Types of Hob and Oven

A hob and oven is an essential part of many kitchens, and comes in a variety of styles. You can mix different types, such as electric and gas, to suit your needs.

A hob could also come with safety features, such as child and position controls. These features can prevent children from accidentally changing the temperature setting or touching the hob.

Types

The hob is the main focal element of any kitchen and can have a significant impact on the results of your cooking. However, there are a number of different kinds of hobs, and the one you choose will depend on what your specific cooking requirements are.

Gas hobs provide a classic option. They are quick to heat up and respond instantly to temperature changes. Professional chefs prefer them since they provide precise control. However, they are not as easy to clean as other hobs and could require more maintenance.

Electric hobs are flat ceramic surface with heated elements underneath and can be found in various sizes, with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone has a separate heating element that you can control individually. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring while cooking sausages in a different. This type of hob is able to be quicker to heat than gas and provides a child-safe option as the cooking zone is only heated when you place a pot on it.

Ceramic hobs are a chic and user-friendly option to gas and electric hobs. They are smooth and durable. surface that is easy to wipe down but aren't as quick to respond to temperature changes as other hobs and can be slower to cool down.

The Domino hob is a space-saving option to electric and gas hobs. It has ovens underneath the cooking surface. They are ideal for kitchens that have limited space. They can also be used in kitchenettes and flats. They are usually less expensive than a standard cooker and can be very energy-efficient but can be fragile and require more care than other types of cookers.

Gas

Gas hobs are cooktops with burners that are easily fitted into the kitchen countertop to create a seamless look. They are typically used with natural or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) however they can be powered by propane gas. They are sleek and modern design that can add a touch of sophistication to your modular kitchen.

A traditional gas stove comes with a range of burners, usually 4 but often as many as 6. The flames are ignited using the use of a match or a knob. The flames are controlled by a series of valves which can be adjusted to regulate the temperature.

Modern built-in gas stoves however are equipped with burners that have multiple flames. This allows you to control both the outer and inner rings of each burner so that you can precisely control the cooking. These types of burners allow for much quicker heat up times and are more reliable than traditional ones.

Tevels of power. They are perfect for flat-based cookware, but aren't the best choice for cast iron pans since they can overheat. Some models have dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that permit boiling water on one ring and saute sausages on a different. Some models have a Boost function that concentrates high-temperature elements into one ring. This is helpful for stir-frying, searing meat, or boiling large pots.

Induction hobs differ from standard electric models as they use electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, instead of the traditional method of gas flames. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a shorter time frame, which makes them highly energy efficient. They feature a cool to the touch surface, and flashing indicators that indicate that a ring has been used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to create functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, before firing it in a hot oven and hob, also known as a Kiln. After it's formed, it can then be painted or covered with decorative materials in order to add texture and colour.

Ceramic hobs are a beautiful blend of function and form that can be easily integrated into any modern kitchen. They operate by using radiant heating technology, passing an electric current through the coiled elements hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. They produce heat when activated, and this is then transferred to the pan through an infrared system. You can adjust the intensity of this heating by adjusting the controls with knobs or a touch.

Some ceramic hobs are dual ring designs, with one smaller and a larger cooking area, allowing you to choose the most suitable size for your pan. You can also buy hobs that have boosters that create high-powered heat rapidly. This is great for searing food or bringing pans to boil fast.

Ceramic cooktops are more efficient in energy than other types of hobs because they take longer to heat up and change temperatures. There are vented cooktops that incorporate a ventilation system into the cooktop's ceramic surface, making sure the cooking smells aren't left in your home.

Induction

Induction hobs have heating elements composed of copper wire coils. These coils generate electromagnets that make the pans hot on top of them. The coils move free electrons inside the base of your pan and then transfer heat evenly and directly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot and the cooking zones are automatically shut off when your pan is removed.

Induction hobs are typically more expensive, but they also are more efficient in heating and consume 30-70% lower energy than gas or other types. They're also easier to clean, since the surface of the hob isn't hot, and only the contents of your pan do.

Certain manufacturers have an induction model that comes with additional features, like a pause function that shuts off power to the stove when you walk away, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power for greater flexibility. These are sometimes called FlexInduction hobs. They may be more costly than traditional induction models but they're well worth considering if multitasking is important to you.

Our favorite is this induction hob from Smeg. It has four good-sized cooking zones that have a bridge function, as well as nine power levels, giving you a variety of options for the ambitious cook. It performed well during our test with a fast heating speed and accurate control when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with dishwasher built-in and an automatic pan detection function to make cleaning simpler. There's a limited range of pans that are compatible it cannot be used for cooking with appliances that have a magnetic base. It could be a problem when you have a large quantity of cookware that's not compatible or only the smallest portion is compatible with induction cooktops.