Ten Hobs Ovens That Really Make Your Life Better
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 many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that best suits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs have a flat ceramic cooking surface and come with five or four zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and stylish, and easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs provide an elegant and contemporary look which can greatly improve the overall look of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can help to lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you need to cook something that requires a quick reduction or increase of temperature.
Electric hobs utilize plates that are heated by electric elements beneath. They can be individually controlled with rotary knobs, and then tacked to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a particular area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they have been turned off, they will be hot to the touch. This could be a problem for families with children, so it's best to install them in an area that is well away from flammable objects and not within reach of young children.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be set up on a variety of worktops such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a large amount of money. As with all appliances, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that either is exactly the same as the element or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it will not recognise it and will not begin to heat up the base of the pan. This can lead to uneven results in cooking and makes the hob less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer modern, sleek design. Although they may cost more than electric models and require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to come to a boil in four minutes or less. This kind of hob is also a great choice for cooks who want to control the amount of heat generated. However, it must be noted that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and will require cleaning more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain rather than slide off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners finished in matt black with metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated look. It also includes the wok ring that has 4kW for additional versatility, as well as dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is an attractive slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the hob features the double inner flame to improve even heat distribution and increases cooking time. It also has an easy-to-read power indicator that allows you to regulate the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled eggs.
Our test participants also liked the controls because they were simple and intuitive. Some minor drawbacks are that you have to press the controls nine times to reach the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.
A few of the top gas on glass hobs can be found at an affordable price like this Neff model. It's not going to win any design awards but it'll perform the task and be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just more than 120 dollars.
Electric hobs oven
There are a number of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They not only offer an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, quicker and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob and oven. They are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature which allows you to boost the heat for a brief time.
Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to work with them and can be costly to install.
Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are another great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath the glass, which is flat, like a traditional gas stove. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, making it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs have an "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the temperature.
While gas hobs are still an option that is popular with home cooks however, 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 side, are more energy efficient and easier to clean.
There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, allowing you the flexibility to meet your needs. It is important to remember that these stoves will require the installation of an approved gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.
Induction hobs
On the glass surface of the induction hobs, there are copper coils that generate an alternating electrical current. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that direct heat the pan, instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy perspective since there's no heat that is wasted.
There are a variety of models of an induction hob, from basic entry level ones that have a single cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously in one flexible zone. Certain models come with the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired level of heat left to right boosts heat and right to left reduces it. Some models have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient in the long run. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating space which can lower the cost of energy. They cool faster, and they have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with elderly or children. However, they do produce magnetic forces that can cause interference with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
As with all electric hobs you will have to clean your electric hob on a regular basis, ovens as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can make use of a basic oven hob cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your stove in good shape and shiny for a longer time. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or scratching pads on your induction stove as they may scratch the surface.