Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and ovens are a common feature in most kitchens. They can be found in many different styles. You can mix different types, like gas and electric to meet your needs.
Safety features such as child and position controls could be included in the hob. These features will prevent children from accidentally changing the heat setting or touching the stove.
Types
In the heart of every kitchen, the stove is the main focus and can play a huge part in how your cooking is executed. There are many different types of hobs available, and which one you choose depends on your cooking needs.
Gas hobs are a classic option. They are quick to heat up and react immediately to temperature fluctuations. They are a popular choice for professional chefs as they provide precise control. They aren't as simple to clean as other hobs and could require more frequent maintenance.
Electric hobs are flat ceramic surface that has heated elements underneath and can come in different sizes that have between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element which you can regulate individually. This lets you boil potatoes on one ring and cooking sausages in another. This type of hob is able to be quicker to heat than gas and offers a child-safe alternative because the cooking zone is only heated when you put a pan on it.
Ceramic hobs are a chic and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have an even and smooth surface that is easy to clean. However they aren't as quick to respond to temperature changes or to cool down as other hobs.
Domino hobs are an alternative to gas and electric hobs that combine ovens below the cooking surface. They are great for kitchens with small space. They can also be used in kitchenettes and flats. They are often less expensive than standard hobs and can be energy efficient, but they can also be fragile and require more maintenance.
Gas
Gas hobs are cooktops equipped with burners that are easily integrated into kitchen countertops to give a seamless appearance. Gas hobs are typically powered by LPG or natural gas, however they can also be powered by propane gas. They are modern and sleek design that can add a touch of sophistication to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove comes with a number of burners. Usually there are four burners, however it can be up to six. The flames are ignited using an igniter or by turning a knob. The flames can then be controlled by the valves that can be adjusted to regulate temperature.
The majority of modern gas stoves built-in however, have burners with multiple flames. This allows you to control both the outer and the inner ring for each burner to allow you to precisely control the cooking. These types of burners provide quicker heat up times and are more reliable than the traditional ones.
Traditionally, it was necessary to keep a gas burner lit all the time to ensure that the burners were always hot and fuelled. This was done to prevent accidents, such as accidentally turning on an oven while the stove is still lit with the help of a match or a pilot light. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They come with a built-in fire failure device that shuts down the burners automatically if the pilot light fail.
Gas stoves and hobs require to be regularly inspected, cleaned and maintained. The best way to ensure this is to schedule an appointment for maintenance with a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able check your appliance is working correctly as well, but they'll offer expert advice and suggestions on how to avoid problems in the near future.
Electric
A quality hob is just as important when it comes to making your kitchen the best it can be. Refrigerators, worktops, freezers and ovens are the first things that come to your mind. The type of hob you choose will affect the way your kitchen functions and how easy it is for you to clean.
Electric hobs use heating elements underneath a smooth glass surface that's typically cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaner. The elements turn on when you turn on the hob and can be notched up to various power levels by turning or pressing on a knob. They may take longer to warm up than gas cookers, but once they are done, they are able to provide more constant temperature control. They have built-in indicators that inform you whether a space is hot or not.
Typically, they come in a range of four to six sizes that can be notched up to various power levels. These are great for flat-based cookware but not for cast iron pans, since they can get hot. Some models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs that let you cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Certain models come with a Boost function that focuses the highest heat in one ring. This is great for stirring-frying, searing meat or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs differ from normal electric models because they employ electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, rather than the conventional method of gas flames. They can achieve precise temperatures quicker and are more efficient in energy use. They also have a cool-to touch surface and flashing heat indicators that signal that the ring is either being used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramics can be used to make functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, and Chef firing it in a high temperature oven, also known as Kiln. Once it's made it can be coated or painted with decorative materials to add texture and color.
Ceramic hobs combine form and function to create a stunning piece of modern kitchen furniture. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat the ceramic hobs by passing an electric current through coiled elements which are hidden beneath the black glass surface. When activated, they generate heat, which is then transferred to the pan through an infrared system. You can alter the intensity of the heating by adjusting the controls using a knobs or buttons.
Some ceramic hobs come with dual ring designs that have one smaller and a larger cooking area, allowing you to choose the most suitable size for your pan. There are hobs with booster burners which produce high-powered heat in a short time ideal for searing meat or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly.
In comparison to other types of cooktops, ceramic cooktops generally take longer to heat up and alter temperature however, once they're done they're generally more energy-efficient. There are vented cooktops that incorporate an air-conditioning system inside the cooktop's ceramic, making sure that the cooking smells aren't left within your home.
Induction
The heating elements inside hobs with induction are made up of a series of copper wire coils that are placed beneath the surface, which generate electromagnets to heat pans that sit on 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 automatically turn off as soon as your pan is removed.
Induction hobs are typically more expensive, however they also heat up faster and use 30-70% lower energy than gas or other kinds. Induction hobs are also easier to clean since only the contents of the pan are heated and not the surface.
Certain manufacturers offer an induction model that has additional features such as a pause function that cuts off the power to your stove whenever you move away from it, or connect two cooking rings at the same time at the same power level for added flexibility. They are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They may be more costly than traditional induction models however, they're worth considering if multitasking is important to you.
Our top choice is this induction hob from Smeg, which has four cooking zones of good size that have a bridge function, as well as nine power levels that give you a wide range of options for the ambitious cook. In our tests, it did well with precise control and quick heating when making pancakes. The hob also has an integrated dishwasher as well as an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning simpler. The only problem is that there are only a few compatible pans and you can't use it to cook using appliances with magnetic bases. This could be a problem when you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or some of them are suitable for induction hobs.