Types of Hob and Oven
A oven and hob is commonplace in kitchens, and comes in a variety of designs. You can also mix different types like domino, electric, and gas to meet your cooking needs.
Safety features like child and position controls can be integrated into a hob. These features can stop children from accidentally changing the temperature setting or touching the hob.
Types
The hob is the main focal element of any kitchen and has a huge impact on the outcome of your cooking. There are many kinds of hobs, and which one you select will depend on the needs of your kitchen.
Gas hobs provide a classic option. They are quick to heat up and react immediately to temperature changes. Professional chefs prefer them because they provide precise control. They aren't as simple to clean as other stoves and may require more maintenance.
Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface with heated elements beneath. They can be found in a variety of sizes with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with its own heating element that can be controlled individually by you. You can boil potatoes in one ring, while cooking sausages on another. This kind of hob can be quicker to heat than gas and offers a child-safe alternative as the cooking zone is only heated when you put a pan on it.
Traditional ceramic hobs are an extremely user-friendly alternative to electric and gas and are also a fashionable option. They have a smooth, durable surface that is easy to wipe down but aren't as quick to respond to temperature changes like other hobs, and may be slower to cool down.
Domino hobs are a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs that have ovens underneath the cooking surface. They can be incorporated into smaller kitchens that have small installation space and are ideal for flats and kitchenettes. They are usually less expensive than standard hobs and can be energy-efficient, but they are also prone to breaking and require more maintenance.
Gas
Gas hobs are cooktops with burners that can easily be fitted into the kitchen countertop to give a seamless appearance. They are typically used with natural or the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) however they can be powered by propane gas. The modern, sleek design can enhance your modular cooking space.
A traditional gas stove comes with a variety of burners. Usually there are four, but there can be up to six. The burners can be lit by a match or a knob. The flames are then controlled by a series of valves which can be adjusted to set the 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 heating times and are more reliable than the traditional ones.
In the past, it was required for gas stoves to be lit at all times to ensure that the burners remained hot and fuelled. This was a safety feature to avoid any mishaps like having the oven turned on while the stove was still lit by a match or a pilot flame. Modern cookers have been designed with safety as a top priority. They come equipped with a device to stop the flame that shuts off the burners in the event that the pilot light fails.
Gas stoves and hobs have to be checked regularly and cleaned as well as maintained. The best method to accomplish this is to schedule an appointment with a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able ensure that your appliance functions properly, but also give you expert advice on how to prevent any future issues.
Electric
When it comes to creating your perfect kitchen the worktops, fridge freezer and oven will always get the most attention but the quality of your hob is also essential. Whether you opt for a conventional, induction or gas cooker, the kind of hob you pick will affect how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to keep clean.
Electric hobs use heating elements that are placed on a smooth glass surface which is typically wiped down with an non-abrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you turn on the hob and can be adjusted to various power levels by turning or pressing on a knob. They can take a little bit longer to warm up however once they are heated, they are in place, they provide more stable and reliable temperature control. hob and oven come with indicators that let you know when a space is active or hot from cooking.
They are available in four to six sizes and can be notch-up up to various power levels. These are great for flat-based cookware, but not for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Certain models (such as Belling BELCH602T) come with dual rings that let you cook sausages and boil water on the same ring. Certain models come with a Boost function that focuses high-temperature elements into one ring. This is great for stirring-frying, searing meat or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs differ from standard electric models as they use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware rather than the conventional method of gas flames. This allows them to reach precise temperatures in a short space of time and makes them extremely energy efficient. They feature a cool to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that indicate that a ring has been used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramic is a material that can be made into functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders, and water, and firing it in a hot oven known as Kiln. After it's been made it is then covered with paint-like or decorative substances to add color and texture.
Ceramic hobs are an exquisite blend of function and form and can be found in any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat the ceramic hobs through the passage of an electric current through coiled components that are hidden under the black glass surface. These generate heat when activated. This is transferred to your pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the intensity of the heating by using the knobs or touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs have dual rings, with the smaller and the larger cooking area. This allows you to select the right size for your pan. You can also find hobs with booster burners which produce high-powered heat quickly ideal for searing meat or bringing pans of boiling water to the boil quickly.
In comparison to other types of cooktops, ceramic cooktops typically take longer to heat up and alter temperature however, once they're done they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. You can also opt for vented cooktops that have an air-conditioning system that is integrated into the cooktop made of ceramic. This makes sure that smoke, steam and cooking smells do not linger in your house.
Induction
The heating elements in induction hobs consist of copper wire coils beneath the surface that produce electromagnets to heat the pans sitting on them. The coils stir the free electrons in the base metal of your pan which in turn, distributes heat evenly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot, and the cooking zones are automatically turned off as soon as your pan is removed.
Induction hobs are typically more expensive than other hobs, but they're also faster to heat and consume 30 to 70 percent less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. They're also easier to clean, since the surface of the hob doesn't get hot and only the contents of the pan do.
Certain manufacturers have an induction model with additional features, for instance a pause function, which cuts the energy to your stove when you leave or link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same time for more flexibility. They are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They can be more expensive than traditional induction models, but they're worth a look when multitasking is important to you.
This induction hob is our top choice. It comes with four cooking zones as well as a Bridge function and nine power settings, giving you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. It was a great performer during our test with fast heating and precise control when making pancakes. The hob has a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection, which makes cleaning much easier. There is a limited selection of pans that are compatible it cannot be used to cook using the utensils with magnetic bases. This can be a challenge if you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or certain pieces are suitable for induction cooktops.