Leave a Pot on the Hob

The recipes of Nigella often advise you to 'leave the pot on the hob however what does this mean? A hob is the British word for a stove top or cooktop and can be electric or gas-powered.

Dual fuel cookers combine a gas hob with an electric oven to provide the best of both. They are quick to heat, but can be more expensive to operate than single fuel models.

Hobs made of solid plate

Solid plate hobs have been a stalwart of many homes for decades. They are a simple choice for those looking to save money. Their design is flat metal plates that are heated by using electricity. Their low initial cost can lead to higher energy bills in the future due to their inefficient use. They require a lot of heat that remains and take longer to warm up or cool down.

A popular alternative to solid plate hobs is the ceramic, which is more expensive to purchase but is much less expensive to run. These hobs are available in a range of styles, such as curving and flat and can be paired with a variety of ovens that can be adapted to any kitchen layout. They are easy to clean and blend well into modern homes.

The next step up is the induction hob, which makes use of electromagnetic fields to warm your cookware directly. The surface of the hob stays cool, which decreases the chance of burning. It is also safe for children to be around it. Additionally, induction hobs are the quickest of all kinds to warm up and cool down.


When deciding which type of hob to buy it is essential to take into consideration your preferences for cooking and your energy requirements. Solid plate hobs are cheap to purchase but inefficient as gas and ceramic hobs are more expensive but more efficient. Induction hobs are a great option, since they combine the efficiency of a gas hob with a fashionable look.

Gas hobs

The top gas hobs are easy to use, have a clean and attractive appearance and are constructed from sturdy materials. They should come with a solid guarantee and be easy-to-clean. They should also be compatible with a variety of cookware and offer instant heat control.

A gas hob functions by connecting the gas supply to each burner, which burns the fuel to create a flame. The flame is able to heat the pan and the air to enable precise temperature control. Some models have a visual flame indicator that makes it easy to tell when the burners are on or off. Other features that are available on gas hobs include numerous burners in various sizes, automatic ignition and drip tray that can be removed.

Many modern gas hobs have ceramic or stainless steel top, while some have a sleek black glass finish. There are vented and open-burner hobs, according to the style of your kitchen. Hobs vented have an integrated extractor that takes steam and smoke from cooking pans, and then releases the heat outside, whereas open-burner gas hobs don't.

Open-burner hobs have a classic cooker look with metal knobs and grates, while vented hobs are more contemporary with flat, glass surfaces. Some models come with pan supports that are wider, which is an advantage for larger pots and pans.

Gas hobs remain popular despite the increasing popularity of electric hobs, such as induction and ceramic. Gas cooking is popular among people who are familiar with gas cooking. However, a number of government regulations are encouraging the phase out of appliances powered by fossil fuels in favour of energy-efficient alternatives.

All gas-powered hobs require electrical components to function, therefore it is crucial to have your gas cooker installed by a skilled carpenter and electrician who will ensure all installations are safe and conform to the standards of the industry. If you are installing a gas-powered hob, your electrician will need to route an electrical power cable and a gas pipe into your kitchen. This is usually a straightforward process that doesn't impact the existing electrical or piping connections.

Ceramic hobs

Along with an attractive, sleek finish ceramic hobs are easy to clean and are more energy efficient than gas. They function with powerful heating elements under the surface of each zone. The heat is then transferred through the glass to the pan above. This reduces energy wastage as it only direct heats the pan, and not the air surrounding it. They are also easy to control and respond quickly to temperature fluctuations.

The flat surface of a ceramic cooker is easy to wipe down, so spills and splatters are easily cleaned off with a damp cloth as they cool. It's worth remembering though that they're not suitable for the kitchen that is hot or steamy conditions as the glass may crack and discolour in the event that it becomes too hot.

The majority of people aren't concerned about the fact that ceramic hobs create some amount of heat below the surface. In fact, most models come with integrated cooling fans to help regulate this heat and stop it from impacting your kitchen or workspace. They're also made of acoustic insulation to limit heat transfer between the hob and your kitchen.

Another advantage of ceramic hobs is that they are compatible with all types of cookware, compared to induction hobs that require a specific magnetically conductor pan. Cast iron cookware shouldn't be placed on a ceramic stove because it could scratch the surface.

Many ceramic hobs come fitted with a variety of safety features like residual heat indicators as well as lockout functions to help minimise accidents in the kitchen. Some even have 'overflow protection that can sense the moment a pot is boiling and then automatically cut the power supply to the zone to minimise damage and mess. Similar to electric cookers generally, it's important to ensure a ceramic hob is correctly installed and equipped with the appropriate breakers and cables to ensure complete security. It's best to leave this to a qualified electrical engineer, so that you can be certain that your ceramic hob is safe and reliable.

Induction hobs

Like their name implies induction hobs feature coils underneath the surface which generate magnetic fields that generate heat within the pan or any metal objects that are placed on them. They use less power than other kinds of electric hobs because they are cool until a pan is placed on them, and they are more efficient in heating up a pan because the heat generated is generated from the bottom of the pan rather than the entire cooktop.

Like gas hobs, induction models come with an control panel on which you can set your preferences and see how much power you're using. They are only compatible with cookware that is compatible with the electromagnetic heating mechanism. This means that it must be made of ferrous metal or cast iron. Stainless steel and a few non-stick cookwares work, but you must always verify the label or use a magnet along the base to make sure your cookware is induction compatible.

A popular choice for shared student halls as well as penthouses in iQ Student Accommodation Induction hobs feature sleek LCD displays and modern aesthetics that fit seamlessly into contemporary kitchens. Induction hobs are safer than traditional gas stoves because they only heat when a pan is placed over them. They shut off automatically once the pan is removed.

hobs oven operate like an iPhone. A swipe gesture on the slider will adjust your preferred heat level. There are typically up and down arrows on the control panel, which allow you to adjust the power level, or dial for precise temperature control.

Some models come with dual flex-zones which lets you join two zones to create a larger space to cook larger saucepans. Some models have automatic shut-off as well as a residual heat indicator and a timer to alert you when food is ready. All induction hobs emit low-level magnetic fields at frequencies in the kilohertz range, which can affect some medical equipment such as pacemakers, and it is important to keep them from your body when not being used.