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Types of Hobs A hob, also known as stovetops in North America, is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electric power 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 an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with five or four zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and stylish and are easy to clean. Ceramic hobs Ceramic hobs provide an elegant and contemporary look that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, which means spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps lower your electric bill. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow to adjust temperatures, which can be frustrating if you're cooking something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in heat. Electric hobs consist of a solid, textured surface that is heated from below by electric elements. The power of each element can be individually adjusted through rotary knobs. You can even use the 'boost' feature in order to boost the heat of a single area. Ceramic hobs also have very high rate of heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch after being shut off. This could be a problem when you have children, so it's best to place them in a location which is far from objects that are flammable and not within reach of young children. This type of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It's also fairly affordable and can be a great option if you're looking to replace your old hobs without spending too much money. However, just like any other appliance, they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, and we would recommend hiring a professional electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe for use. The downside to this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to pan size and shape. You'll need cookware that is either the exact same size as the element, or that will fit comfortably inside each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, it will not recognize it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient. Gas on glass hobs Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern look. They can be more expensive than electric hobs, and require professional installation. However they are also more efficient in heating – an entire pot of water can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of hob is also a great option for cooks who prefer to limit the amount of heat produced. However, it must be noted that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel ones and will need to be cleaned more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain instead of slipping off. One of the best examples of a gas-on-glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, that has four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also comes with the wok ring that has 4kW for added versatility, plus pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easier to keep clean. Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines an attractive slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the hob offers an inner flame that doubles to ensure even heat distribution, which in turn accelerates cooking time. It also comes with an indicator for power that lets you control the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, such as a high setting to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs. The simple and intuitive controls were also well appreciated by our testers, who found them to be very easy to use. Some minor issues are that you need to physically press the controls nine times to get to the highest level of heating and it can be difficult to see the status of the burners through the glass. Some of the top gas-on-glass hobs are available at affordable prices like this Neff model. It's not going win any design awards however it's going to perform the task and be a fantastic option for your kitchen at just more than 120 pounds. Electric hobs Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They not only offer an elegant design that blends in with the rest of your kitchen as well, but they also offer advanced functions that are safer, more efficient and efficient than their predecessors in terms of energy consumption. One of the most popular electric hobs is a ceramic glass hob. These hobs are designed with an elegant glazed finish and have an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They also come with a power booster function that allows you to increase the heat for a short duration. Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. Induction hobs cook your food directly using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional electric plates and gas stoves. They are therefore more energy efficient and offer precise temperature control. They require a specific kind of pan and can be costly to set up. Glass hobs with gas are another great option for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it comes with an oven that is surrounded by the glass is a flat layer. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, which makes it easier to clean than tempered glass. A lot of these hobs include a 'hot-surface indicator', which alerts you when the oven is hot. Gas hobs are a popular choice for many home chefs However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. The flame can also be difficult to control and can take an extended time to warm up and cool down. On the other hand, electric hobs are more efficient in terms of energy consumption and are easier to clean. To achieve the highest level of modern efficiency, you can even find electric stoves that are compatible with LPG gas. This lets you switch between various fuel sources, so you'll have the flexibility to adapt to your lifestyle. It is important to note, however, that these hobs require installation by an accredited gas safe engineer and require a separate cable of 6mm for your kitchen. They're also not suitable for people who have pacemakers, since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them. Hobs with induction Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs sit copper coils that run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that produce heat directly within the pan rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or a heated plate (electric). Induction hobs are efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't squander heat. There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, from the basic ones with a single zone marked by rings, to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to be cooked on one flex area. Some of these models come with a slider control that is similar to the iPhone. You can select the desired temperature by moving your finger from left to right over the power bar in the middle. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen. Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are believed to be more energy efficient in the long run because they heat up faster and have a smaller surface to heat up, which can help you save on energy bills. They cool down faster and also are more secure without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families that have children or elderly people. However, they do create a magnetic force that could cause interference with certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners. Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean, because food and debris could build up over time. You can either use a standard oven cleaning product or invest in a professional one to keep your stove in good condition and shiny for longer. Avoid using abrasive cleaning products or scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.