Types of Hobs

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

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

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs have a sleek and modern look that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean and can quickly be cleaned when spills or splatters happen. They heat up quickly and are energy efficient, which can reduce your electricity bill. Ceramic hobs aren't always fast when changing temperature settings. This can be frustrating when you have to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or increase of heat.


Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface that is heated from below by electric elements. These elements can be controlled individually using rotary knobs and notched up to the level of power you require. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to boost the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have a extremely high degree of heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch even after being shut off. This can be a challenge when you have children, so it's recommended to install them in a location that is away from objects that are flammable and not within reach of young children.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up on a variety of worktops, such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also quite affordable and can be an excellent option for those looking to replace your old stoves without spending a lot. But, as with all appliances, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains power supply, so we recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure that the new hobs are safe for use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to the pan's size and shape. You'll need cookware that is either exactly the same size as the element or that is able to fit in each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same size as the element, the element won't recognise it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs offer modern, sleek design. They can be more expensive than electric hobs, and could require professional installation. However, they heat up faster - an entire pot of water can often boil in less than four minutes. This kind of stove is also a great option for cooks who prefer to regulate the amount of heat produced. However, it must be noted that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel models and will likely require cleaning more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to stick rather than slide off.

This Bertazzoni hob is a fantastic example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners that are matte black with metal control knobs for a stylish, sophisticated finish. The wok ring is 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher-proof.

This Bosch gas hob is a highly recommended model. It is a sleek piece of toughened glass with modern cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left of the hob offers a double inner flame to improve uniform heat distribution and increases cooking time. It also features an indicator for power that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine pre-set settings, like high settings to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.

Our test subjects also appreciated the controls, as they were easy to use and intuitive. Some minor drawbacks are that you must press the controls nine more times before reaching the maximum heating level and that the glass can make it difficult to discern what the burners are doing.

This Neff model is among the best gas-on-glass hobs that you can buy at a reasonable price. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and can be an excellent addition to your kitchen for just over 120 dollars.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They're not just elegant and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer, and more energy efficient than their predecessors.

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

Induction hobs are yet another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes. In contrast to traditional electric and gas plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat cookware. This means they are more energy-efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a certain kind of pan to function and can be costly to set up.

Hobs made of glass that are gas-powered are a great alternative for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it comes with the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than glass that is tempered. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator', which alerts you when the hob is hot.

Although gas hobs are an option that is popular with home cooks but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can be difficult to control and take some time to get hot and cool off. In contrast, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean.

There are electric stoves that are compatible LPG gas. You can switch between different fuels, providing you with the flexibility you need to meet your needs. However, it's important to keep in mind that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for those who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.

Hobs with induction

Under the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that generate an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields that directly heat the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from a energy perspective since there's no heat being wasted.

There are many different models of induction hob starting from basic ones with only one cooking zone with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones and allow you to cook multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Some of these models come with an adjustable slider control similar to the iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving 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 can be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are believed to be more efficient in the long run since they heat up faster and have a smaller area to heat up which could help lower your energy costs. They cool quicker and have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them ideal for families that have elderly or children. However, they create a magnetic field which could affect medical devices such as pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use an oven cleaner, or you can opt for a specialist product to help keep your hob clean and in good shape for longer. You should never use any abrasive cleaning product or scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.