Types of Hob and Oven

Hobs and ovens are a common fixture in kitchens. They are available in various designs. You can even mix types like domino, electric, and gas to fit your cooking needs.

A hob may also come with safety features like child and control of the position. They can stop children from touching the hob and stop them from changing the heat settings in error.

Types

The hob is the focal feature of any kitchen, and can have a significant impact on the outcome of your cooking. There are many kinds of hobs, and which one you select will depend on the cooking requirements you have.

Gas hobs are a classic choice and offer a fast heating function and instant response to temperature changes. They are a popular option for professional chefs because they offer precise control. They aren't as simple to clean as other hobs and could require more care.

Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface that has heated elements beneath. They are available in various sizes, with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with its own heating element, which can be controlled separately by you. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring whilst cooking sausages in a different. This kind of hob is quicker to start heating than gas, and also offers a safer alternative for children as the cooking zone gets hot only when you put the pot on it.

Traditional ceramic hobs are an extremely comfortable alternative to electric and gas and are also a very fashionable option. They have an even and smooth surface that is easy to clean. However they aren't as quick to react to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.

Domino hobs can be a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs that have ovens underneath the cooking surface. They can be incorporated into smaller kitchens that have small installation space and work well in flats and kitchenettes. They are typically less expensive than a standard hob and can be very energy-efficient however they are also fragile and require more care than other types of cooker.

Gas

A gas hob is a cooking surface with burners that can be fitted into kitchen countertops for seamless appearance. They are usually powered by natural or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) but can also be powered by propane gas. The sleek, modern design can add sophistication to your modular cooking space.

A traditional gas stove comes with various burners, typically 4 but sometimes up to 6. They are ignited by either a match or by turning the knob. The flames can then be controlled by a set of valves which can be adjusted in temperature.

Modern built-in gas stoves on the other hand are equipped with burners that have multiple flames. This lets you control both the outer and the inner ring for each burner so that you can precisely control your cooking. These burners are much faster and more reliable than older models.

In the past, hobs and ovens it was essential for the gas stove to be constantly lit to ensure that the burners were hot and fueled. This was done to prevent accidents, like accidentally turning on an oven and hob while the stove is still lit with an igniter or a match. Modern cookers are designed with safety as a top priority. They are fitted with a flame failure device that shuts off the burners if the pilot light fails.

Gas stoves and hobs have to be regularly checked and cleaned, as well as maintained. The best method to accomplish this is to schedule an appointment for maintenance with a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only make sure that your appliance is operating properly, but they will also provide expert advice on how you can avoid any future problems.

Electric

A well-designed hob is equally crucial when it comes to making your kitchen the best it can be. Refrigerators, worktops, freezers and ovens are always the first things that pop up to mind. The kind of hob you select will influence the way your kitchen functions and how easy for you to clean.

Electric hobs have heating elements under 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 different power levels with a knob. It may take them some time to heat up however once they are heated, hobs and ovens they tend to provide better and more consistent temperature control. They also have built-in indicators to let you know when a space is active or hot from cooking.

Typically, they come in four to six different sizes which can be adjusted to various power levels. They are great for flat-based cookware but aren't the best oven option for cast-iron pans since they can overheat. Certain models (such as Belling BELCH602T) come with dual rings that allow you to cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Some even come with a 'boost' feature that concentrates high-powered heat into one ring to stir fry cooking sauteing meat, or boiling large pots of water.

Induction hobs are distinct from standard electric models because they use electromagnetic fields instead of traditional gas flames to heat your cookware. This allows them to achieve precise temperatures in a short period of time, making them highly energy efficient. They also have a cool-to touch surface and flashing heat indicators that let you know that a ring is being used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to make 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. After it's formed, it can then be coated or painted with decorative materials in order to add texture and color.

Ceramic hobs blend design and function to create a stunning piece of contemporary kitchen furniture. They operate by using radiant heating technology that passes an electric current through coiled components hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. When they are activated, they create heat which is then transferred to your pan via an infrared heating system. You can adjust the strength of this heating by controlling the controls with knobs or a touch.

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. There are hobs with booster burners that generate high-powered heat rapidly ideal for searing meat or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly.

Ceramic cooktops are more energy efficient than other types of hobs due to the fact that they take longer to heat up and alter temperatures. You can also choose vented cooktops that have an air-conditioning system that is integrated into the cooktop made of ceramic. This ensures that smoke, steam and cooking smells don't linger in your house.

Induction

Induction hobs are equipped with heating elements that are made up of copper wire coils. They generate electromagnets which make the pans hot on the top of them. The coils stir up the free electrons within your pan's base metal, which then transfers heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove never gets hot and, when you take off your pan the cooking zones switch off automatically.

Induction hobs and ovens tend to be more expensive than other types, but they're also faster to heat and consume 30-70 percent less energy than gas or ceramic hobs. Induction hobs are also less difficult to clean since only the contents of the pan are heated, not the surface.

Certain manufacturers offer an induction model that has additional features such as a pause function, which cuts power to your hob when you step away from it, or link up two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power level for additional flexibility. These are often called FlexInduction hobs and can be more expensive than traditional models, however they're worth considering if you like to multitask.

Our top pick is this induction hob from Smeg, which has four good-sized cooking zones with a bridge function as well as nine power levels, giving you a wide range of options for those who want to cook with a lot of passion. It was a great performer in our test with fast heating and accurate control when making pancakes. The oven also has a built-in dishwasher and an automatic pan detection function to make cleaning simpler. The only issue is that there are only a handful of compatible pans and you can't use it to cook with utensils with magnetic bases. This can be a problem if you have a lot of cookware that is not compatible or some of it is compatible with induction hobs.