Types of Hob and Oven

Hobs and ovens are a common feature in most kitchens. They can be found in many different designs. You can mix and match different types like domino, electric, and gas to meet your cooking needs.

A hob may also have safety features like child and position controls. These can prevent children from touching the stove and stop them changing the heat settings by accident.

Types

The hob is the main focal element of any kitchen and has a huge impact on the results of your cooking. There are a variety of kinds of hobs, and the one you select will depend on what your specific cooking needs are.

Gas hobs are a classic choice, and they provide a rapid heating process and instant reaction to temperature fluctuations. They are a favorite choice for chefs who are professional as they provide precise control. They are not as easy to clean as other stoves and could require more care.

Electric hobs are flat ceramic surface with heated elements underneath and can be found in different sizes that have between four and six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with its own heating element, which can be controlled individually by you. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring while making sausages in another. This type of hob is able to be quicker to heat than gas and offers a child-safe alternative as the cooking zone only becomes hot when you place a pot on it.

Traditional ceramic hobs are a convenient alternative to gas and electric and are a stylish option. They have an even and smooth surface that is easy to clean. However, they are not as quick to respond to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.

Domino hobs are a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs that incorporate ovens beneath the cooking surface. They are ideal for kitchens with limited space. They can also be used in kitchenettes and flats. They are usually more affordable than standard hobs, and can be energy efficient, but they are also prone to breaking and require more frequent maintenance.

Gas

Gas hobs are cooktops that have burners that are easily fitted into the kitchen countertop to give a seamless appearance. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, however they are also powered by propane gas. They have a sleek and modern design that can bring a touch of class to your modular kitchen.

A traditional gas stove has several burners, usually 4, but sometimes up to 6. The burners can be lit with a match or knob. The flames are then controlled by a set of valves that can be adjusted to control the temperature.

The majority of modern gas stoves built-in on the other hand are equipped with burners that have multiple flames. This lets you control both the inner and outer rings of each burner to allow you to precisely control your cooking. These types of burners allow for much quicker heat up times and are more reliable than the older models.


In the past, it was essential for gas stoves to be constantly lit to ensure that the burners remained hot and fueled. This was to avoid accidents, like the mistake of turning on an oven when the stove is still lit with an igniter or a match. Modern cookers have been built with safety as a top priority. They come equipped with a device to stop the flame that shuts off the burners when the pilot light fails to work.

Gas stoves and hobs require to be checked regularly and cleaned as well as maintained. To achieve this, it is recommended to arrange a visit with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only ensure that your appliance is operating properly, but will they will also provide expert advice on how to avoid any future problems.

Electricity

A good hob is just as important when it comes to making your kitchen the best it can be. Worktops, refrigerators freezers, and ovens are the first things that pop up to mind. The type of hob that you select will impact the way your kitchen operates and also how easy it is for you to clean.

Electric hobs feature heating elements set beneath a smooth, glass surface. This is typically cleaned using a nonabrasive cleaner. The elements turn on when you turn on the hob and can be notched up to a range of power levels by turning or adjusting the control knob. They may take longer to warm up than a gas cooker, but once they do they tend to offer more consistent temperature control. They have built-in indicators that let you know whether a space 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. They are ideal for cookware with a flat base, but aren't the best choice for cast iron pans since they can overheat. Some models (such as Belling BELCH602T) come with dual rings that allow you to cook sausages and boil water on the same ring. Some models come with a 'boost' feature which concentrates high-powered heat onto one ring for stir fry cooking sauteing meats, searing or boiling large pots of water.

Induction hobs differ from standard electric hobs in that they utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, rather than the conventional method of gas flames. They can reach precise temperatures faster and are more energy efficient. They also have a cool-to-the-touch surface and flashing heat indicators that signal that the ring is either being used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to make functional or decorative objects. It is formed by mixing earthen elements, clay powders and water into an exact shape, and then fired in a very high-temperature oven called the Kiln. Once it's made, it can then be painted or covered with decorative materials to give it texture and color.

ovens uk blend form and function to create an impressive piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat the ceramic hobs by passing an electrical current through coiled components that are concealed beneath the black glass surface. When they are activated, they create heat, which is then transferred to the pan through an infrared system. You can adjust the intensity of the heating using the knobs or touch controls.

Some ceramic hobs are dual ring designs that have one smaller and one larger cooking zone that lets you select the most suitable size for your pan. You can also buy hobs with boosters that produce high-powered heat rapidly. This is ideal for cooking food and bringing pans to boil fast.

As compared to other types of hobs ceramic cooktops generally take longer to warm up and alter temperature, but once they do they're generally more energy-efficient. You can also opt for vented hobs, which integrate a ventilation system with the ceramic cooktop. This makes sure that smoke, steam, and cooking smells do not linger in your house.

Induction

The heating elements in hobs with induction are made up of copper wire coils that are placed beneath the surface. They create electromagnets that heat the pans sat on them. The coils stir up free electrons within the base metal of your pan, which in turn, distributes heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and the moment you remove your pan, the cooking zones turn off automatically.

Induction hobs are typically more expensive than other hobs however, they're also more efficient to heat and consume 30-70 percent less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. Induction hobs are also simpler to clean because only the inside of the pan are heated, not the surface.

Certain manufacturers offer an induction model that comes with additional features, such as a pause function that shuts off the power to your stove when you step away from it, or link up two cooking rings at the same power level to provide greater flexibility. They are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They may be more costly than traditional induction models, but they're worth a look if multitasking is important to you.

This induction hob is our top choice. It comes with four large cooking zones with a Bridge function and nine power settings, which gives you a lot of options for cooks who want to be more adventurous. It was a great performer in our tests, with fast heating and accurate control when making pancakes. The oven comes with dishwasher built-in, as well as automatic pan detection to make cleaning much easier. There's a limited range of pans that are compatible it cannot be used for cooking with the utensils with magnetic bases. This can be a problem when you have a lot of non-compliant cookware, or just some of them are suitable for induction cooktops.