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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 using flames or electricity. There are many different kinds of hobs, and you can choose one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen. Induction hobs have a flat ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean. Ceramic hobs Ceramic hobs offer an elegant and contemporary look that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are simple to clean and can quickly be cleaned when spills or splatters happen. They heat up quickly and are energy-efficient and can lower your electric bill. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow to adjust temperature settings which can be a problem when cooking food that requires an instant reduction or increase in temperature. Electric hobs consist of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. These elements can be controlled individually using rotary knobs and notched to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a specific area. ovensandhobs retain heat very well, so even when they have been turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge for families with children, so it's recommended to install them in an area which is far from any flammable items and out of reach of young children. The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be installed in a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly inexpensive and is a great option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that your new hobs are safe to use. This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You'll need cookware that's either the exact size as the element, or that is able to fit in each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, the element will not recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient. Gas on glass hobs Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for a sleek, modern aesthetic. Although they may be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up. It's not unusual for a full pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This type of stove is ideal for cooks who want to control how much heat is produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require frequent cleaning as they are more likely to accumulate grease and other residue. A fantastic example of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-safe. This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass and modern cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the hob offers the double inner flame to improve uniform heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also has an indicator for power that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings, including the high setting for searing a steak and an option for scrambled eggs. Its simple yet intuitive controls were also well loved by our test subjects, who found them to be very simple to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you must press the controls nine more times to reach the highest heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing. This Neff model is among the top gas-on-glass hobs that are that you can buy at a reasonable price. While it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards but it can do the job well and can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds. Electric hobs There are many electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they have a sleek design that fits into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functions that are safer, quicker and more energy-efficient than their predecessors. One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. They are designed with sleek glazed finishes, and have an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs also come with a power booster feature that allows you to increase the heat for a brief duration. Induction hobs are another electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. This means they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a certain kind of pan to work and can be costly to set up. Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are another great option for modern homes. It has a burner underneath an unidirectional glass layer like a traditional gas stove. However the glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much simpler to clean than standard glass that is tempered. A majority of these hobs have a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the oven is hot. Although gas hobs are an option for many home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take an extended time to warm up and cool down. In contrast electric hobs are efficient in energy use and easier to clean. There are even electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, so you'll have the flexibility to fit your needs. It's important to note, however, that these stoves will require the installation of a registered gas safe engineer. They also require a dedicated cable of 6mm 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 electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pot is placed on a hob the coils create magnetic fields that generate heat directly in the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy point of view, as there's no residual heat being wasted. There are a variety of models of induction stoves from the basic entry-level ones with a single zone labelled by rings, to more advanced multi zoned induction stoves with up to six zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked simultaneously within a flex area. Some of these models come with a touch slider control that resembles to the way you operate on an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar located 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 also more energy efficient over the long run. They heat up faster and have a smaller heating area which can lower the cost of energy. They also cool faster and have a more secure design without hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or older people living in the house. However, they do create magnetic forces that can interfere with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans with larger burners. As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean, because food and debris could build up over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can opt for a specialist product to keep your stove shiny and in good condition for a longer time. Make sure you don't use scrubbers or scouring pads on your induction hob as they can scratch the surface.