Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are several different types of hobs available, so you can pick one that fits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with an elongated ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are elegant and fashionable, and they are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek appearance. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can easily be cleaned when spills or splatters happen. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient, which can reduce your electricity bill. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow in changing the temperature which can be a problem when cooking food that requires an instant reduction or increase in temperature.
Electric hobs utilize a solid plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. The elements can be individually controlled with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the level of power you require. You can also use the boost feature to increase the temperature of a single zone. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even after they've been shut off, they will be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge when you have children, so it's advisable to place them in an area that is well away from flammable objects and away from little ones.
The benefit of this type of hob is that it can be put in on a variety worktops, such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It is also relatively inexpensive and can be an excellent option if you want to replace your stove without spending a lot. However, just like any other appliance, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains, so we would recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure your new hobs are safe to use.
A downside of this type of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan and shape. You'll need cookware that's either the exact same size as the element, or that can fit comfortably into the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it won't recognise it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Gas on glass hobs offer modern, sleek design. They are more expensive than electric hobs, and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster and the water in a full pot can often boil within less than four minutes. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who wish to limit the amount of heat is produced. However, it should be observed that a glass-based hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and may require cleaning more often, as grease and residue build up tends to stick instead of sliding off.
This Bertazzoni hob is an excellent example of gas on glass. It features four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal to give it a chic, sophisticated look. It also comes with an oblong wok ring with 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the hob features a double inner flame to improve even heat distribution, which in turn speeds up cooking times. It also comes with an excellent power level indicator that assists in regulating the exact temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings including the highest setting for searing steaks and a low setting for scrambled eggs.
Its simple yet intuitive controls were liked by our testers who found them be extremely easy to use. A few minor drawbacks are that you have to physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest temperature, and that it can be difficult to see the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is among the best gas-on-glass hobs available at an affordable price. It's not going win any design awards, but it will serve its purpose and be a fantastic option for your kitchen at just over 120 pounds.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that are ideal for modern households. They not only offer an elegant design that blends into 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.
Best ovens of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They're designed with a sleek, polished, glazed finish. They also have an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to smudges and scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost feature that allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short amount of 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 your cookware. This means they are more energy-efficient and have precise temperature control. However, they require a specific type of pan to function and can be costly to install.
Gas on glass hobs are a great alternative for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it has the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof as well as shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than tempering glass. A lot of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.
While gas hobs are still an option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and takes a long time to warm up and cool down. In contrast electric hobs are efficient in energy use and easier to clean.
For the highest level of modern technology, you can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, allowing you the flexibility you need to fit your lifestyle. However, it's important to keep in mind that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils conduct an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that direct heat the pan, instead of heating a surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are many different models of induction hobs that range from basic models that have only one cooking zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones and allow the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously on one flexible zone. Certain models have a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar located in the middle to choose the desired temperature 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 do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are thought to be more efficient in the long run since they heat up quicker and use a smaller space for heating up which can help lower your energy costs. They cool down faster, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families that have children or elderly people. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could cause interference with medical devices like pacemakers so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your hob sparkling and in good order for longer. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or scouring pad on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.