rabbisoda55

Types of Hobs A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans with flame or electricity. There are several different types of hobs, and you can pick one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen. Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic surface and either four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and they are easy to clean. Ceramic hobs Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek appearance. They feature a flat glass-ceramic surface that is easy to clean, which means spills and splatters are quickly cleaned. They are fast to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower the cost of electricity. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires a rapid reduction or an increase in heat. Electric hobs consist of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. These elements can be controlled separately by rotary knobs and nipped up to the power level you require. You can use the Boost feature to raise the temperature of a certain area. Ceramic hobs retain heat very well, so even when they are turned off, they'll be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a place that is safe from items that could ignite and away from children's reach. This kind of hob is able to be installed on a variety worktops including laminate or solid hardwood, as well as granite. It is also relatively affordable and is a great alternative if you're looking to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. Like any appliance, they must be properly installed and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure your new hobs are safe to use. A downside of this type of hob is that it's extremely sensitive to the size of the pan as well as its shape. It is necessary to purchase cookware that's either exactly the same size as the element or that is able to fit in each of the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element will not recognize it and will not heat the bottom of the pan. This can cause uneven cooking and make the hob less efficient. Gas on glass hobs Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. They are more expensive than electric models and require professional installation. However, they heat up faster – the water in a full pot can typically boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of stove is also a great choice for cooks who want to control the amount of heat produced. However, it should be not forgotten that a glass hob is more susceptible to damage than stainless steel ones and may need to be cleaned more frequently, as grease and residue build up tends to stick rather than slide off. A fantastic example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which has four matt black monobloc burners, each with precise metal control knobs for a a stylish and sophisticated finish. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe. 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 on the left of the gas hob has two burners inside to improve the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also features an easy-to-read power indicator that allows you to regulate the precise temperature of the flame. You can select from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for searing a steak and an option for scrambled eggs. Our test participants also liked the controls as they were easy to use and intuitive. Some minor issues include the fact that you need to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest heating level and it may be difficult to see the status of the burners through the glass. Some of the best gas on glass hobs are available for affordable prices, such as this Neff model. While it's unlikely to win any design awards however, it serves the purpose well and is an excellent addition to your kitchen for less than 120 pounds. Electric hobs Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They're not only sleek and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more efficient than their predecessors. One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. These hobs are designed with an elegant glazed finish and feature a surface that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also typically equipped with a power boost function which lets you increase the temperature of your stove for a brief period of time. Another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes is an induction hob. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means that they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a certain type of pan to work and can be expensive to install. A gas on glass hob is another option that's an excellent option for modern homes. Similar to a conventional gas hob, it features an oven that is surrounded by a layer of flat glass. However, this glass is heatproof and shatterproof, so it's easier to clean than standard glass that's tempered. Many of these hobs also include a 'hot-surface indicator', which informs you when the oven is hot. Gas hobs remain a preferred option for many home cooks, but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to cool down and warm down and their flame can be hard to manage. In contrast electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean. For the ultimate in modern efficiency, you can even find electric hobs compatible with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, meaning you'll be able to fit your needs. It's important to note, however, that these hobs will require the installation of an approved gas safe engineer. They also require a dedicated cable of 6mm in your kitchen. These hobs are also not suitable for those with pacemakers since the electromagnetic field can interfere with them. Induction hobs Beneath the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils that run an electrical current that varies. When an induction compatible pan is placed on the hob, the coils create magnetic fields which direct heat the pan, rather than heating a surface of the worktop or a heated plate. Induction hobs are extremely efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't use any heat. There are a variety of models of induction hobs starting from basic ones that have only one cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned hobs with up to six zones and allow you to cook several pots simultaneously in one flex zone. Certain models feature the ability to control the temperature using a slider that's similar to the iPhone. Simply swipe your finger over the power bar at the middle to select the desired heat level, left to right increases the heat and right to left decreases it. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for certain recipes or food types that can help you save time and effort in the kitchen. Induction hobs are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However they are more efficient in the long run. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating space which could reduce your energy costs. They cool faster and have a safer design without hot plates. This makes them perfect for families with elderly or children. They do, however, create a magnetic force that could affect certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on bigger burners. As with all electric hobs you will need to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can use a standard oven cleaning product or invest in a professional one to keep your hob in good condition and shining for longer. You should never use any abrasive cleaning product or scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.