Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and ovens are common fixture in kitchens. They can be found in various styles. You can also mix different varieties like domino, electric, and gas to meet your cooking requirements.
Safety features like the controls for child and position can be added to a hob. These features will prevent children from accidentally changing the heat setting or touching the stove.
Types
The hob is the main focal point of any kitchen and has a huge impact on the final outcome of your cooking. There are many kinds of hobs, and which one you choose depends on your cooking needs.
Gas hobs are the most popular choice and offer a fast heating function and instant response to temperature changes. They are a preferred choice for professional chefs as they provide precise control. However, they aren't as easy to clean as other hobs and could require a higher degree of maintenance.
Electric hobs are flat ceramic surface with heated elements beneath. They can be found in different sizes that have between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element that you can control separately. It is possible to boil potatoes in one ring, while cooking sausages on another. This type of hob can be faster to heat than gas and is a child-safe option as the cooking zone only heats up when you place a pot on it.
Traditional ceramic hobs are a very convenient alternative to gas and electric and are also a fashionable option. They are smooth and durable. surface which is easy to clean, but they aren't as fast at responding to temperature changes like other hobs, and may be slower to cool down.
Domino hobs are a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs that combine ovens below the cooking surface. They are perfect for kitchens that have limited space. They are also suitable for kitchenettes and flats. They tend to be less expensive than conventional hobs and can be energy-efficient, but they are also prone to breaking and require more frequent maintenance.
Gas
A gas hob is a cooktop with burners that can be installed in kitchen countertops to create a seamless look. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, but they are also powered by propane gas. They feature a sleek and modern design that can bring a touch of class to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove comes with a number of burners. Usually there are four, but there can be up to six. The flames are ignited using a match or by turning a knob. The flames are then controlled by a set of valves that can be adjusted to control the temperature.
Most modern built-in gas stoves on the other hand, have burners with multiple flames. This allows you to control both the inner and outer rings of each burner to allow you to precisely control your cooking. These kinds of burners allow for much faster heat up times and are more reliable than the old-fashioned ones.
In the past, it was required for the gas stove to be continuously lit to ensure that the burners remained hot and fueled. This was a security feature to prevent any accidents such as not turning off the oven when the stove was lit by a match or a pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind and come with a built-in fire failure device that shuts down the burners automatically if the pilot light fail.
Gas stoves and hobs must be cleaned, checked, and maintained regularly. To achieve this, it is recommended to arrange a visit with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able to ensure that your appliance functions correctly, but also offer expert advice on how you can prevent any future issues.
Electric
When it comes to creating your dream kitchen, the countertops, fridge freezer and oven will always get the most attention, however the quality of your hob is also essential. The type of hob you choose will affect the way your kitchen functions and how easy to clean.
Electric hobs use heating elements under a smooth glass surface that's typically cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaner. The heating elements are activated when you turn on the hob and can be adjusted to various power levels by turning a knob. They can take a little longer to heat up than a gas cooker but once they are done, they usually provide better, consistent temperature control. They have built-in indicators that inform you whether a particular area is hot or not.
Typically, these come in a range of four to six sized rings that can be notched up to various levels of power. They are ideal for cookware with a flat base, but aren't the best choice for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Some models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs which allow you to cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Some models come with a 'boost' feature that concentrates high-powered heat into a single ring for stir fry cooking sauteing meat, or boiling large pots of water.
Induction hobs differ from standard electric hobs in that they utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware instead of the traditional method of gas flames. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a smaller period of time, making them extremely energy efficient. They feature a cool to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that let you know that 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 a Kiln. Once it's been made it can be decorated or covered with decorative materials to give it texture and colour.
Ceramic hobs are a beautiful combination of form and function, sitting comfortably in any modern kitchen. 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. This is then transferred to the pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the degree of heating using the knobs or the touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs are dual ring designs, with one smaller and one larger cooking zone which allows you to select the ideal size for your pan. You can also purchase hobs with boosters that produce high-powered heat quickly. This is ideal to cook food in or bring pans to boil fast.
Compared to other types of hobs ceramic cooktops take a little longer to warm up and then change temperature, but once they do they are generally more efficient in energy use. You can also find vented hobs that integrate a ventilation system within the cooktop's ceramic, making sure that smoke, steam and cooking smells aren't left within your home.
Induction
Induction hobs have heating elements that are composed of copper wire coils. They generate electromagnets that heat the pans placed on top of them. The coils stir up the free electrons inside the base metal of your pan, which in turn, distributes heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove 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, but they're also faster to heat and consume 30 to 70 percent 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 your pan do.
Some manufacturers have an induction model with additional features, for instance a pause function, which cuts the energy to your stove when you leave or connect two cooking rings at the same power for increased flexibility. They are commonly referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models, but they're worth looking into if like to multitask.
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, giving you plenty of choice for those who want to cook with a lot of passion. It did well in our test, with fast heating and accurate control when making pancakes. The cooker comes with dishwasher built-in, as well as automatic pan detection to make cleaning easier. There's a limited range of compatible pans it isn't used to cook using the utensils with a magnetic base. This could be a problem when you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or some of them are suitable for induction cooktops.