Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and ovens are a common fixture in kitchens. They are available in many different styles. You can mix and match different types like domino, electric, and gas to meet your cooking requirements.
A hob can also come with safety features such as child and position controls. These can prevent children from touching the hob and stop them changing the temperature settings by accident.
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 different types of hobs, and the one you select will depend on the needs of your kitchen.
ovens uk are the classic choice and offer a fast heating function and instant response to temperature changes. Professional chefs prefer them because they provide precise control. However, they're not as easy to clean as other hobs and could require more maintenance.
Electric hobs are flat ceramic surface that has heated elements beneath. They can come in different sizes that have between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element which you can regulate individually. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring and cooking sausages in another. This kind of hob can be more efficient than gas and provides a child-safe alternative since the cooking area only heats up when you put a pan on it.
Ceramic hobs are a chic and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have a smooth, hard-wearing surface which is easy to clean but aren't as quick to respond to temperature changes as other hobs and are 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 installed in smaller kitchens that have small installation space and are ideal for kitchenettes and flats. They tend to be more affordable than standard hobs, and are energy efficient, however they are also prone to breaking and require more frequent maintenance.
Gas
A gas hob is a cooking surface with burners that can be fitted into kitchen countertops for 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 cooking space that is modular.
A traditional gas stove is equipped with a number of burners. There are usually four burners, however it can be up to six. The burners can be lit by a match or a knob. The flames can then be controlled by a set of valves which can be adjusted to regulate the temperature.
Most modern built-in gas stoves however include burners with multiple flames. This lets you control both the inner and outer 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 necessary to keep a gas stove lit continuously to ensure that the burners are constantly fueled and hot. This was done to avoid accidents, such as the mistake of turning on an oven when the stove was still lit by the help of a match or a pilot light. Modern cookers have been designed with safety as a priority. They are equipped with a fire failure device which shuts down the burners when the pilot light is not working.
Gas stoves and hobs have to be regularly inspected and cleaned as well as maintained. The best way to do this is to arrange a maintenance visit with a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able to ensure that your appliance is functioning properly and safely, but they will offer expert advice and guidance on how to avoid problems in the future.
Electric
A quality hob is just as crucial when it comes to creating the perfect kitchen. Refrigerators, worktops, freezers and ovens are always the first things that come to mind. Whether you opt for a conventional, induction or gas cooker the type of hob you select can impact how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to keep clean.
Electric hobs have heating elements that are placed on a smooth glass surface. This is typically cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaner. The heating elements are activated when you turn on the hob and can be adjusted to various power levels using a control knob. They can take some time to get heated up, but once they have they are in place, they provide better and more consistent temperature control. They also come with indicators that inform you when a space is active or hot from cooking.
They 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 aren't the best option for cast-iron pans since they can overheat. Some models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that permit boiling water on one ring and saute sausages on a different. Some models come with a Boost feature that concentrates the highest heat in one ring. This is great for stir-frying, searing meat, or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs are different from regular electric models as they use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, rather than the conventional method of gas flames. They can reach precise temperatures more quickly and are more energy efficient. They have a cool-to the touch surface and flashing indicators that let you know that a ring has been used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramic is an ingredient that can be made into useful or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders, and water, and then firing it in a hot oven called Kiln. After it's been made, it can be covered with decorative or paint-like substances to add color and texture.
Ceramic hobs are an exquisite blend of form and function and can be found in any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat the ceramic hobs by passing an electric current through coiled components that are concealed beneath the black glass surface. When they are activated, they create heat, which is then transferred to your pan through an infrared system. You can alter the intensity of this heating by controlling the controls with knobs or buttons.
Some ceramic hobs are dual-ring designs, having one smaller and one larger cooking zone, allowing you to choose the most suitable size for your pan. You can also buy hobs with boosters that produce high-powered heat rapidly. This is perfect for cooking food and bringing pans to a boil quickly.
Compared to other types of hobs, ceramic cooktops typically take longer to heat up and then change temperature however once they do, they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. You can also select vented hobs that incorporate a ventilation system with the cooktop made of ceramic. This ensures that steam, smoke, and cooking smells don't stay in your home.
Induction
Induction hobs contain heating elements that are made up of copper wire coils. The coils create electromagnets which heat the pans placed on top of them. The coils move free electrons inside the base of your pot which transmits heat evenly and directly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and as soon as you remove your pan, the cooking zones turn off automatically.
Induction hobs are typically more expensive, but they also get hotter faster and use 30-70% lower energy than gas or other types. They're also easier to clean since the surface of the hob isn't heated, but the contents of your pan do.
Some manufacturers provide an induction model with additional features, like the pause feature, which cuts the power to your stove when you leave, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power for more flexibility. They are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models, however, they're worth considering when 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, giving you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. It performed well in our tests with fast heating and precise control when making pancakes. The cooker comes with a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection to make cleaning much easier. The only problem is that there are only a few compatible pans that can use it to cook using the utensils that have magnetic bases. This could be a problem if you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or some of it is suitable for use on induction hobs.