Types of Hob and Oven
A hob and oven is a common part of most kitchens and can come in a variety of styles. You can even mix varieties like domino, electric and gas to fit your cooking requirements.
Safety features like the controls for child and position can be included in the hob. These can prevent children from touching the hob, and stop them changing the heat settings accidentally.
Types
The hob is the focal point of any kitchen and can have a major impact on the outcome of your cooking. There are a variety of hobs, and which one you select will depend on your cooking needs.
Gas hobs are a classic choice and offer a fast heating process and instant reaction to temperature fluctuations. They are a preferred choice for professional chefs as they offer precise control. They aren't as easy as other hobs to clean and may require more maintenance.
Electric hobs feature a flat ceramic surface with heated elements underneath. They can be found in various sizes and have up to six cooking zones. Each zone has its own heating element that can be controlled individually by you. This lets you boil potatoes on one ring and cooking sausages in another. This kind of hob can be faster to heat than gas and offers an option for children to be safe as the cooking zone only becomes hot when you place a pan on it.
Traditional ceramic hobs are a very user-friendly alternative to electric and gas and are also a elegant choice. 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.
Domino hobs can be a space-saving alternative to gas and electric hobs that incorporate ovens beneath the cooking surface. They are great for kitchens with limited space. They also work well in kitchenettes and flats. They are usually more affordable than standard hobs and can be energy-efficient, but they can also be fragile and require greater maintenance.
Gas
Gas hobs are cooktops that have burners that can easily be fitted into the kitchen countertop to create a seamless look. Gas hobs are typically powered by LPG or natural gas, but they can also be powered by propane gas. They are modern and sleek design that can give a sophisticated touch to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove is equipped with a number of burners. There are usually four burners, however it can be as many as six. The burners can be ignited with a match or knob. The flames can then be controlled by the valves that can be adjusted to regulate temperature.
In contrast, most modern gas hobs that have built-in gas burners feature multi-flame burners that let you regulate the outer and inner rings of each burner to manage your cooking. They are also much more efficient and more reliable than older models.
In the past, it was necessary for the gas stove to be continuously lit to ensure that the burners were hot and fueled. This was done to avoid accidents, for example, the mistake of turning on an oven when the stove is still lit by a match or pilot light. Modern cookers are designed with safety as a top 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 regularly. To achieve this, it is recommended to arrange a visit with a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able make sure that your appliance is functioning properly, but will also give you expert advice on how you can avoid any future problems.
Electric
A good hob is equally important in creating the perfect kitchen. Worktops, refrigerators freezers, and ovens are the first things that pop up to the mind. The type of hob that you choose will affect the way your kitchen works and also how easy it is to clean.
Electric hobs are powered by heating elements that are placed on the glass surface, which is typically cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaner. These elements are activated when you switch on the hob and can be adjusted to different power levels with a knob. It may take them a little bit longer to warm up however once they are heated, they have a tendency to offer more reliable and consistent temperature control. They are equipped with indicators that tell you if a zone is hot or not.
Typically, they are available in four to six different sized rings which can be adjusted to various power levels. They are ideal for flat-based cookware but aren't the best choice for cast iron pans as they can overheat. Some models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs that let you cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Certain models come with a Boost function that focuses high-temperature elements into one ring. This is helpful for stirring-frying, searing meat or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs are different from standard electric models because they utilize electromagnetic fields instead of conventional gas flames to heat your cookware. They can reach precise temperatures faster and are more energy efficient. They have a cool to the touch surface, and flashing indicators that inform you whether a ring was used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramics can be used to create decorative or functional objects. It is formed by mixing earthen elements, clay powders and water into the desired shape, then fired in a high-temperature oven called the kiln. After it's been made, it can be covered with paint-like or decorative substances to give it a more textured and vibrant look.
Ceramic hobs are an exquisite combination of form and function that can be easily integrated into any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is used to heat ceramic hobs through the passage of an electric current over coiled elements which are hidden beneath the black glass surface. These generate heat when activated, which is transferred to your pan through an infrared system. You can alter the intensity of the heating by turning the knobs or touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs come with dual-ring designs, having one smaller and one larger cooking zone which allows you to select the best size for your pan. There are hobs with booster burners that produce high-powered heat quickly, great for searing meat or bringing pans of water to a boil in a short time.
As compared to other types of hobs ceramic cooktops take a little longer to heat up and change temperature however, once they're done they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. You can also choose vented cooktops that have an air-conditioning system that is integrated into the ceramic cooktop. This makes sure that smoke, steam and cooking smells don't remain in your home.
Induction
The heating elements of induction hobs consist of a series of copper wire coils beneath the surface that generate electromagnets to heat pans sitting on them. The coils stir up the free electrons within the base metal of your pan, which then transfer heat evenly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot, and the moment you remove your pan the cooking zones switch off automatically.
Induction hobs tend to be more expensive than other models, but they're also faster to heat and consume 30 to 70% less energy than gas or ceramic hobs. best ovens and hobs uk are also easier to clean since only the interior of the pan gets hot but not the surface.
Some manufacturers have an induction model that has additional features, like the pause feature, which cuts the power to your stove when you leave, or the ability to link two cooking rings simultaneously with the same power to provide increased flexibility. These are sometimes referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They can be more costly than traditional induction models, but they're worth a look if multitasking is important to you.
This induction hob is our favorite. It comes with four large cooking zones as well as a Bridge function and nine power settings, which gives you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. In our tests, it performed very well with accurate control and fast heating when making pancakes. The oven comes with a built in dishwasher and automatic pan detection to make cleaning easier. The only problem is that there are only a few compatible pans that can make use of it for cooking with utensils with magnetic bases. This could be a problem when you have a lot of non-compatible cookware or only certain pieces are suitable for induction cooktops.