Ten Common Misconceptions About Hobs Oven That Don't Always Hold
Ten Common Misconceptions About Hobs Oven That Don't Always Hold
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Types of Hobs
A hob (known as a stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans by using electricity or flames. There are a variety of hobs. You can choose the one that best suits your kitchen and design.
Induction hobs have an elongated ceramic cooking surface and come with five or four zones to heat your pans. Modern touch-operated designs are sleek and fashionable, and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a sleek, modern design. They have a flat glass-ceramic surface that's easy to clean, which means spills and splatters can be quickly wiped away. They also heat up very quickly and are energy efficient which helps lower your electric bill. Ceramic hobs can be slow in changing the temperature settings. This can be a problem when you need to cook something that requires a quick reduction or an increase in temperature.
Electric hobs are made of plates that are heated by electric elements beneath. The elements can be controlled individually by rotary knobs and nipped to the power level you require. You can even utilize the 'boost' feature in order to increase the heat of a single zone. Ceramic hobs also have a very high heat retention, so they'll remain hot to the touch even after being shut off. This can be a problem if you have children, so it's advisable to only install them in a place that is away from any flammable items and out of reach of young children.
This type of hob can be mounted on a variety of worktops, including laminate, solid hardwood and granite. It's also fairly affordable and is an excellent alternative if you're trying to replace your old hobs, but without spending a lot of money. Like any appliance, they must be installed correctly and connected to the mains. We recommend hiring an electrician to ensure the new hobs are safe to use.
The drawback of this kind of hob is that it's sensitive to pan size and shape. You'll need cookware that is either the exact dimensions as the element or that is able to fit in the heating zones on the hob. If the cookware isn't compatible the element, it won't recognize it and won't start to heat up the base of the pan. This could result in uneven cooking and make the stove less efficient.
Gas on glass hobs
Glass hobs made of gas are sleek and contemporary in appearance. They are more expensive than electric hobs, and could require professional installation. However they heat up faster and the water in a full pot can often boil in less than 4 minutes. This kind of hob is also a good choice for cooks who want to regulate the amount of heat being produced. However, it must be not forgotten that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel ones and will likely need to be cleaned more frequently, as the accumulation of grease and residue tends to stay on the surface instead of sliding off.
A great example of a gas on glass model is this Bertazzoni hob, which boasts four matt black monobloc burners with accurate metal control knobs that create a an elegant and sophisticated appearance. It also has a 4kW wok ring to increase versatility, and pan supports that are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob that combines a stylish slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the hob has an inner flame that doubles to promote improvement in uniform heat distribution which accelerates cooking time. It also features an excellent power level indicator that assists in regulating the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, including the highest setting for sear steaks and a low one for scrambled eggs.
The simple, yet easy-to-use controls were also liked by our testers who found them to be very simple to use. There are a few minor disadvantages, for instance, you have to press the controls a further nine times to reach the highest temperature and the glass can make it difficult to see the burners' actions.
This Neff model is among the top gas-on-glass hobs that are available at an affordable price. It's not going to win any design awards however it's going to serve its purpose and be an excellent addition to your kitchen at just over PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are ideal for modern homes. They're not just sleek and stylish, but they are also more efficient, safer and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most popular electric stoves. These hobs are designed with an elegant glazed finish and have an exterior that is easy to clean and resistant to scratches. They're also often equipped with a power boost function that allows you to increase the heat of your hob for a short period of time.
Induction hobs are yet another electric hob that is ideal for modern homes. As opposed to traditional gas and electric plate hobs, induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware. This means they are more energy-efficient and provide precise temperature control. They require a particular kind of pan and could be expensive to put in.
A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that's a great choice for modern homes. Similar to a standard gas hob, it features a burner beneath a layer of flat glass. However it's shatterproof and heatproof, so it's much easier to clean than the typical tempered glass. A lot of these hobs come with an "hot surface indicator" that warns you of the heat.
Gas hobs remain a popular choice for a lot of home cooks, but they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They can take a long time to heat up and cool down and their flames can be hard to control. Electric hobs, on the other side, are more energy efficient and easy to clean.
For the ultimate in modern efficiency You can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, providing you with the flexibility you need to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these hobs must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and require a specific 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. They are also not suitable for people with pacemakers as the electromagnetic field may interfere with them.
Hobs with induction
Copper coils conduct an electric current that is alternating beneath the glass surface of an induction hob. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the hob the coils generate magnetic fields which directly heat the pan instead of heating the surface of the worktop or heated plate. This makes induction hobs very efficient from an energy point of view since there's no heat being wasted.
There are a myriad of models of induction stoves, starting with the basic models with a single zone identified by rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction stoves that have up to six zones and allow for multiple pots to cook simultaneously in one flex space. Some of these models come with a touch-slider control that is very similar to the way you operate an iPhone. Simply swipe your finger across the power bar in the middle to select the desired temperature, left to right increases 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 are more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are more energy efficient over the long term. They can heat faster and have a smaller heating space which can reduce your energy costs. They also cool quicker and feature a safer design with no hot plates, making them ideal for families with children or elderly people who live in the house. However, they do produce a magnetic field which could affect medical devices like pacemakers therefore it is essential best oven uk to center your pans on the burner and avoid using small pans on large burners.
Like all electric hobs you'll have to keep your induction hob clean because food and debris could build up over time. You can use a regular oven cleaner, or invest in a specialist product to help keep your hob sparkling and in good order for a longer time. Avoid using any abrasive cleaning product or scratching pads on your induction stove, as they can scratch the surface.