Ten Hobs Ovens That Really Change Your Life

Types of Hobs

A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are many different kinds of hobs available, so you can pick one that fits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and include five or four zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and stylish, and easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be cleaned if spills or splatters occur. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you are cooking something that requires a rapid decrease or an increase in the heat.

Electric hobs are comprised of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. They can be individually controlled by rotary knobs and nipped up to the level of power you require. You can even utilize the boost feature to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, and even after they've been shut off, they will be hot to the touch. This could be a problem when you have children, so it's advisable to install them in an area that is well away from any flammable items and not within reach of young children.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up on a variety worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be a great option if you want to replace your old stoves without spending a large amount of money. As with all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs will be safe to use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's very sensitive to pan size ovens and hobs shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either the exact size as the element or that is able to fit in each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it won't recognise it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are sleek and contemporary in look. Although they may be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation, they often take less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to be boiling in four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a great option for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being generated. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel models and may require cleaning more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface rather than slide off.

A great example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also has a 4kW wok ring to increase versatility, and dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easier to keep clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is an attractive slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual rings on the left of the hob features a double inner flame to ensure even heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also has an easy-to-read power level indicator that assists in regulating the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine pre-set settings, like high settings to sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.

The simple and intuitive controls were also well appreciated by our testers who found them to be very easy to use. A few minor issues are that you must press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest heating level and ovens that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.

A few of the top gas on glass hobs can be found at affordable prices, such as this Neff model. While it's unlikely to win any design awards, it does the job well and can be an ideal addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that fits into 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 popular electric stoves. These hobs are designed with a sleek glazed finish, and feature a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster function which allows you to boost the heat for a short duration.

Induction hobs are another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat 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 specific type of pan and can be costly to install.

Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are another great option for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. However, this glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than the typical tempered glass. Many of these hobs have a "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the temperature.

Although gas hobs are a popular option for many home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to heat up and cool down and their flames can be hard to control. In contrast electric hobs are efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.

To achieve the highest level of modern efficiency You can also find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, so you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. It's important to note, however, that these stoves will require installation by an approved gas safe engineer and will require an appropriate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields that directly heat the pan instead of heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy standpoint since there's no heat being wasted.

There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, from the basic ones with a single zone identified by rings up to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that can have up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked in one flex space. Some of these models come with a touch slider control that resembles to how you operate on an iPhone. Simply swipe 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 decreases it. Certain models have preset settings for specific recipes or food types which can help you save time 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 area which can reduce your energy bills. They also cool faster and have a safer design with no hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with children or older people who live in the house. However, they do produce magnetic fields that could affect medical devices, such as pacemakers, so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.

Like all electric ovens hobs, you'll have to clean your electric hob on a regular basis, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your stove clean and in good shape for longer. It is not recommended to use any abrasive cleaning product or scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.