A Guide to the Best Hobs in the UK
A hob is a cook top that can be incorporated into a worktop and is separate from an oven. A cooker is a separate appliance that has a stove and an oven.
Hobs are mischievous, and sometimes malignant, creatures that reside in the countryside. They were often combined with Goblins to create the Hobgoblin.
Gas Hobs
A good hob is essential in modern kitchens. Whether you prefer ceramic, induction, or gas, there's an appliance that will fit your style and budget. A high-quality hob will heat up quickly and evenly to cook your food quickly and adds an elegant appearance to your kitchen.
A gas hob's precise temperature control is one of its most significant advantages. It is quick to reach high heat levels, which is ideal for boiling water, searing meat, and stirring-frying vegetables. The ability to adjust the heat output quickly makes it ideal for delicate dishes or sauces that require the use of a lower temperature setting.
Best ovens of a gas hob is its energy efficiency. It makes use of natural gas, which is usually less expensive than electricity, making it less expensive to run a hob. It also makes use of direct flames for heating your cooking utensils. This means that there is less energy lost around the burner edges.
Modern gas hobs are designed with a sleek look to fit in with any kitchen decor. There are models with a shiny black or stainless steel finish that will blend in seamlessly and make your kitchen appear more contemporary. If you prefer, you can pick a glass ceramic model that is easy to clean and is highly durable.
Gas hobs are a popular choice for modern kitchens because of their versatility and convenience. They also work well with traditional kitchen designs, especially when you incorporate a range cooker in your kitchen layout. However, it's important to keep in mind that they can increase the risk of fire when compared to electric or induction hobs. They lack the safety features like being able to shut off instantly and having child-safety locks on the control knobs.
When choosing gas hobs it is important to consider the number of burners and cooking zones you require. You can choose models that have 1,2 or 5 cooking zones. A majority of models feature a central wok that is a very powerful burner that can be used for rapid boiling or stir-frying. Check the type of ignition you are using. Most gas hobs ignite the burners using an electric spark or a constant electric pilot flame.
Hobs induction
Induction cookers are gaining popularity due to their speed and effectiveness. Gas hobs remain an option for home cooks. These flat glass-topped stoves rely on magnetism instead of heat to heat the pan contents. This makes them more efficient, and safer since there isn't any flame underneath. Induction hobs have many features, some of which our Good Housekeeping Institute experts have found can be particularly useful.
One of them is the bridge function, which allows you to join two hob rings to accommodate larger pans. You can also choose to control the temperature of each ring independently through the touchscreen panel. This is a great option for those who enjoy entertaining and could be a lifesaver in the event that you have guests with different food preferences. Induction hobs could be hazardous for people who have pacemakers as they generate electromagnetic fields that can disrupt the operation of their devices.
The British Heart Foundation recommends a minimum distance of 60cm between a power source and any active hob if you are wearing a pacemaker. The magnetic field produced by the hob could interact with electrical devices, causing them to malfunction, therefore you'll want to make sure that your device isn't within reach of the hot plate or in an area of cooking live.
Another induction hob we have available is this model from CDA, which has five hob zones and various features, like melt and simmer that can be ideal for bain maries or slow-cooked stews. The hob is also designed with safety in mind. It has child locks, anti-overflow, as well as overheat settings.
This induction hob has a more modern design than other models. This is evident by the sleek black finish that blends well with all kitchen styles. It has a range of features including a pause function that lets you temporarily turn off the hob without having to remove the pan as well as a boost feature that provides additional power for quick heat-up. It is also rated as energy efficient, and its touch-screen panel is equipped with handy preset options for your favorite recipes.
LPG Hobs
Gas hobs are able to attain higher temperatures and provide instant control of the heat. Gas hobs are popular in commercial and domestic kitchens. They are used to heat leftovers or cook up culinary masterpieces.
Our range of LPG hobs are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 60cm with 4 burners to 90cm with 5 or 6 burners. A large portion of these hobs could also be converted to natural gas by using a simple kit. This makes them the perfect solution for homes with mains connections.
All of our gas hobs come from trusted brands such as Falcon, Imperial, and Lincat. They are available in a variety of designs and finishes. You can find models in stainless steel, black glass and other finishes to match your home.
When you are choosing a gas stove, there are plenty of features to consider. Certain models have automatic pan detection as an additional security feature. They permit the cooking zones to only be activated when the cookware needed is in place, thus preventing the heat from being wasted. Certain hobs feature a mix of cooking zones that can accommodate different sizes of pans. Some offer child locks, keeping unintended fingers from the controls, and some even have a handy auto switch off tool that turns off the stove when it's not used for a certain amount of time.
LPG is also more readily available than electricity in rural areas, where electricity can be difficult to locate. The fact that it's a liquid means it can be easily stored and transported, making it a popular option for those living in remote locations or catering businesses that aren't connected to mains gas.
Our selection of gas hobs provides a variety of options, including some of our models boasting quick boiling times of less than five minutes. They are perfect for cooking pastas, potatoes, and other favourites when time is at a premium. Many of our hobs are equipped with flat cast iron pan supports to ensure durability, as well as a flame-failure safety device that ensures the flame will never go out.
Contact Us
The right hob can make all the difference when cooking with your family or friends. Our team of experts will guide you though the four most commonly used types and help you identify the cooker hob best suited to you and your lifestyle as well as cooking habits.
Gas hobs offer excellent precision and control, and come in a range of styles available, from 4 to 6 burners. There are models that can be converted to LPG, which is a more affordable and more secure fuel. Our selection includes all the major brands, with a wide selection of colours and finishes to match your kitchen style.
The word hob is an old English phrase that was originally used to mean 'a shelf, grate or fireside'. It's an old-fashioned term that describes the way we cooked at home in previous decades, with large fireplaces and separate shelves for pots. Today, most kitchens have an oven as well as an additional hob (stove top) which is either electric or gas.
Some countries refer to the stove as a cooker, but the British refer to it as hob. Hobs are an independent piece of equipment with heating rings for saucepans. A cooker is a larger appliance that incorporates a hob and an oven. A range cooker is a combination of a stove and oven, often built into the worktop. More information on the affected gas hobs along with hazard descriptions as well as the product's identifiers can be found on the Product Safety Report pages linked to above.