Types of Hob and Oven

A hob and oven is an essential part of many kitchens and can come in a variety of styles. You can mix different types, such as electric and gas to meet your needs.

Safety features like the controls for child and position can be added to a hob. These are designed to prevent children from touching the hob, and prevent them from changing the heat settings accidentally.

Types

The hob (their explanation) is the focal element of any kitchen and has a huge impact on the results of your cooking. There are many different types of hobs available, and which one you pick will depend on your cooking needs.

Gas hobs provide a classic option. They are quick to heat up and respond instantly to temperature changes. Professional chefs prefer them since they are precise in their control. However, they are not as easy to clean as other hobs and ovens and could require a higher degree of maintenance.

Electric hobs have a flat ceramic surface with heated elements underneath. They can be found in different sizes and with four to six cooking zones. Each zone has a separate heating element that you can control individually. You can boil potatoes on one ring, while cooking sausages on a different. This kind of hob is quicker to start heating than gas, and also offers an alternative that is safer for children since the cooking area is heated only when you place the pot on it.

Traditional ceramic hobs are a very user-friendly alternative to electric and gas and are a stylish option. They have an even and smooth surface that is easy to clean. However, they are not as quick to react to temperature changes or cool down as other hobs.

The Domino hob is a space-saving option to gas and electric hobs. It incorporates ovens under the cooking surface. They are ideal for kitchens that have limited space. They can also be used in kitchenettes and flats. They tend to be less expensive than conventional hobs and can be energy efficient, but they can also be fragile and require more maintenance.

Gas

Gas hobs are cooktops equipped with burners that can be easily fitted into the kitchen countertop for a seamless appearance. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, but they can also be powered by propane gas. They have a modern and sleek design that can add a touch of sophistication to your modular kitchen.

A traditional gas stove comes with various burners, typically 4 but sometimes as many as 6. The burners can be ignited with a match or knob. The flames are then controlled by a set of valves which can be adjusted to set the temperature.

Modern built-in gas stoves, on the other hand, have burners with multiple flames. This lets you control both the outer and inner rings of each burner so that you can precisely control the cooking. They are also much more efficient and more reliable than earlier models.

In the past, it was essential to keep a gas burner lit all the time to ensure that the burners were always hot and fuelled. This was a security feature to prevent any accidents such as accidentally turning on the oven while the stove was still lit by a match or pilot flame. Modern cookers have been designed with safety as a priority. They are fitted with a flame failure device which shuts down the burners if the pilot light fails.

Gas stoves and hobs need to be checked regularly and cleaned, as well as maintained. To do this, you should make an appointment with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able to make sure your appliance is working correctly and safely, but they will also provide professional advice and guidance on how to prevent any problems in the near future.

Electric

When it comes time to design your dream kitchen, the countertops, fridge freezer and oven will always get the most attention, however a quality hob is also essential. The kind of hob you select will influence the way your kitchen works and how easy it is for you to clean it.

Electric hobs are powered by heating elements underneath a smooth glass surface which is typically cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaning agent. The heating elements are activated when you turn on the hob and can be adjusted to different power levels using a control knob. It may take them a little bit longer to get heated up but once they've done so, they tend to provide more reliable and consistent temperature control. They also come with indicators to let you know that a zone is in use or still hot from cooking.

Typically, they come in a range of four to six sized rings which can be adjusted to different power levels. They are great for flat-based cookware however they aren't the ideal option for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Certain models (such as Belling BELCH602T) come with dual rings that allow you to cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Some even include a boost function that concentrates high-powered heat into a single ring for stir fry cooking, searing meat or boiling large pots of water.

Induction hobs differ from normal electric hobs in that they utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware instead of the traditional method of gas flames. They can reach precise temperatures more quickly and are more energy efficient. They have a cool-to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that indicate whether a ring was used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to create decorative or functional objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, and firing it in a high temperature oven called Kiln. Once made it is then covered with paint-like or decorative materials to give it a more textured and vibrant look.

Ceramic hobs combine design and function to create a stunning piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. They operate using radiant heating technology, passing an electric current through coiled components hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. When activated, they generate heat, which is then transferred to the pan by an infrared system. You can adjust the level of heating by using the knobs or touch controls.

Some ceramic hobs have dual rings, which have one smaller and one with a larger cooking area. This lets you choose the ideal size for your pan. You can also find hobs with booster burners which generate high-powered heat rapidly ideal for searing meat or bringing pots of water to a boil quickly.

Compared to other types of hobs, ceramic cooktops typically take longer to warm up and then change temperature however, once they're done they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. You can also select vented hobs, which integrate an air-conditioning system that is integrated into the ceramic cooktop. This makes sure that smoke, steam and cooking smells don't linger in your house.

Induction

Induction hobs are equipped with heating elements that are composed of copper wire coils. They generate electromagnets which warm the pans that are placed on the top of them. The coils agitate the free electrons inside the base of your pan and then transfer heat efficiently and directly to your food. The surface of the stove never gets hot and, when you take off your pan the cooking zones switch off automatically.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than other models however they're also quicker to heat and use 30-70% less energy than gas or ceramic hobs uk. They're also easier to clean as the hob surface itself isn't hot, and only the contents of your pan do.

Some manufacturers offer an induction model with additional features, like a pause function, which cuts the power to your stove when you walk away, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power for increased flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They can be more expensive than traditional models, however they're worth looking into if like to multitask.

This induction hob is our top choice. It comes with four large cooking zones as well as a Bridge function and nine power settings, offering you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. In our tests, it performed well with accurate control and fast heating when making pancakes. The cooker comes with dishwasher built-in and automatic pan detection, which makes cleaning much easier. There's a small selection of pans that are compatible, and it can't be used to cook with utensils that have magnetic bases. This could be a problem if you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or some of them are suitable for use on induction hobs.