15 Things You've Never Known About Hobs Oven

Types of Hobs A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electric power or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, so you can pick one that fits your style and kitchen. Induction hobs come with flat ceramic surfaces and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and they are easy to clean. Ceramic hobs Ceramic hobs provide an elegant and contemporary look that can really enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can easily be wiped down when spills or splatters happen. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can reduce the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you are cooking something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of heat. Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted by rotary knobs. You can utilize the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a certain zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even when they are turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge if you have children, so it's best to install them in an area that is well away from any flammable items and away from young children. This kind of hob is able to be mounted on a variety of worktops including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and is a great alternative if you're looking to replace your previous hobs without spending too much money. However, like all appliances they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we suggest hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use. A downside of this type of hob is that it's very sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need cookware that's either exactly the same size as the element, or that is able to fit in the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't fit, then the element will not recognise it and won't begin to heat the base of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the stove 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 could require professional installation. However, they heat up faster – a full pot of water will typically boil within less than four minutes. This kind of hob works well for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they are more likely to accumulate grease and residue. This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners in matt black, with control knobs made of metal to create a sleek, elegant finish. It also comes with an oblong wok ring with 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean. Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual rings on the left side of the hob features the double inner flame to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution which speeds up cooking times. It also comes with an excellent power level indicator that helps to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including the high setting for searing a steak and the low setting for scrambled eggs. Our testers also liked the controls because they were simple and easy to use. A few minor issues are that you need to press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing. Some of the top gas-on-glass hobs are available at an affordable price like this Neff model. It's not going win any design prizes however it's going to perform the task and be a great option for your kitchen at just over 120 dollars. Electric hobs Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They're not just elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer and more efficient than their predecessors. One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're made with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature that allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time. Induction hobs are a different electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric and gas plates. This means they are more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan, and could be expensive to put in. A gas-on-glass hob is another option that is a good option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath a flat glass layer, similar to a standard gas stove. However oven and hob is heat-resistant and shatterproof, which means it's easier to clean than the typical glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs are equipped with an “hot surface indicator” which alerts you to the heat. While gas hobs are still a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes an extended time to get hot and cool off. However, electric hobs are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean. There are electric stoves that work with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to meet your needs. It is important to note that these hobs will need to be installed by an approved gas safe engineer and will require an appropriate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them. Hobs with induction Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields which directly heat the pan instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are efficient in energy use, since they don't waste any heat. There are a myriad of models of induction stoves starting with the basic models with a single zone marked by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously on one flex area. Some of these premium models come with a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar located in the middle to select the desired temperature, left to right increases the heat and right to left decreases it. Some models have preset settings that are specific to food items or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen. Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are thought to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much faster and have a smaller area to heat up, which can help reduce your energy bills. They cool faster and are more secure without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families with children or elderly residents. However, they do produce magnetic forces that can affect certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners. As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your electric hob clean, because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for a longer time. Avoid using any abrasive cleaning product or a scouring pad on your stove since they could scratch the surface.