20 Things Only The Most Devoted Hobs Oven Fans Know
Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans by using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best fits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and include five or four zones to heat your pans. ovens and hobs -operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide a sleek and modern look which can greatly enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in the heat.
Electric hobs are comprised of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted by the rotary knobs. You can even utilize the boost feature to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even when they have been turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a problem for families with children, so it's best to place them in an area that is away from any flammable items and out of reach of young children.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be installed in a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also fairly affordable and is a great option if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains, so we suggest hiring an electrician professional to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. You'll need to buy cookware that is either exactly the same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in design. They can be more expensive than electric models, and may require professional installations. However they are also more efficient in heating as an entire pot of water will typically boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a good choice for cooks who prefer to limit the amount of heat being generated. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to build up grease and sludge.
A great example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. It also includes the wok ring that has 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the gas hob features an inner burner that doubles to improve the distribution of heat and increase the speed of cooking. It also comes with a handy power level indicator, which helps to regulate the exact temperature of your flame. You can select from nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls, as they were simple and easy to use. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest temperature and it may be difficult to discern the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that you can buy at a reasonable price. It's not likely to win any design awards but it'll do the job and can be a great addition to your kitchen at just more than 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They're not only elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most sought-after electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're made with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster function which allows you to boost your heat for a short time.
Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs that use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a special kind of pan and can be costly to install.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that is a good choice for modern homes. It features a burner beneath an unidirectional glass layer similar to a standard gas stove. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.
Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for many home chefs, but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to warm up and cool down, and their flame can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs, on the other hand, are more energy efficient and easy to clean.
There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, allowing you the flexibility you need to meet your needs. It is important to remember that these stoves will need to be installed by an accredited gas safe engineer and require a dedicated cable of 6mm in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob the coils generate magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs are energy efficient, as they don't use any heat.
There are many different models of an induction hob, from basic entry level models that have only one cooking zone with rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Certain models come with a touch slider control that looks very similar to the way you use on 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 even have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, however they are thought to be more efficient over the long term because they heat up faster and have a smaller surface for heating up which can help you save on energy bills. They also cool faster and have a safer design without hot plates, making them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the home. However, they do create a magnetic force that could interfere with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners.
Like all electric hobs, you'll need to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your stove clean and in good shape for a longer time. Be sure to not use abrasive cleaners or pads for scouring on your induction hob since they can scratch the surface.