Types of Hob and Oven

Hobs and ovens are a common fixture in kitchens. They come in a variety of styles. You can mix and match different types such as domino, electric and gas to meet your cooking requirements.

Safety features such as child and position controls can be added to the hob. These features can prevent children from accidentally changing the temperature setting or touching the stove.

Types

The hob is the central point of any kitchen and has a huge impact on the results of your cooking. There are many different types of hobs, and which one you select will depend on the needs of your kitchen.

Gas hobs are a classic option. They are quick to heat up and respond immediately to temperature fluctuations. They are a favorite choice for professional chefs as they are precise in their control. They aren't as easy to clean as other hobs and may require more maintenance.

Electric hobs have a flat ceramic surface and heated elements underneath. They are available in a variety of sizes and come with up to six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with its own heating element that can be controlled separately by you. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring whilst cooking sausages in another. This type of hob is quicker to start heating than gas, and it offers the safety of children as the cooking zone gets hot only when you put the pot on it.

Ceramic hobs are a chic and user-friendly alternative to gas and electric hobs. They have a smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However they aren't as quick to respond to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.

The Domino hob is a space-saving option to gas and electric hobs. It incorporates ovens under the cooking surface. They are ideal for kitchens with limited space. They can also be used in kitchenettes and flats. They are usually less expensive than standard hobs and can be extremely energy efficient but can be fragile and require more maintenance than other types of cookers.

Gas

A gas hob is a cooktop with burners that can be fitted into kitchen countertops for an elegant look. Gas hobs are typically powered by LPG or natural gas, but they can also be powered with propane gas. The modern, sleek design can bring sophistication to your cooking space that is modular.

A traditional gas stove comes with a range of burners, typically 4 but sometimes up to 6. The burners can be ignited by a match or a knob. The flames are controlled by an array of valves that can be adjusted to regulate the temperature.

However, the majority of modern gas hobs that have built-in gas burners feature multi-flame burners that allow you to control the inner and outer ring of each burner to manage your cooking. These kinds of burners allow for much faster heating times and are more reliable than the traditional ones.

Traditionally, it was important to keep a gas stove on continuously to ensure the burners were constantly fueled and hot. This was done to prevent accidents, such as the mistake of turning on an oven when the stove was still lit with a match or pilot light. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind and include a built-in flame safety device that shuts off the burners automatically if the pilot light fail.

Gas stoves and hobs need to be checked regularly and cleaned, as well as maintained. The best method to do this is to arrange an appointment with a certified Gas Safe registered engineer. Not only will they be able to make sure your appliance is working correctly as well, but they'll offer expert advice and suggestions on how to prevent any problems in the near future.

Electric

When it comes time to design your perfect kitchen the worktops, fridge freezer and ovens will always get the most attention, however the quality of your hob is also essential. Whichever type you choose, conventional, induction or gas cooker the type of hob you select can impact how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to clean.

Electric hobs feature heating elements under a smooth glass surface. This is usually cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. The elements turn on when you turn on the hob and can be notched up to various power levels by turning or pressing the control knob. oven and hob may take them some time to heat up, but once they have they tend to provide better and more consistent temperature control. They also have built-in indicators that inform you when a space is being used or hot from cooking.

Typically, these come in a range of four to six sizes that can be cranked up to various levels of power. They are ideal for cookware with a flat base, but aren't the best choice for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Some models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs that let you cook sausages and boil water on the same ring. Some even come with a 'boost' feature that concentrates the power of high-powered heat into one ring to stir fry cooking, searing meat or boiling large pots of water.

Induction hobs differ from regular electric models due to the fact that they make use of electromagnetic fields instead of conventional gas flames to cook your food. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a smaller time frame, which makes them highly energy efficient. They also have a cool-to-the-touch surface and flashing heat indicators that inform you that the ring is in use or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramic is an ingredient that can be made into functional or decorative objects. It is formed by mixing clay, earthen elements powders and water into a specific shape, then subsequently fired in a high-temperature oven, also known as the Kiln. After it's formed it can be painted or covered with decorative materials in order to add texture and color.

Ceramic hobs are a stunning combination of form and function that can be easily integrated into any modern kitchen. They operate by using radiant heating technology, which passes an electric current through coiled elements hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. When activated, they generate heat which is then transferred to your pan via an infrared heating system. hobs and ovens can alter the intensity of this heating by adjusting the controls using a knobs or a touch.

Some ceramic hobs have dual rings, with the smaller and the larger cooking area. This allows you to select the right size for your pan. There are hobs with booster burners which generate high-powered heat rapidly, great for searing meat or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly.

Compared to other types of cooktops, ceramic cooktops take a little longer to warm up and then change temperature however, once they're done they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. There are vented cooktops that incorporate an air-conditioning system inside the cooktop's ceramic, making sure that smoke, steam and cooking smells don't stay in your home.


Induction

Induction hobs have heating elements composed of copper wire coils. They generate electromagnets that make the pans hot on top of them. The coils move free electrons in the base of your pan which transmits heat efficiently and directly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot, and the moment you remove your pan the cooking zones are turned off automatically.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than other models however, they're also more efficient to heat and consume 30 to 70% less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. Induction hobs are also easier to clean because only the interior of the pan heat up and not the surface.

Certain manufacturers offer an induction model with extra features like a pause function that shuts off the power to your cooker when you leave it, or link up two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power level to provide greater flexibility. These are sometimes called FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models however, they're worth considering if multitasking is important to you.

This induction hob is our top pick. It has four large cooking zones with a Bridge function and nine power settings, which gives you a variety of options for those who are ambitious cooks. It was a great performer in our test with fast heating and precise control when making pancakes. The hob has a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection to make cleaning easier. The only problem is that there are only a handful of compatible pans, and you cannot use it to cook using the utensils that have magnetic bases. It could be a problem when you have a lot of cookware that is not compatible or only the smallest portion is compatible with induction cooktops.