20 Things That Only The Most Devoted Hobs Oven Fans Know
20 Things That Only The Most Devoted Hobs Oven Fans Know
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Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove tops in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats up pans by using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs available, so you can pick one that suits your style and kitchen.
Induction hobs feature a flat ceramic cooking surface and come with four or five zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs look sleek and stylish and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern and sleek look. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and can easily be cleaned if spills or splatters occur. They also heat up quickly and are energy efficient which helps lower your electric bill. However, one downside of ceramic hobs is that they can be slow in changing temperature settings which can be a problem when cooking food that requires an instant reduction or increase in heat.
Electric hobs are made up of a solid surface which is heated from below by electric elements. These elements can be controlled separately with rotary knobs, and then tacked up to the power level you require. You can utilize the Boost feature to increase the temperature of a specific area. Ceramic hobs also have extremely high degree of heat retention, meaning they'll remain hot to the touch after being shut off. This could be a problem if you have children, so it's best to place them in an area which is far from flammable objects and out of reach of young children.
The advantage of this type of hob is that it can be put in in a variety of worktops such as laminate or solid wood, as well as granite. It's also quite affordable and is a great option if you want to replace your stove without spending a lot of money. However, like all appliances they need to be properly installed and connected to the mains, so we suggest hiring a professional electrician to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.
This type of hob is sensitive to pan sizes and shapes. It is necessary to purchase cookware that is either the exact same dimensions as the element or that is able to fit in the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware is not the same dimensions as the element, the element won't recognise it and won't be able to heat the bottom of the pan. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results and will make the hob less energy efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs with gas have a sleek and modern look. They can be more expensive than electric models and could require professional installation. However, they heat up faster - a full pot of water can typically boil in less than four minutes. This kind of hob is ideal for cooks who need to control how much heat is produced. Glass hobs are more susceptible to damage and require frequent cleaning as they tend to accumulate grease and other residue.
One of the best examples of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four black monobloc burners that have precise metal control knobs to create an elegant and sophisticated appearance. The wok ring has a power of 4kW for extra versatility and the pan supports are dishwasher safe.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which combines the look of a sleek slab of toughened glass with the latest cooking technology. The dual ring design on the left side of the gas hob features an inner burner that doubles to improve the distribution of heat and accelerate cooking. It also has an easy-to-read power level indicator, which allows you to control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose between nine preset settings, including the highest setting for sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled egg.
The simple and easy-to-use controls were also loved by our test subjects who found them be very simple to use. Some minor disadvantages include the fact that you have to physically press the controls nine times to reach the highest level of heating and it can be difficult to discern the state of the burners through the glass.
This Neff model is one of the best gas-on-glass hobs that are available at a low cost. Although it's unlikely to win any design awards, it does the job well and is an ideal addition to your kitchen at just 120 dollars.
Electric hobs
There are a number of electric hobs that work for modern households. Not only do they offer a sleek design that fits into the rest of your kitchen and are also equipped with advanced functionality that is safer, faster and more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
One of the most popular electric hobs is the ceramic glass hob. They're constructed with a sleek glazed finish and feature an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to scratches or smudges. They're also typically equipped with a power boost feature which lets you increase the heat of your cooker for a short amount of time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs heat cookware directly with electromagnetic fields unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. They require a particular type of pan and can be costly to install.
A gas on glass hob is a different option that's an excellent option for modern homes. Similar to a traditional gas hob, it comes with the burner underneath an underlying layer of flat glass. However it's heatproof and shatterproof, so it's much easier to clean than tempered glass. Many of these hobs also come with a 'hot surface indicator', which informs you when the hob is hot.
Although gas hobs are a popular option for many home cooks however, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take a while to warm up and cool down and their flame can be hard to manage. However electric hobs are energy-efficient and simpler to clean.
You can even find electric stoves that can be used with LPG gas. This allows you to switch between different fuel sources, so you can adjust your cooking to fit your needs. However, it's important to keep in mind that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a dedicated 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They're also not suitable for those with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field can cause interference with them.
Induction hobs
Copper coils run an alternating electric current beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible plate is placed on the hob the coils generate magnetic fields which heat the pan directly instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs extremely efficient from an energy perspective since there's no heat being wasted.
There are many different models of induction hobs that range from basic ones that have only one cooking zone that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that can have up to six zones, allowing you to cook multiple pots at once on a Flex zone. Some of these models come with a touch slider control that resembles to how you operate an iPhone. Simply slide your finger across the power bar at the middle to select the desired heat level left to right boosts heat and right to left decreases it. Some models even have pre-programmed settings for specific recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs do tend to be more expensive than ceramic hobs, but they are considered to be more efficient in the long run as they heat up much quicker and use a smaller space to heat up, which can help you save on energy bills. click here They cool quicker, and they are more secure without hot plates. This makes them a great choice for families with elderly or children. They do, however, generate a magnetic force that could interfere with certain medical devices, such as pacemakers. It is therefore important to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll need to keep your induction hob clean, as food and debris can accumulate over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or you can purchase a specialist cleaner to keep your hob shiny and in good condition for longer. Just be sure to never use scrubbers or pads for scouring on your induction cooker as they can scratch the surface.