Types of Hob and Oven
A hob and oven is commonplace in kitchens and can come in a variety of designs. You can mix different types, like gas and electric to meet your requirements.
A hob could also come with safety features like child and position controls. These are designed to prevent children from touching the stove and prevent them from changing the temperature settings accidentally.
Types
The hob is the main focal feature of any kitchen, and has a huge impact on the results of your cooking. There are a variety of hobs, and the one you choose depends on your cooking needs.
Gas hobs are a popular option. They are quick to heat up and react immediately to temperature fluctuations. They are a favorite option for professional chefs because they are precise in their control. However, they aren't as easy to clean as other hobs and could require a higher level of maintenance.
Electric hobs have a flat ceramic surface and heated elements beneath. They are available in various sizes and have up to six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element that can be controlled by you. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring and cooking sausages in another. This kind of hob can be more efficient than gas and provides an option for children to be safe since the cooking area is only heated when you put a pan on it.
Ceramic hobs offer a stylish and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have an extremely smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However they aren't as fast to respond to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.
The Domino hob is a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs. It has ovens underneath the cooking surface. They are ideal for kitchens that have small space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are often cheaper than standard hobs and can be extremely energy efficient but can be fragile and require more attention than other types of cookers.
Gas
Gas hobs are cooktops that have burners that can easily be fitted into the kitchen countertop for a seamless appearance. the full details are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, but they can also be powered with propane gas. They feature a sleek and modern design that can give a sophisticated touch to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove has a range of burners, usually 4, but sometimes up to 6. These are ignited with either a match or by turning a knob. The flames can then be controlled by an array of valves that can be adjusted in temperature.
However, the majority of modern gas hobs with built-in gas are equipped with multi-flame burners that allow you to regulate the outer and inner rings of each burner to manage your cooking. These types of burners offer faster heat up times and are more reliable than old-fashioned ones.
In the past, it was required for the gas stove to be continuously lit to ensure that the burners remained hot and well-fueled. This was a safety measure to avoid any mishaps like having the oven turned on even though the stove was lit by a match or a pilot flame. Modern cookers are built with safety as a priority. They are equipped with a device to stop the flame which shuts down the burners in the event that the pilot light fails.
Gas stoves and hobs require to be regularly inspected and cleaned as well as maintained. The best method to ensure this is to book an appointment for maintenance with a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only make sure that your appliance functions properly, but will also give you expert guidance on how to avoid any future problems.
Electric
When it comes to designing your perfect kitchen the worktops, fridge freezer and oven will always receive the most attention, however the quality of your hob is also essential. Whether you opt for a traditional, induction or gas cooker, the type of hob you choose 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 are activated when you switch on the hob and can be adjusted to different power levels using a control knob. They can take a little longer to heat up than gas cookers, but once they do they are able to provide more regular temperature control. They are equipped with indicators that tell you whether a particular area is hot or not.
Typically, they are available in four to six different sized rings that can be notched up to various levels of power. They are great for flat-based cookware, but aren't the best option for cast iron pans since they can overheat. Certain models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow boiling water on one ring and saute sausages on another. Some models 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 differ from normal electric models as they use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, instead of the traditional method of gas flames. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a shorter period of time, making them extremely energy efficient. They also have a cool to the touch surface and flashing heat indicators that signal that a ring is being used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramic is an ingredient that can be used to create useful or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, and then firing it in a high temperature oven, also known as Kiln. After it's been made it can be sprayed with decorative or paint-like substances to add colour and texture.
Ceramic hobs are a stunning combination of form and function and can be found in any modern kitchen. They operate by using radiant heating technology, which passes an electric current through coiled components hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. When they are activated, they create heat, which is then transferred to the pan by an infrared system. You can alter the level of heating by using the knobs or the touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs come with dual ring designs, with one smaller and a larger cooking area which allows you to select the most suitable size for your pan. You can also get hobs equipped with booster burners that produce high-powered heat quickly ideal for searing meat or bringing pots of water to a boil in a short time.
Ceramic cooktops are more efficient in energy than other types of hobs due to the fact that they take longer to heat up and alter temperatures. You can also choose vented hobs, which integrate ventilation systems with the ceramic cooktop. This ensures that smoke, steam, and cooking smells do not remain in your home.
Induction
Induction hobs are equipped with heating elements that are composed of copper wire coils. They generate electromagnets that heat the pans placed on the top of them. The coils agitate the free electrons within your pan's metal base, which then transmits heat evenly and directly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and the cooking zones automatically turn off when your pan is removed.
Induction hobs are typically more expensive, but they also heat up faster and use 30-70% lower energy than gas or other kinds. Induction hobs are also less difficult to clean because only the contents of the pan are heated and not the surface.
Certain manufacturers offer a specific induction model with extra features like a pause function that cuts off power to your hob when you step away from it, or connect two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power level to provide greater flexibility. These are sometimes called FlexInduction hobs. They can be more expensive than traditional induction models but they're well worth considering if multitasking is important to you.
This induction hob is our top choice. It comes with four cooking zones with a Bridge function and nine power settings, which gives you a lot of options for cooks who want to be more adventurous. In our tests, it performed very well with accurate control and fast heating when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with an integrated dishwasher as well as an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning simpler. The only issue is that there are only a few compatible pans, and you cannot use it to cook using the utensils that have magnetic bases. This can be a problem when you have a large quantity of cookware that's not compatible, or only a small portion of it is compatible with induction hobs.