Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and ovens are common feature in most kitchens. They can be found in a variety of designs. You can even mix varieties like domino, electric and gas to suit your cooking needs.
A hob can also come with safety features, such as child and control of the position. These features can stop children from accidentally altering the heat setting or touching the stove.
Types
In the heart of every kitchen, the hob takes centre stage and can play a huge part in how your food comes out. However, there are many different kinds of hobs and the one you select will be based on what your specific cooking needs are.
Gas hobs are the classic option and provide a quick heating process and instant reaction to temperature fluctuations. Professional chefs favor them because they are precise in their control. However, they're not as easy to clean as other hobs and could require a higher level of maintenance.
Electric hobs are made of ceramic with a flat surface and heated elements beneath. They come in various sizes and have up to six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with a distinct heating element that you can control individually. This allows you to boil potatoes on one ring and cooking sausages in another. This type of hob is quicker to warm up than gas, and is an alternative that is safer for children since the cooking zone gets hot only when you place an oven on it.
Ceramic hobs are a fashionable and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have an extremely smooth and durable surface that is easy to clean. However they aren't as quick to respond to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.
The Domino hob is a space-saving option to electric and gas hobs. It incorporates ovens under the cooking surface. They are perfect for kitchens with little space. They can also be used in kitchenettes and flats. They tend to be cheaper than standard hobs and are energy efficient, however they are also susceptible to damage and require more maintenance.
Gas
A gas hob is a cooktop that has burners that can be installed into kitchen countertops for an elegant look. Gas hobs are usually powered by LPG or natural gas, however they can also be powered by propane gas. They feature a sleek and modern design that can add a touch of sophistication to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove is equipped with a variety of burners. The majority of them are four burners, however it can be as many as six. The burners can be ignited 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.
However, the majority of modern gas hobs with built-in gas are equipped with multi-flame burners that let you control the inner and outer ring of each burner to control your cooking. These types of burners allow for much faster heat up times and are more reliable than old-fashioned ones.
Traditionally, it was important to keep a gas burner lit constantly to ensure the burners were always hot and fueled. This was done to avoid accidents, for example, accidentally turning on an oven while the stove is still lit by the help of a match or a pilot light. Modern cookers have been made with safety in mind as a priority. They are equipped with a device to stop the flame which shuts down the burners if the pilot light fails.
Gas stoves and hobs must be cleaned, checked and maintained on a regular basis. To do this, you should arrange a visit with an Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only make sure that your appliance functions properly, but also offer expert advice on how to prevent any future issues.
Electric
A good hob is just as important when it comes to creating the perfect kitchen. Worktops, refrigerators freezers and ovens are the first things that pop up to your mind. The kind of hob you select will influence the way your kitchen operates and how easy for you to clean.
Electric hobs have heating elements that are placed on a smooth glass surface that's typically cleaned with a non-abrasive cleaner. The heating elements are activated when you turn on the oven and can be adjusted to different power levels by turning a knob. They may take longer to warm up than a gas cooker but once they do they tend to offer better, constant temperature control. They also have built-in indicators that inform you when a space is in use or still hot from cooking.
Typically, they come in a range of four to six sized rings which can be adjusted to various levels of power. They are great for flat-based cookware, but not for cast iron pans, because they could overheat. Some models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs which allow you to cook sausages and boil water on the same ring. Some even come with a 'boost' feature which concentrates high-powered heat onto one ring to stir fry cooking sauteing meat, or boiling large pots of water.
Induction hobs are different from conventional electric hobs because they use electromagnetic fields instead of traditional gas flames to heat your cookware. This allows them to achieve precise temperatures in a shorter space of time and makes them highly energy efficient. They also have a cool to the touch surface and flashing heat indicators that inform you that the ring is either being used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramic is an element that can be used to create functional or decorative objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders and water, and then firing it in a high-temperature oven known as a Kiln. Once it's been made, it can then be coated or painted with decorative materials in order to add texture and colour.
Ceramic hobs are an exquisite blend of form and function and can be found in any modern kitchen. They work by using radiant heating technology that passes an electric current through coiled components hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. These generate heat when activated, which is then transferred to the pan by way of an infrared system. You can alter the degree of heating using the knobs or the touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs are dual ring designs that have one smaller and a larger cooking area which allows you to select the ideal size for your pan. There are hobs with boosters that generate high-powered heat rapidly. This is great to cook food in or bring pans to boil quickly.
Compared to other types of hobs ceramic cooktops generally take longer to heat up and change temperature, but once they do they're generally more energy-efficient. You can also select vented hobs that incorporate a ventilation system with the ceramic cooktop. This makes sure that smoke, steam, and cooking smells do not linger in your house.
Induction
Induction hobs contain heating elements composed of copper wire coils. They generate electromagnets that make the pans hot on the top. The coils agitate the free electrons inside the base of your pot and then transfer heat efficiently and directly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and as soon as you remove your pan the cooking zones switch off automatically.
Induction hobs are usually more expensive than other hobs, but they're also faster to heat and use 30-70% less energy than gas or ceramic hobs. Induction hobs are also simpler to clean because only the inside of the pan are heated and not the surface.
Some manufacturers offer a special induction model that comes with additional features like a pause feature that shuts off the power to your cooker whenever you move away from it, or connect two cooking rings at the same time at the same power level to provide additional flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs and can be more expensive than traditional induction models, but they're worth a look if you are a multi-tasker.
Our favorite is this induction hob from Smeg. It has four cooking zones of good size that have a bridge function, as well as nine power levels, giving you a variety of options for the ambitious cook. It did well during our test with a fast heating speed and precise control when making pancakes. The cooker also comes with dishwasher built-in and an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning a lot easier. There is a limited selection of pans that are compatible, and it can't be used to cook with utensils that have a magnetic base. It could be a problem when you have a large amount of cookware that is not compatible or the smallest portion is compatible with induction hobs.