Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and your style.

Induction hobs come with a flat ceramic surface and four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs offer an elegant and contemporary look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, so spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps reduce your electricity bills. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you need to cook something that requires quick decrease or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs consist of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. They can be controlled individually by rotary knobs and nipped to the power level you require. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to boost the heat of a single zone. best oven uk have extremely high degree of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being turned off. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from any flammable objects and out of reach of children.

This type of hob can be installed on a variety worktops including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and can be a great alternative if you're looking to replace your previous hobs without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they do need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains, and we would recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe for use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. It is essential to purchase cookware that either matches the element precisely or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't match, then the element will not recognise it and will not begin to heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause 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. While they be more expensive than electric models and may require professional installation, they often require less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to boil within four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a great choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being generated. However, it should be noted that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel ones and will require cleaning more often, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stick instead of slipping off.

A fantastic example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated look. It also comes with a 4kW wok ring for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the gas hob has an inner burner that doubles to increase heat distribution and increase the speed of cooking. It also features a handy power level indicator, which allows you to control the exact temperature of your flame. You can select from nine pre-defined settings including a high setting for searing steak and an option for scrambled eggs.

The simple, yet intuitive controls were also well appreciated by our testers, who found them to be very simple to use. Some minor disadvantages are the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest level of heating and it can be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass.

Some of the best gas-on-glass hobs can be found at an affordable price like this Neff model. It's not likely to win any design prizes however it's going to serve its purpose and be an excellent addition to your kitchen for just over PS120.

Electric hobs

There are many electric hobs that are perfect for modern homes. Not only do they offer an elegant design that fits into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide modern technology that is safer, more efficient and energy-efficient than their predecessors.

One of the most sought-after electric hobs is a ceramic hob. These hobs have a sleek glazed finish, and feature an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature, which allows you to increase the heat of your cooker for a brief period of time.

Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat your cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a certain kind of pan to work with them and can be expensive to install.

A gas-on-glass hob is a different option that is a good choice for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it comes with an oven that is surrounded by the glass is a flat layer. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs have the "hot surface indicator" which alerts you to the heat.

Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for many home chefs, but they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and takes a long time to heat up and cool off. However electric hobs are efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.

To achieve the highest level of modern efficiency, you can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, giving you the flexibility to fit your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and require a dedicated 6mm cable in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field could interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Copper coils run an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a stove, the coils produce magnetic fields that produce heat directly inside the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are extremely efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't use any heat.


There are a variety of models of induction stoves, from the basic ones with a single zone marked by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction stoves with up to 6 zones and allow multiple pots to be cooked within a flex area. Some of these models have a touch slider control that looks 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 located in the middle. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to food types or recipes that can cut down time in the kitchen.

Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more energy efficient in the long run. They are more efficient in heating and have a smaller area for heating which can lower your energy costs. They also cool down quicker and feature a safer design without hot plates, making them ideal for families with young children or elderly persons living in the home. However, they create magnetic fields that can affect medical devices like pacemakers so it's important to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

As with all electric hobs you will need to clean your induction hob on a regular basis, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or you can invest in a specialist product to keep your stove sparkling and in good order for a longer time. Be sure to not use scrubbers or scouring pads on your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.