Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and ovens are common feature in most kitchens. They come in many different styles. You can also mix different types like domino, electric, and gas to fit your cooking needs.
Safety features like the controls for child and position can be included in a hob. These features can prevent children from accidentally altering the temperature setting or touching the hob.
Types
In the center of every kitchen, the hob takes centre stage and plays a significant part in how your cooking comes out. There are a variety of hobs available, and which one you choose depends on your cooking needs.
Gas hobs are the classic option and provide a quick heating function and instant response to temperature changes. Professional chefs prefer them because they provide precise control. They aren't as easy to clean as other hobs and could require more care.
Electric hobs are made of ceramic with a flat surface with heated elements underneath. They can be found in various sizes and have four to six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element that can be controlled by you. You can boil potatoes on one ring while cooking sausages on a different. This kind of hob can be more efficient than gas and is a child-safe option since the cooking area only heats up when you put a pan on it.
Traditional ceramic hobs are an extremely comfortable alternative to gas and electric and are also a very fashionable option. They have an extremely smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However they aren't as fast to respond to temperature changes or cool down as other hobs.
The Domino hob is a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs. It incorporates ovens under the cooking surface. They are perfect for kitchens that have little space. They can also be used in kitchenettes and flats. They are often less expensive than conventional hobs and are energy efficient, however they can also be fragile and require more maintenance.
Gas
A gas hob is a cooktop that has burners that can be fitted into kitchen countertops for seamless appearance. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, however they can also be powered by propane gas. They feature a modern and sleek design that can give a sophisticated touch to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove has various burners, usually 4, but sometimes up to 6. The burners can be ignited with a match or knob. The flames are controlled by a set of valves that can be adjusted to control the temperature.
In contrast, most modern gas hobs with built-in gas are equipped with multi-flame burners that let you control the inner and outer ring of each burner to manage your cooking. These types of burners allow for much faster heat up times and are more reliable than the old-fashioned ones.
Traditionally, it was necessary to keep a gas burner lit continuously to ensure the burners were constantly fueled and hot. This was a safety measure to avoid accidents such as not turning off the oven when the stove was lit by match or pilot flame. Modern cookers are made with safety in mind as a priority. They come equipped with a flame failure device that shuts off the burners if the pilot light is not working.
Gas stoves and hobs must be cleaned, checked and maintained on a regular basis. To achieve this, it is recommended to book a visit from an Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able check your appliance is operating properly and safely, but they will also offer expert advice and suggestions on how to prevent any problems in the future.
Electricity
A well-designed hob is just as crucial when it comes to creating the perfect kitchen. Worktops, refrigerators freezers and ovens are always the first items that come to mind. The type of hob that you choose will affect the way your kitchen works and also how easy it is to clean.
Electric hobs are powered by heating elements underneath a smooth glass surface which is typically cleaned with a non-abrasive cleaning agent. These elements are activated when you turn on the oven and can be adjusted to various power levels with a knob. They can take a little longer to heat up than a gas cooker but once they are done, they usually provide more constant temperature control. They have built-in indicators that let you know whether a particular area is hot or not.
Typically, they come in a range of four to six sizes that can be notched up to various levels of power. These are great for flat-based cookware but not for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Some models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that permit boiling water on one ring and saute sausages on another. Some models have a 'boost' function which concentrates high-powered heat onto one ring for stir fry cooking sauteing meat, or boiling large pots of water.
Induction hobs differ from standard electric models because they use electromagnetic fields instead of traditional gas flames to cook your food. They can achieve precise temperatures more quickly and are more efficient in energy use. They feature a cool to the touch surface and flashing indicators that indicate if a ring has been used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramics can be used to make functional or decorative objects. It's formed by mixing clay, earthen elements powders, water and other elements to an exact shape, and then fired in a high-temperature oven called the Kiln. After it's been made, it can be covered with paint-like or decorative substances to give it a more textured and vibrant look.
Ceramic hobs are a beautiful combination of form and function, sitting comfortably in any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat the ceramic hobs through the passage of an electric current over coiled elements that are concealed beneath the black glass surface. They generate heat when activated, which is then transferred to the pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the level of heating by using the knobs or touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs come with dual rings, which have a smaller and a larger cooking zone. This allows you to choose the ideal size for your pan. There are hobs with booster burners which produce high-powered heat quickly ideal for searing meat or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly.
In comparison to other types of hobs ceramic cooktops take a little longer to warm up and change temperature, but once they do they're generally more energy-efficient. There are vented hobs that integrate a ventilation system into the cooktop's ceramic, making sure that steam, smoke and cooking smells don't linger in your home.
Induction
The heating elements inside induction hobs consist of a series of copper wire coils that are placed beneath the surface that create electromagnets that heat the pans sat on them. The coils stir up the free electrons in your pan's base metal, which then transfer heat evenly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot and the cooking zones are automatically shut off when your pan is removed.
Induction hobs are usually more expensive than other types however, they're also more efficient to heat and use 30-70% less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. They are also easier to clean as the hob surface itself isn't hot, and only the contents of your pan do.
Certain manufacturers offer an induction model that has additional features, such as a pause function, which cuts the power to your stove whenever you move away from it, or connect two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power level for added flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs and can be more expensive than traditional models, however they're worth a look if you are a multi-tasker.
This induction hob is our top pick. It has four large cooking zones, a Bridge function, and nine power settings, offering you a variety of options for those who are ambitious cooks. In our tests, it performed well with precise control and quick heating when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with an integrated dishwasher as well as an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning more simple. There is a limited selection of compatible pans it isn't used to cook using the utensils with magnetic bases. It could be a problem if you have a lot of cookware that is not compatible or only the smallest portion is compatible with induction cooktops.