Types of Hobs


A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can choose one that suits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and come with four or five zones for heating your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look elegant and chic and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and are able to be cleaned up in the event of spills or splatters. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient and can lower your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing the temperature settings. This can be a hassle when you have to cook something that requires a rapid decrease or an increase in temperature.

Electric hobs are made of an uncooked plate that is heated by electric elements beneath. They can be controlled individually with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the power level you require. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature in order to increase the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, so even after they've been shut off, they'll be hot to the touch. It is essential to place ceramic hobs in a location that is away from flammable items and out of reach of children.

This type of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops such as laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and can be an excellent alternative if you are looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot of money. However, just like any other appliance, they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains power supply, so we would recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure your new hobs are safe for use.

This type of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You'll need to buy cookware that is either exactly the same size as the element or that can fit comfortably into each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element will not recognise it and won't start to heat up the bottom of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs offer an elegant, modern look. They can be more expensive than electric hobs Links to an external site. , and could require professional installation. However they heat up faster and a full pot of water can often boil within less than four minutes. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat is produced. However, it should be observed that a glass-based hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel models and will likely need to be cleaned more often, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to remain instead of sliding off.

This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It has four monobloc burners that are matte black, with control knobs made of metal for a stylish, sophisticated appearance. It also has the wok ring that has 4kW to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is an attractive slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left of the hob has an inner flame that doubles to ensure uniform heat distribution which speeds up cooking times. It also features an indicator for power that allows you to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-set settings, like the highest setting for sear steaks and a low one for scrambled egg.

Its simple yet easy-to-use controls were also liked by our testers, who found them to be extremely easy to use. A few minor drawbacks are that you have to physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest heating level and it can be difficult to discern the status of the burners through the glass.

This Neff model is among the best gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. It's not going to win any design awards but it'll perform the task and be an excellent addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, more efficient and efficient in energy use than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most well-known electric stoves. These hobs have an elegant glazed finish and feature 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 time.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs cook your food directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. They are therefore more energy efficient and provide precise temperature control. However they require a certain type of pan to work with them and can be expensive to install.

A gas-on-glass hob is another option that's an excellent choice for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it has an oven that is surrounded by a layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than tempering glass. A majority of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which alerts you when the oven is hot.

While gas hobs remain an option for many home cooks, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and take some time to warm up and cool down. Electric hobs on the other side are more efficient in energy use and easier to clean.

To achieve the highest level of modern technology, you can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, providing you with the flexibility you need to meet your needs. It's important to keep in mind that these hobs must be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're not suitable for those with pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils run 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 produce magnetic fields that generate heat directly inside the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient in energy use, since they don't use any heat.

There are a myriad of models of induction hobs that range from basic models that have a single cooking zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to the way you use an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Some models have preset settings that are specific to recipes or food types which can help you save time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more efficient in the long term. They heat up faster and have a smaller area for heating which could reduce your energy costs. They cool faster and also are safer than traditional hobs that do not have hot plates. This makes them perfect for families that have elderly or children. However, they do create an electric force that could cause interference with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore essential to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.

As with all electric hobs, you'll have to keep your induction hob clean regularly as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can make use of a basic oven cleaning product or invest in a specialist one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for a longer time. Just be sure to never use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads for scouring on your induction hob since they could scratch the surface.