Types of Hobs

A hob, which is also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking device that heats pans by using flames or electricity. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that is best suited to your kitchen and style.

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

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek design. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, so spills and splatters can be quickly cleaned. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient and can help reduce your energy bills. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow in changing temperature settings, which can be frustrating when cooking food that requires a quick reduction or increase in heat.

Electric hobs are made up of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The elements can be individually controlled using rotary knobs and notched up to the level of power you require. You can even use the 'boost' feature in order to increase the heat of a single zone. you can find out more have a very high rate of heat retention, which means they'll stay hot to the touch even after being shut off. It's important to install ceramic hobs in an area that is away from flammable items and out of reach of children.

This kind of hob is able to be mounted on a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid hardwood as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is an excellent option if you're trying to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. As with all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs will be safe to use.

A downside of this type of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You will need to purchase cookware that either matches the element precisely or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, it will not recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This could result in inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern design. They can be more expensive than electric models, and may require professional installations. However they heat up faster - the water in a full pot will typically boil within less than four minutes. This type of hob also is a great choice for cooks who wish to control the amount of heat that is produced. However, it must be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel models and may need to be cleaned more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stick instead of sliding off.

This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated look. The wok ring is 4kW for additional versatility, and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.

Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual rings on the left side of the hob features an inner flame that doubles to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also comes with a handy power indicator that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks, and a low one for scrambled egg.

Its simple yet intuitive controls were also well appreciated by our testers who found them be very easy to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you must press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.

A few of the top gas on glass hobs are available at an affordable price like this Neff model. It's not going win any design awards however it's going to serve its purpose and be a great addition to your kitchen at just more than 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that blends into the rest of your kitchen, but they also provide modern technology that is safer, quicker and more efficient in energy use than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. These hobs have sleek glazed finishes, and have a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. These hobs are also fitted with a power booster feature that lets you increase the heat for a brief period of time.

Another electric hob that is suitable for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat cookware directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means they are more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a particular kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.

Gas on glass hobs are another great option for modern homes. It features a burner beneath an unidirectional glass layer similar to a conventional gas stove. However the glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much simpler to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.

Gas hobs remain a popular choice for many home chefs However, they can be noisy and hard to clean. They also take time to cool down and warm down, and their flame can be difficult to manage. On the other hand electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean.

For the highest level of modern technology, you can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between a variety of fuels, giving you the flexibility you need to meet your needs. It's important to note that these stoves will require installation by a registered gas safe engineer and require a dedicated cable of 6mm in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for those with pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.

Hobs with induction

Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils that generate an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient in energy use, since they don't use any heat.

There are a myriad of models of induction hob that range from basic models that have only one cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots simultaneously on one Flex zone. Some of these premium models have an adjustable slider control similar to the 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 for specific food items or recipes which can help you save time in the kitchen.


Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are believed to be more energy efficient in the long run because they heat up quicker and use a smaller space for heating up which can help lower your energy costs. They also cool faster and have a safer design that doesn't have hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or elderly people living in the home. They do, however, generate a magnetic force that could cause interference with certain medical devices like pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center the pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners.

As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can either employ a standard oven cleaning product or purchase a specialist one to keep your stove in good condition and shining for longer. Make sure you don't use the abrasive cleaning pads or pads for scouring on your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.