Types of Hob and Oven

Hobs and ovens are common feature in most kitchens. They come in a variety of designs. You can also mix different types such as domino, electric and gas to meet your cooking needs.

A hob may also come with safety features such as child and control of the position. These features can prevent children from accidentally changing the temperature setting or touching the hob.

Types

The hob is the central element of any kitchen and can have a significant impact on the final outcome of your cooking. However, there are a variety of types of hob and the one you select will depend on what your specific cooking requirements are.

Gas hobs are a classic choice, and they provide a rapid heating process and instant reaction to temperature fluctuations. Professional chefs favor them because they offer precise control. However, they are not as easy to clean as other hobs and may require a higher level of maintenance.

Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface that has heated elements beneath and can come in different sizes that have between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has a separate heating element that you can control separately. This lets you boil potatoes on one ring while making sausages in another. This kind of hob can be quicker to heat than gas and is a child-safe alternative as the cooking zone is only heated when you place a pan on it.

Traditional ceramic hobs are a comfortable alternative to electric and gas and are a fashionable option. They have a smooth, hard-wearing surface which is easy to clean but aren't as quick to respond to temperature changes like other hobs and are slower to cool down.

The Domino hob is an alternative to gas and electric hobs. It incorporates best ovens under the cooking surface. They are ideal for kitchens with small space. They are also suitable for kitchenettes and flats. They are typically less expensive than standard hobs and can be very energy-efficient but can be fragile and require more maintenance than other types of cookers.

Gas

A gas hob is a cooktop with burners that can be fitted on kitchen countertops to give a seamless look. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, but they are also powered by propane gas. The modern, sleek design can enhance your cooking space that is modular.

A traditional gas stove has various burners, usually 4, but often as many as 6. The flames are ignited using an igniter or by turning the knob. The flames are then controlled by a set of valves which can be adjusted to control the temperature.

Modern built-in gas stoves on the other hand, have burners with multiple flames. This allows you to control both the outer and the inner rings of each burner to allow you to precisely control the cooking. These burners are faster and more reliable than earlier models.

In the past, it was essential to keep a gas stove lit all the time to ensure the burners were always hot and fuelled. This was done to prevent accidents, such as the mistake of turning on an oven when the stove is still lit with a match or pilot light. Modern cookers have been designed with safety as a top priority. They come equipped with a fire failure device which shuts down the burners when the pilot light is not working.

Gas stoves and hobs require to be checked regularly, cleaned and maintained. The best oven method to accomplish this is to arrange an appointment with a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able ensure that your appliance is functioning properly, but will also give you expert advice on how to avoid any future problems.

Electric

When it comes time to design your dream kitchen, the countertops, fridge freezer and oven will always receive the most attention, however the quality of your hob is equally important. The type of hob that you select will impact the way your kitchen functions and also how easy it is for you to clean.

Electric hobs are equipped with heating elements under a smooth glass surface. This is typically cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. The heating elements are activated when you turn on the oven and can be adjusted to various power levels using a control knob. They can take a little longer to warm up than gas cookers, but once they are done, they usually provide better, constant temperature control. They have built-in indicators that let you know if a zone is hot or not.

They are available in four to six different sizes and can be notch-up up to different power levels. They are great for cookware with a flat base, but not for cast iron pans, because they could overheat. Certain models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs that allow you to cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Some models even have a 'boost' function which concentrates high-powered heat onto one ring for stir fry cooking sauteing meats, searing or boiling large pots of water.

Induction hobs differ from standard electric models because they employ electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, rather than the conventional method of gas flames. They can reach precise temperatures more quickly and are more efficient in energy use. They have a cool to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that let you know that a ring has been used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to make functional or decorative objects. It's formed by mixing earthen elements, clay powders, water and other elements to a specific shape, then fired in a very high-temperature oven and hob, also known as a Kiln. Once made it is then covered with paint-like or decorative materials to add colour and texture.

Ceramic hobs are a beautiful blend of form and function, sitting comfortably in any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is used to heat the ceramic hobs by passing an electrical current over coiled elements which are hidden beneath the black glass surface. When activated, they generate heat that is then transferred to the pan via an infrared heating system. You can alter the intensity of the heating using the knobs or Hobs and ovens the touch controls.

Some ceramic hobs have dual rings, with a smaller and a larger cooking zone. This allows you to select the right size for your pan. There are hobs that have boosters that create high-powered heat quickly. This is perfect to cook food in or bring pans to boil fast.

In comparison to other types of hobs, ceramic cooktops take a little longer to heat up and then change temperature, but once they do they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. You can also opt for vented hobs that incorporate an air-conditioning system that is integrated into the cooktop made of ceramic. This ensures that smoke, steam, and cooking smells do not linger in your house.

Induction

Induction hobs have heating elements made up of copper wire coils. These coils generate electromagnets which warm the pans that are placed on the top. The coils stir up free electrons in the base metal of your pan which then transfers heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot and the cooking zones automatically turn off as soon as your pan is removed.

Induction hobs and ovens are typically more expensive, however they also heat up faster and use 30 to 70% less energy than gas or other types. They are also easier to clean, as the hob surface itself isn't hot, and only the contents of the pan do.

Certain manufacturers have an induction model with additional features, for instance the pause feature that cuts off the power to your stove after you have left, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power for increased flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs and can be more expensive than traditional induction models but they're worth a look if you like to multitask.

Our top pick is this induction hob from Smeg. It has four cooking zones that are large enough that have a bridge function, as well as nine power levels, giving you a wide range of options for those who want to cook with a lot of passion. In our tests, it did well with accurate control and fast heating when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with dishwasher built-in and an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning a lot more simple. The only issue is that there are only a few compatible pans, and you cannot use it to cook with the utensils that have magnetic bases. This can be a problem if you have a lot of non-compliant cookware, or just some of them are suitable for induction hobs.