Types of Hob and Oven
A hob and oven is commonplace in kitchens and is available in a variety of styles. You can mix different types of ovens, such as electric and gas, to suit your needs.
A hob could also come with safety features such as child and position controls. These features can stop children from accidentally changing the heat setting or touching the stove.
Types
The hob is the focal point of any kitchen and can have a major impact on the final outcome of your cooking. There are a variety of hobs , and the one you pick will depend on the needs of your kitchen.
Gas hobs are the most popular choice, and they provide a rapid heat-up function and instant reaction to temperature changes. Professional chefs favor them because they offer precise control. However, they are not as clean as other hobs, and they may require a higher level of maintenance.
Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface with heated elements beneath. They are available in different sizes that have between four and six cooking zones. Each zone includes its own heating element that can be controlled separately by you. It is possible to boil potatoes in one ring while cooking sausages on another. This kind of hob is much easier to heat up than gas, and also offers an alternative that is safer for children as the cooking zone becomes hot only when you put a pot on it.
Ceramic hobs are a fashionable and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have a smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However they aren't as quick to respond to temperature changes or cool down as other hobs.
Domino hobs can be a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs that have ovens underneath the cooking surface. They are great for kitchens with limited space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are often cheaper than a standard cooker and can be very energy-efficient however they are also fragile and require more maintenance than other types of cookers.
Gas
A gas hob is a cooktop with burners that can be installed into kitchen countertops for a seamless look. Gas hobs are typically powered by LPG or natural gas, but they are also powered by propane gas. They have a sleek and modern design that can add a touch of sophistication to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove comes with several burners, usually 4 but sometimes up to 6. The burners can be lit with a match or knob. The flames can then be controlled by the valves that can be adjusted to regulate temperature.
Modern built-in gas stoves however, have burners with multiple flames. This lets you control both the outer and the inner ring for each burner so that you can precisely control your cooking. They are also much more efficient and more reliable than older models.
In the past, it was essential for gas stoves to be constantly lit to ensure that the burners remained hot and fuelled. This was a safety feature to avoid accidents such as having the oven turned on when the stove was lit by a match or the pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind and include a built-in flame safety device that shuts off the burners automatically should the pilot light fail.
Gas stoves and hobs should be inspected, cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. To do this, you should book a visit from a Gas Safe registered engineer. Not only will they be able check your appliance is functioning properly as well, but they'll also offer expert advice and suggestions on how to avoid problems in the future.
Electricity
A good hob is equally crucial when it comes to making your kitchen the best it can be. Worktops, refrigerators, freezers, and ovens are the first items that come to the mind. Whichever type you choose, conventional, induction, or gas cooker the type of hob you select can affect how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to keep clean.
Electric hobs are equipped with heating elements that are placed on a smooth, glass surface. This is typically cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. These elements switch on when you turn on the hob and can be adjusted to a range of power levels by turning or adjusting a control knob. They can take a little longer to warm up than a gas cooker, but once they do they usually provide more regular temperature control. They also come with indicators that inform you that a particular zone is being used or hot from cooking.
Typically, these come in four to six different sizes which can be adjusted to various levels of power. They are great for cookware with a flat base, but not for cast iron pans, since they can get hot. Some models have dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that permit boiling water on one ring and saute sausages on a different. Some even come with a 'boost' feature which concentrates high-powered heat onto one ring for stir fry cooking sauteing meat, or boiling large pots of water.
Induction hobs are different from regular electric hobs in that they utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, rather than the conventional method of gas flames. They can reach precise temperatures quicker and are more efficient in energy use. They feature a cool to the touch surface, and flashing indicators that let you know whether a ring was used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramics can be used to make decorative or functional objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, and firing it in a high-temperature oven called a Kiln. After it's been made it is then covered with paint-like or decorative substances to add color and texture.
Ceramic hobs are a perfect blend of form and function to create a stunning piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. They operate using radiant heating technology that passes an electric current through coiled components hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. They generate heat when activated, which is then transferred to the pan by way of an infrared system. You can adjust the intensity of this heating by controlling the controls with touch or knobs.
Some ceramic hobs come with dual ring designs that have one smaller and a larger cooking zone, allowing you to choose the most suitable size for your pan. There are hobs with booster burners that produce high-powered heat in a short time perfect for searing food or bringing pans of water to a boil quickly.
Compared to other types of hobs, ceramic cooktops generally take longer to warm up and alter temperature, but once they do they're generally more energy-efficient. You can also choose vented hobs, which integrate an air-conditioning system that is integrated into the cooktop made of ceramic. This makes sure that smoke, steam, and cooking smells don't linger in your house.
Induction
Induction hobs are equipped with heating elements comprised of copper wire coils. The coils create electromagnets, which heat the pans placed on the top of them. The coils stir the free electrons within your pan's base metal, which in turn, distributes heat evenly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot, and the cooking zones are automatically shut off as soon as your pan is removed.
Induction hobs are typically more expensive, however they also are more efficient in heating and consume 30 to 70% less energy than gas or other types. Induction hobs are also less difficult to clean since only the inside of the pan are heated, not the surface.
Certain manufacturers offer a specific induction model that comes with additional features like a pause function, which cuts the power to your cooker when you step away from it, or link up two cooking rings at the same time at the same power level for greater flexibility. They are commonly referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models but they're worth considering if you are a multi-tasker.
This induction hob is our top choice. It comes with four cooking zones as well as a Bridge function and nine power settings, offering you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. It did well in our tests, with fast heating and precise control when making pancakes. The oven comes with a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection to make cleaning much easier. The only issue is that there are only a handful of compatible pans that can use it to cook with utensils with magnetic bases. This can be a challenge when you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or some of it is suitable for use on induction hobs.
