The Unspoken Secrets Of Hobs Oven Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans with electric or flames. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can choose one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.

Induction hobs come with an elongated ceramic cooking surface 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 provide modern and sleek design that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can quickly be cleaned up in the event of spills or splatters. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient and can help lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow when changing temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you need to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs are made of an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. These elements can be individually controlled using rotary knobs and notched to the power level you require. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature in order to increase the temperature of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch even after being shut off. This can be a challenge for families with children, so it's advisable to install them in an area which is far from any flammable items and out of reach of little ones.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up on a variety worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and is a great alternative if you are looking to replace your stove without spending a lot. However, just like any other appliance, they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains power supply, so we recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. It is essential to purchase cookware that is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it won't recognize it and won't start to heat the base of the pan. This can lead to uneven cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern look. They can be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However they heat up faster as a full pot of water can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This type of stove is ideal for cooks who need to limit the amount of heat is generated. However, it should be observed that a glass-based hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and will require cleaning more frequently, as grease and residue build up tends to stay on the surface instead of sliding off.

This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners finished in matt black with metal control knobs to give it a chic, sophisticated look. The wok ring is 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines a stylish slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings to the left of the hob offers the double inner flame to improve even heat distribution and accelerates cooking time. It also has a handy power indicator that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including high settings to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.

Its simple yet intuitive controls were also well liked by our testers, who found them to be very simple to use. A few minor issues are that you must press the controls a further nine times to reach the maximum heating level, and that the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.

This Neff model is one of the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that you can buy at a reasonable price. While it's not going to be a winner of any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.

Electric hob s

There are a number of electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they have an elegant design that fits 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 the ceramic glass hob. These hobs are designed with a sleek glazed finish, and feature a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster function that allows you to increase the heat for a brief time.

Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a special type of pan and can be costly to install.

A gas on glass hob is a different option that's a great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer similar to a standard gas stove. This glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the hob is hot.

Gas hobs are a popular choice for many home chefs however they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take a while to warm up and cool down, and their flame can be hard to manage. On the other hand, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.

To achieve the highest level of modern efficiency You can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, providing you with the flexibility to meet your needs. But, it's important to remember that these hobs need to be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're not suitable for those with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.

Hobs with induction

Under the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that run an electrical current that varies. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly within the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or the heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are very energy efficient, as they don't use any heat.

There are a myriad of models of an induction hob that range from basic models that have a single cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that can have up to six zones and allow you to cook several pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar at the middle to select the desired level of heat left to right boosts heat and right-to-left decreases it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.


Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are also more energy efficient over the long run. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller heating area which can lower the cost of energy. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design with no hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or older people living in the home. However, they do generate an electric force that could interfere with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.

Like all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean regularly because food and debris could accumulate over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your stove clean and in good shape for longer. You should never use the abrasive cleaning products or the a scouring pad on your stove since they could scratch the surface.