs for a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also comes with the wok ring that has 4kW to increase versatility, and dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easy to clean.
This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left of the hob features an inner flame that doubles to ensure even heat distribution which increases cooking time. It also has a handy power level indicator that helps to regulate the exact temperature of your flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well appreciated by our testers who found them to be extremely easy to use. A few minor issues are that you need to press the controls nine times to reach the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.
This Neff model is among the best gas-on-glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. 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 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that work for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide advanced functions that are safer, faster and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic hob. These hobs have an elegant glazed finish and feature a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a brief period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric and gas plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a specific kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.
A gas on glass hob is another option that's a great choice for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than tempering glass. Many of these hobs come with a "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the heat.
Although gas hobs are an option that is popular with home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to heat up and cool down and their flame can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs on the other hand are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
There are electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. This lets you switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to adapt to your lifestyle. However, it's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for people with pacemakers because the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Beneath the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that generate an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob the coils generate magnetic fields that directly heat the pan rather than heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient from an energy standpoint, as there's no residual heat being wasted.
There are a variety of models of induction hobs starting from basic ones with only one cooking zone marked by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots at once on a flex zone. Certain models feature a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Best place to buy oven and hob have preset settings that are specific to food types or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more energy efficient over the long run. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller heating area which can lower your energy bills. They cool down faster and also are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with children or elderly residents. They do, however, generate a magnetic force that could cause interference with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.
As with all electric hobs you'll need to clean your induction hob on a regular basis, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either employ a standard oven cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your stove in good shape and shiny for longer. Make sure you don't use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on your induction hob since they can scratch the surface.