Types of Hob and Oven

A hob and oven is commonplace in kitchens, and comes in a variety of designs. You can even mix types such as domino, electric and gas to meet your cooking needs.

A hob could also come with safety features like child and position controls. These are designed to prevent children from touching the stove and stop them from changing the heat settings accidentally.

Types

In the heart of every kitchen, the hob takes centre stage and can play a huge part in how your food is executed. 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 a classic option. They are quick to heat up and react immediately to temperature fluctuations. They are a preferred choice for professional chefs as they offer precise control. They are not as easy to clean as other hobs and could require more frequent maintenance.

Electric hobs have a flat ceramic surface and heated elements beneath. They can be found in different sizes and with up to six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with its own heating element which can be controlled individually by you. You can boil potatoes in one ring and cook sausages on a different. This type of hob is able to be more efficient than gas and is a child-safe alternative because the cooking zone is only heated when you place a pot on it.

Ceramic hobs offer a stylish and user-friendly alternative to electric and gas hobs. They have an even and smooth surface that is easy to clean. However, they are not as quick to respond to temperature changes or cool down as other hobs.

The Domino hob is a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs. It combines ovens hobs beneath the cooking surface. They can be installed in smaller kitchens that have little space for installation and best ovens And hobs uk work well in kitchenettes and apartments. They are typically less expensive than a standard cooker and are energy efficient but can be fragile and require more care than other types of cookers.

Gas

Gas hobs are cooktops that have burners that can easily be fitted into the kitchen countertop to create a seamless look. They are typically used with natural or the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) however they can be powered by propane gas. The sleek, modern design could add sophistication to your cooking space that is modular.

A traditional gas stove has various burners, usually 4, but sometimes as many as 6. The burners can be ignited with a match or knob. The flames are then controlled by a set of valves which can be adjusted to regulate the temperature.

The majority of modern gas stoves built-in on the other hand, have burners with multiple flames. This allows you to control both the outer and inner rings for each burner, to allow you to precisely control your cooking. These types of burners offer quicker heat up times and are more reliable than old-fashioned ones.

Traditionally, it was important to keep a gas stove on all the time to ensure that the burners were always hot and fueled. This was a safety measure to avoid any mishaps such as not turning off the oven when the stove was lit by a match or a the pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety as a priority. They are fitted with a device to stop the flame that shuts off the burners if the pilot light is not working.

Gas stoves and hobs require to be regularly checked and cleaned, as well as maintained. The best method to accomplish this is to schedule an appointment with a licensed Gas Safe registered engineer. Not only will they be able to ensure that your appliance is functioning properly as well, but they'll offer professional advice and guidance on how to avoid issues in the future.

Electric

When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, the worktops, fridge freezer and oven with hob will always get the most attention but a good hob is equally important. The type of hob you select will impact the way your kitchen works and also how easy it is for you to clean it.

Electric hobs use heating elements under a smooth glass surface that's typically wiped down with an non-abrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you turn the hob on and can be adjusted to a range of power levels by turning or pressing the control knob. They can take a little bit longer to get heated up however once they are heated, they are in place, they provide more reliable and consistent temperature control. They also have built-in indicators that let you know that a particular zone is being used or hot from cooking.

These rings are available in four to six different sizes and can be notch-up up to various power levels. They are ideal for flat-based cookware but not for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Certain models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow boiling water on one ring while you sauté sausages on the other. Some models come with a Boost function that focuses the highest heat in one ring. This is great 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 rather than the conventional method of gas flames. They can reach precise temperatures faster and are more efficient in energy use. They have a cool-to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that let you know whether a ring was used or is still hot.

Ceramic

Ceramics can be used to make functional or decorative objects. It is formed by mixing earthen elements, clay powders and water into the desired shape, then fired in a very high-temperature oven, also known as the kiln. Once made it can be sprayed with paint-like or decorative substances to add color and texture.

Ceramic hobs are an exquisite blend of form and function, sitting comfortably in any modern kitchen. They work by using radiant heating technology, passing an electric current through coiled components hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. These generate heat when activated, which is transferred to your pan via an infrared system. You can adjust the strength of the heating by adjusting the controls using a knobs or a touch.

Some ceramic hobs come with dual ring designs, with one smaller and a larger cooking zone that lets you select the ideal size for your pan. You can also purchase hobs with boosters that generate high-powered heat quickly. This is ideal for cooking food and bringing pans to boil quickly.

Ceramic cooktops are more efficient in energy than other types of hobs due to the fact that they take longer to heat up and change temperatures. You can also find vented hobs that incorporate a ventilation system within the cooktop's ceramic surface, making sure smoke, steam and cooking smells don't linger in your home.

Induction

Induction hobs have heating elements composed of copper wire coils. The coils create electromagnets, which warm the pans that are placed on the top of them. The coils stir up the free electrons inside the base metal of your pan which then transfers heat evenly to your food. The surface of the stove is never hot, and the cooking zones are automatically turned off when your pan is removed.

Induction hobs are generally more expensive, however they also heat up faster and use 30 to 70% less energy than gas or other kinds. They are also easier to clean, because the surface of the hob isn't heated, but the contents of your pan do.

Certain manufacturers offer an 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 power level for greater flexibility. These are often referred to as FlexInduction hobs and can be more expensive than traditional models, however they're worth looking into if like to multitask.

Our top choice is this induction hob made by Smeg, which has four cooking zones that are large enough with a bridge function as well as nine power levels that give you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. In our tests, it did well with accurate control and fast heating when making pancakes. The oven also has a built-in dishwasher and an automatic pan detection function to make cleaning a lot more simple. There's a small selection of compatible pans, however it cannot be used to cook with utensils that have a magnetic base. This can be a challenge when you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or certain pieces are suitable for induction cooktops.