Types of Hobs

A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans with flame or electricity. There are many different types of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and design.

Induction hobs feature flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and have five or four zones for heating your pans. The contemporary designs that operate with a touch are sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs provide modern and sleek design that can improve the overall look of your kitchen. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, meaning spills and splatters are quickly wiped away. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient which means they can cut down on your electric bill. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they tend to be slow in changing temperature settings and can be a hassle if you're cooking something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs consist of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be adjusted through rotating knobs. You can use the Boost feature to boost the temperature of a particular zone. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, and even after they are turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a problem if you have children, so it's best to place them in a location that is away from flammable objects and out of reach of children.

The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be installed on a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly affordable and is an excellent option for those trying to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, so we would recommend hiring an electrician professional to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. You'll need to buy cookware that either matches the element precisely or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware doesn't fit, then the element will not recognise it and will not begin to heat up the base of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Gas on glass hobs have a sleek and modern look. Although they may be more expensive than electric models and require professional installation, they typically take less time to heat up. It's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to come to a boil in four minutes or less. This kind of stove is also a great option for cooks who want to regulate the amount of heat being produced. Glass hobs are more prone to damage and require more frequent cleaning since they tend to build up grease and residue.

A fantastic example of a glass-on-gas model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated look. The wok ring has a power of 4kW to allow for more versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.

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 hob offers the double inner flame to improve uniform heat distribution which accelerates cooking time. It also has an indicator for power that helps you to control the precise temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine pre-defined settings including the highest setting for searing steaks and the low setting for scrambled eggs.

The simple, yet easy-to-use controls were also loved by our test subjects who found them be very easy to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you need to press the controls nine times to reach the maximum temperature and the glass can make it difficult to discern the burners' actions.

Best ovens UK of the top gas on glass hobs can be found at an affordable price like this Neff model. While it's unlikely to win any design awards but it can do the job well and can be an ideal addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

There are many electric hobs that work for modern households. They not only offer an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functionality that is safer, more efficient and efficient in energy use than their predecessors.


Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They are designed with sleek glazed finishes, and have an easy surface to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also usually fitted with a power boost function which lets you increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional electric and gas plates. They are therefore more energy-efficient, and they offer precise temperature control. However, they require a specific kind of pan to function and can be expensive to set up.

Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it features the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. However, this glass is shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much simpler to clean than the typical tempered glass. Many of these hobs also have a 'hot surface indicator' that warns you when the oven is hot.

Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for a lot of home cooks, but they can be noisy and hard to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and take a long time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs, on the other side, are more efficient in energy use and are easier to clean.

For the highest level of modern technology You can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, so you'll have the flexibility to suit your lifestyle. It's important to note that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a 6mm cable for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people with pacemakers, as the electromagnetic field could cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Copper coils create an alternating electric current under the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on a hob, the coils create magnetic fields that create heat directly within the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy point of view, as there's no residual heat that is wasted.

There are many different models of induction hobs starting from basic ones with one cooking zone that is marked by rings to more sophisticated multi-zoned induction hobs with up to six zones, allowing the cooking of multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Certain models have the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food items which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.

Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are thought to be more efficient over the long term as they heat up much faster and have a smaller surface to heat up which could help you save on energy bills. They also cool down faster and have a safer design with no hot plates, which makes them ideal for families with children or older people living in the house. However, they create magnetic fields that could affect medical devices like pacemakers therefore it is essential to center your pans on the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

As with all electric hobs, you'll need to keep your induction hob clean since food particles and other debris can accumulate over time. You can use a standard oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to keep your stove sparkling and in good order for longer. Just be sure to never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on your induction hob as they could scratch the surface.