Types of Hobs

A hob, also known as stovetop in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans with electric or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs available, so you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.

Induction hobs come with flat cooking surfaces made of ceramic and include four or five zones for heating your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs offer a sleek and modern look that can really improve the overall look of your kitchen. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can easily be wiped down if spills or splatters occur. They are quick to heat up and are energy-efficient which means they can cut down on your electricity bill. However, one disadvantage of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow to change temperatures, which can be frustrating if you're cooking something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat.

Electric hobs are made of a solid plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. They can be controlled separately using rotary knobs and notched up to the power level you require. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature to boost the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs are able to hold heat well, and even after they have been turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. This can be a challenge if you have children, so it's recommended to only install them in a location which is far from objects that are flammable and away from little ones.

The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be set up on a variety of worktops such as laminate, solid wood and granite. It's also fairly affordable and can be a great option if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. As with all appliances, they need to be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.

This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. It is essential to purchase cookware that is exactly the same as the element or is able to fit comfortably into each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element will not recognize it and won't begin to heat the base of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient.

Gas on glass hobs

Glass hobs with gas are a great choice for a sleek, modern aesthetic. While they cost more than electric models and may require professional installation, they typically require less time to heat up - it's not uncommon for a complete pan of water to boil in four minutes or less. This type of hob is also a great option for cooks who prefer to limit the amount of heat being generated. However, it must be noted that a glass hob can be more vulnerable to damage than stainless steel models and will likely need to be cleaned more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to remain instead of sliding off.

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

This Bosch gas hob is another highly recommended model. It combines a stylish piece of toughened glass and advanced cooking technology. The dual rings that are located on the left side of the hob offers a double inner flame to ensure uniform heat distribution and increases cooking time. It also features an easy-to-read power indicator that helps you to control the exact 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 loved by our test subjects who found them to be very simple to use. A few minor issues are that you need to press the controls nine more times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see what the burners are doing.

A few of the top gas on glass hobs can be found at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. Although it's unlikely to be a winner of any design awards, it does the job well and is a fantastic addition to your kitchen for just over 120 pounds.

Electric hobs

Electric hobs are a great choice for modern homes. They're not only sleek and stylish, they are also faster, safer and more efficient than their predecessors.

Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They're designed with a sleek, glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface resistant to smudges or scratches. They also come with a power booster feature which allows you to boost your heat for a short period of time.

Another electric hob that is perfect for modern homes is an induction hob. Unlike traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. They are therefore more energy-efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific kind of pan and can be costly to install.

A gas on glass hob is another option that is a good choice for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with a burner beneath a layer of flat glass. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is heated.

While gas hobs are still an option that is popular with home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and takes an extended time to get hot and cool off. Electric hobs on the other hand, are more energy efficient and easier to clean.

You can even find electric stoves that work with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between various fuel sources, meaning you'll have the flexibility to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs need to be installed by a gas safe registered engineer and will require a 6mm cable in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those who have pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may cause interference with them.

Induction hobs

Under the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils produce magnetic fields which directly heat the pan rather than heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy point of view because there's no leftover heat that is wasted.

There are many different models of induction hob that range from basic models that have only one cooking zone marked by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots simultaneously in one flex zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to the way you operate on an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by swiping your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Certain models have preset settings that are specific to food types or recipes 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 energy efficient over the long term as they heat up much faster and use a smaller space to heat up, which can help reduce your energy bills. They also cool faster and have a more secure design with no hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with children or older people living in the home. However, they can create magnetic fields that could affect medical devices such as pacemakers so it is important to place your pans over the burner and avoid placing small pans on large burners.

Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your electric hob regularly, as food particles and other debris can build up over time. You can either make use of a basic oven cleaning product or invest in a professional one to keep your hob in good condition and shining for longer. Be sure to not use abrasive cleaners or pads to scour your induction cooker as they could scratch the surface.