Types of Hob and Oven
A hob and oven is an essential part of many kitchens, and comes in many different styles. You can also mix different varieties like domino, electric, and gas to meet your cooking needs.
Safety features like the controls for child and position can be integrated into a hob. These features can stop children from accidentally altering the heat setting or touching the stove.
Types
In every kitchen, the hob is the main focus and plays a significant part in how your cooking comes out. There are a variety of hobs, and which one you select will depend on the cooking requirements you have.
Gas hobs are the most popular choice, and they provide a rapid heating function and instant response to temperature changes. They are a popular choice for professional chefs as they provide precise control. They are not as easy to clean as other hobs and could require more care.
Electric hobs feature a flat ceramic surface and heated elements beneath. They come in a variety of sizes and come with up to 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 type of hob can be faster to heat than gas and provides a child-safe alternative because the cooking zone only becomes hot when you put a pan on it.
Ceramic hobs are a chic and user-friendly alternative to gas and electric hobs. They have a smooth, durable surface which is easy to clean but aren't as responsive to temperature changes as other hobs and are slower to cool down.
Domino hobs are an alternative to electric and gas hobs that incorporate ovens beneath the cooking surface. They are great for kitchens with little space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are typically less expensive than a standard hob and are energy efficient but can be fragile and require more attention than other types of cookers.
Gas
A gas hob is a cooktop that has burners that can be incorporated on kitchen countertops to give an elegant look. They are typically used with natural or the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but can also be powered by propane gas. The modern, sleek design can add sophistication to your cooking space that is modular.
A traditional gas stove is fitted with a number of burners. The majority of them are four burners, however it can be as many as six. The burners can be ignited by a match or a knob. The flames can then be controlled by the valves that can be adjusted in temperature.
The majority of modern gas stoves built-in, on the other hand, have burners with multiple flames. This lets you control both the outer and the inner rings of each burner so that you can precisely control the cooking. These types of burners offer faster heat up times and are more reliable than the older models.
In the past, it was essential to keep a gas burner lit constantly to ensure that the burners are constantly fueled and hot. This was done to prevent accidents, for example, the mistake of turning on an oven while the stove is still lit with an igniter or a match. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They include a built-in flame safety device that shuts off burners immediately should the pilot light fail.
Gas stoves and hobs need to be inspected, cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. The best method to do this is to book an appointment with a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. Not only will they be able to ensure that your appliance is working correctly, but they can offer professional advice and guidance on how to prevent any problems in the future.
Electric
A quality hob is just as important when it comes to making the perfect kitchen. Worktops, refrigerators, freezers and ovens are always the first items that come to the mind. If you choose a conventional, induction or gas cooker, the type of hob you select will affect how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to clean.
Electric hobs are powered by heating elements underneath a smooth glass surface that's typically cleaned using an non-abrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you switch on the hob and can be adjusted to different power levels by turning a knob. It can take them some time to heat up however once they are heated, they have a tendency to offer more stable and reliable temperature control. They have built-in indicators that inform you if a zone is hot or not.
These rings are available in four to six different sizes and can be notch-up up to various power levels. They are ideal for cookware with a flat base, but not for cast iron cookware, because they could overheat. Some models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that permit boiling water on one ring while you sauté sausages on the other. Certain models come with a Boost feature that concentrates high-temperature elements into one ring. This is great for stir-frying, searing meat, or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs are different from regular electric models due to the fact that they use electromagnetic fields instead of conventional gas flames to cook your food. They can achieve precise temperatures faster and are more efficient in energy use. They feature a cool to the touch surface, and flashing indicators that inform you whether a ring was used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramic is an element that can be made into useful or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, and firing it in a hot oven called Kiln. Once made, it can be covered with paint-like or decorative materials to add color and texture.
Ceramic hobs are a perfect blend of design and function to create an exquisite piece of modern kitchen furniture. Radiant heating technology is used to heat ceramic hobs by passing an electrical current through coiled elements that are hidden under the black glass surface. When activated, they generate heat which is then transferred to your pan through an infrared system. You can adjust the intensity of the heating using the knobs or touch controls.
Certain ceramic hobs feature two rings, each with one smaller and one with a larger cooking area. This lets you select the right size for your pan. There are hobs with boosters that generate powerful heat quickly. This is perfect for cooking food and bringing pans to boil fast.
Compared to other types of cooktops, ceramic cooktops take a little longer to heat up and alter temperature, but once they do they're generally more energy-efficient. You can also select vented cooktops that have an air-conditioning system that is integrated into the ceramic cooktop. This ensures that steam, smoke and cooking smells do not stay in your home.
Induction
The heating elements inside induction hobs consist of a series of copper wire coils under the surface, which produce electromagnets to heat the pans that sit on them. The coils stir up 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 when your pan is removed.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive, but 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 because only the inside of the pan are heated and not the surface.
Certain manufacturers offer an induction model that comes with additional features, like a pause feature that shuts off power to your stove when you leave or connect two cooking rings at the same power for greater flexibility. These are sometimes called FlexInduction hobs. They can be more costly than traditional induction models, but they're well worth considering if multitasking is important to you.
This induction hob is our favorite. It comes with four large cooking zones as well as a Bridge function and nine power settings, which gives you plenty of options for ambitious cooks. It was a great performer in our test, with fast heating and accurate control when making pancakes. The hob has a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection, which makes cleaning easier. The only problem 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 have a large amount of cookware that's not compatible or only some of it is compatible with induction cooktops.