Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and Ovens & Hobs are common feature in most kitchens. They are available in various designs. You can mix and match different types like domino, electric and gas to meet your cooking needs.
A hob may also be equipped with safety features such as child and control of the position. They can stop children from touching the stove and stop them changing the heat settings accidentally.
Types
In the heart of every kitchen, the stove is the main focus and plays a major part in how your cooking comes out. There are many kinds of hobs, and the one you pick 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. They are a favorite option for professional chefs because they are precise in their control. However, they are not as easy to clean as other hobs and could require more maintenance.
Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface with heated elements beneath and can be found in a variety of sizes with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with a distinct heating element that you can control separately. It is possible to boil potatoes in one ring and cook sausages on another. This type of hob is able to be faster to heat than gas and is a child-safe alternative as the cooking zone only heats up when you place a pot on it.
Traditional ceramic hobs are a very user-friendly alternative to electric and gas and are also a elegant choice. They have a smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However, they are not as quick to react to temperature changes or to cool down as other hobs.
Domino hobs are a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs that have ovens underneath the cooking surface. They are perfect for kitchens with small space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are usually less expensive than a standard hob and are energy efficient but can be fragile and require more maintenance than other types of cookers.
Gas
Gas hobs are cooktops that have burners that are easily fitted into the kitchen countertop for a seamless appearance. They are usually powered by natural or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) however they can be powered by propane gas. The sleek, modern design can bring sophistication to your cooking space that is modular.
A traditional gas stove is fitted with a variety of burners. Usually there are four burners, but it could be up to six. The flames are ignited using the use of a match or a knob. The flames are then controlled by a series of valves that can be adjusted to control the temperature.
Modern built-in gas stoves on the other hand include burners with multiple flames. This allows you to control both the outer and the inner rings for each burner, so that you can precisely control your cooking. These burners are faster and more reliable than earlier models.
Traditionally, it was important to keep a gas stove on continuously to ensure that the burners are constantly fueled and hot. This was a safety measure to avoid accidents such as not turning off the oven even though the stove was lit by match or pilot flame. Modern cookers are built with safety as a top priority. They are equipped with a flame failure device that shuts off the burners in the event that the pilot light is not working.
Gas stoves and hobs must be inspected, cleaned, and maintained regularly. The best way to ensure this is to schedule an appointment with a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only to ensure that your appliance is functioning correctly, but also offer expert guidance on how to prevent any future issues.
Electric
When it comes time to design your perfect kitchen the countertops, fridge freezer and oven will always get the most attention, but a good hob is equally important. The type of hob you select will influence the way your kitchen works and how easy for you to clean it.
Electric hobs are equipped with heating elements under a smooth glass surface. The glass surface is typically cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you turn on the hob and can be notched up to a range of power levels by turning or adjusting on a knob. They may take longer to warm up than a gas cooker but once they are done, they usually provide more regular temperature control. They also have built-in indicators that let you know that a zone is in use or still hot from cooking.
Typically, these come in a range of four to six sized rings which can be adjusted to various levels of power. These are great for flat-based cookware, but not for cast iron pans, because they could overheat. Some models have dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow you to boil water on one ring and saute sausages on a different. Some models come with a Boost function that concentrates the highest heat in one ring. This is useful for stirring-frying, searing meat or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs are different from regular electric models due to the fact that they make use of electromagnetic fields instead of conventional gas flames to cook your food. They can achieve precise temperatures faster and are more energy efficient. They have a cool to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that inform you if a ring has been used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramics can be used to create decorative or functional objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, and then firing it in a high-temperature oven called Kiln. Once it's made it can be sprayed with paint-like or decorative materials to give it a more textured and vibrant look.
Ceramic hobs are a perfect blend of form and function to create a stunning piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. They operate by using radiant heating technology, passing an electric current through coiled elements hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. They produce heat when activated, and this is transferred to your pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the intensity of the heating using the knobs or 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. You can also get hobs with booster burners that produce high-powered heat in a short time ideal for searing meat or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly.
Ceramic cooktops are more energy efficient than other types of hobs as they take longer to heat up and alter temperatures. You can also choose vented hobs that incorporate ventilation systems with the ceramic cooktop. This ensures that steam, smoke and cooking smells don't remain in your home.
Induction
The heating elements inside induction hobs consist of copper wire coils under the surface, which create electromagnets that heat the pans sitting on them. The coils stir the free electrons within your pan's base metal, which then transfer heat evenly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot, and the cooking zones are automatically turned off when your pan is removed.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than other hobs however they're also quicker to heat and consume 30-70% less energy than gas or ceramic hobs. They're also easier to clean because the surface of the hob isn't heated, but the contents of the pan do.
Some manufacturers offer an induction model with extra features, such as a pause function that cuts off the energy to your stove after you have left or link two cooking rings simultaneously with the same power to provide increased flexibility. These are sometimes referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models but they're worth a look if multitasking is important to you.
Our top choice is this induction hob made by Smeg, which has four cooking zones that are large enough that have a bridge function, as well as nine power levels that give you a wide range of options for those who want to cook with a lot of passion. It was a great performer in our tests with fast heating and accurate control when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with an integrated dishwasher as well as an automatic pan detection function to make cleaning a lot simpler. The only issue is that there are only a handful of compatible pans, and you cannot use it to cook using utensils with magnetic bases. This can be a problem if you have a large quantity of cookware that's not compatible or the smallest portion is compatible with induction cooktops.