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Types of Hobs A hob, also referred to as a stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans with electric power or flames. There are many different types of hobs. You can pick the one that is best suited to your kitchen and your style. Induction hobs are equipped with a flat ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are sleek and stylish and are easy to clean. Ceramic hobs Ceramic hobs offer modern and sleek design that can really enhance the overall appearance of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can easily be wiped down when spills or splatters happen. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower your electricity bill. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to change temperatures, which can be frustrating when cooking something that requires immediate reduction or an increase in heat. Electric hobs utilize a solid plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. They can be individually controlled with rotary knobs, and then tacked to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a particular area. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch even after being turned off. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from items that could ignite and out of reach of children. This type of hob can be installed on a variety worktops including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great option if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. Like 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. This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. You'll need cookware that is either exactly the same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element won't recognize it and won't start to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and make the stove less efficient. Gas on glass hobs Glass hobs made of gas have a sleek and modern appearance. Although they may be more expensive than electric ones and require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up – it's not uncommon for a full pan of water to come to a boil within four minutes or less. This type of hob also is ideal for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat is generated. However, it should be observed that a glass-based hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel ones and will likely require cleaning more often, since the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain instead of sliding off. A great example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring is 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe. Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings on the left of the hob offers a double inner flame to improve even heat distribution which increases cooking time. It also comes with an easy-to-read power level indicator, which allows you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine pre-set settings, like a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs. The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well liked by our testers who found them be very easy to use. Some minor issues are that you must physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest heating level, and that it can be difficult to determine the status of the burners through the glass. A few of the top gas on glass hobs can be found at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. It's not going win any design prizes but it'll serve its purpose and be an excellent option for your kitchen at just above 120 pounds. Electric hobs Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They are not only elegant and stylish, but also faster, safer, and more energy efficient than their predecessors. Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. They're made with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also usually fitted with a power boost function which lets you increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time. Induction hobs are yet another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to work and are costly to set up. Glass hobs with gas are a different option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it has the burner underneath a layer of flat glass. However, this glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's easier to clean than standard glass that's tempered. Many of these hobs come with an “hot surface indicator” that alerts you to the heat. While gas hobs are still an option that is popular with home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to warm up and cool down and their flame can be difficult to manage. In contrast, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean. For hobs uk in modern technology You can also find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, allowing you the flexibility needed to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note, however, that these hobs will require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer and will require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field may interfere with them. Induction hobs Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils that run an electrical current that is alternating. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils generate magnetic fields that heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient in energy use, since they don't use any heat. There are many models of induction stoves, from the basic ones with a single zone identified by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves that have up to 6 zones that allow multiple pots to be cooked on one flex area. Some of these models have a touch slider control that is very similar to the way you use on an iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen. Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient in the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating which can reduce the cost of energy. They cool faster and also are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with children or elderly residents. However, they can create magnetic fields that could interfere with some medical devices such as pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners. As with all electric hobs you'll have to clean your electric hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your hob clean and in good shape for a longer time. Be sure to not use scrubbers or pads to scour your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.