Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and ovens are a common feature in most kitchens. They can be found in many different styles. You can also mix different varieties like domino, electric, and gas to suit your cooking requirements.
A hob could also have safety features, such as child and control of the position. These are designed to prevent children from touching the stove and stop them from changing the heat settings in error.
Types
The hob is the central feature of any kitchen, and has a huge impact on the final outcome of your cooking. There are a variety of kinds of hobs and the one you select will depend on what your particular cooking needs are.
Gas hobs provide a classic option. They are quick to heat up and respond instantly to temperature changes. They are a preferred choice for chefs who are professional as they are precise in their control. They aren't as easy as other hobs to clean and could require more frequent maintenance.
Electric hobs are made of ceramic with a flat surface and heated elements underneath. They can be found in different sizes and with four to six cooking zones. Each zone includes its own heating element, which can be controlled by you. You can boil potatoes on one ring and cook sausages on another. This type of hob is easier to heat up than gas, and it offers an alternative that is safer for children since the cooking zone is heated only when you place a pot on it.
Ceramic hobs are a fashionable and user-friendly option to gas and electric 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.
Domino hobs are a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs that incorporate ovens beneath the cooking surface. They are great for kitchens with limited space. They are also suitable for kitchenettes and flats. They are typically less expensive than a standard cooker and are energy efficient however they can be brittle and require more maintenance than other types of cooker.
Gas
A gas hob is a cooktop that has burners that can be fitted into kitchen countertops for seamless appearance. They are typically used with natural or the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but can also be powered by propane gas. They have a sleek and modern design that can bring a touch of class to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove comes with various burners, usually 4 but sometimes up to 6. The burners can be ignited by a match or a knob. The flames are then controlled by a series of valves that can be adjusted to set the temperature.
Modern built-in gas stoves on the other hand are equipped with burners that have multiple flames. This allows you to control both the outer and inner rings of each burner so that you can precisely control your cooking. These types of burners provide quicker heat up times and are more reliable than old-fashioned ones.
In the past, it was essential to keep a gas stove on constantly to ensure the burners were always hot and fueled. This was a security feature to avoid accidents like not turning off the oven even though the stove was lit by a match or a pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety as a priority. They come equipped with a flame failure device which shuts down the burners when the pilot light is not working.
Gas stoves and hobs need to be inspected, cleaned, and maintained regularly. The best method to do this is to schedule an appointment for maintenance with a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able to ensure that your appliance functions properly, but will also offer expert guidance on how to prevent any future issues.
Electric
When it comes to creating your ideal kitchen, the worktops, fridge freezer and oven will always receive the most attention, however the quality of your hob is equally important. Whether you opt for a conventional, induction, or gas cooker the kind of hob you pick can impact how your kitchen operates and how easy it is to clean.
Electric hobs feature heating elements under a smooth glass surface. The glass surface is typically cleaned using a nonabrasive cleaner. These elements switch on when you turn the hob on and can be notched up to a variety of power levels by turning or clicking on a knob. They can take a little longer to warm up than a gas cooker but once they do they are able to provide more constant temperature control. They have built-in indicators that let you know whether a space is hot or not.
They are available in a range of four to six sizes and are notch-upable to different power levels. They are perfect for flat-based cookware but aren't the best option for cast-iron pans because they can get hot. Certain models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that allow boiling water on one ring while you saute sausages on a different. Some models have a 'boost' function that concentrates high-powered heat into a single ring for stir fry cooking sauteing meats, searing or boiling large pots of water.
Induction hobs differ from normal electric models because they employ electromagnetic fields to directly heat your cookware, rather than the conventional method of gas flames. This allows them to reach precise temperatures in a smaller period of time, making them highly 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 make decorative or functional objects. It is made by mixing clay with earthen elements, powders, and water, and firing it in a hot oven known as a Kiln. Once made, it can be covered with decorative or paint-like substances to give it a more textured and vibrant look.
Ceramic hobs are an exquisite blend of form and function that can be easily integrated into any modern kitchen. Radiant heating technology is employed to heat ceramic hobs by passing an electric current over coiled elements that are hidden under the black glass surface. They produce heat when activated. This is transferred to your pan through an infrared system. You can adjust the intensity of this heating by adjusting the controls via knobs or buttons.
Certain ceramic hobs have dual ring designs, with one smaller and one larger cooking zone that lets you select the most suitable size for your pan. You can also purchase hobs that have boosters that create powerful heat quickly. This is great to cook food in or bring pans to a boil quickly.
In comparison to other types of cooktops, 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. There are vented cooktops that incorporate a ventilation system within the cooktop's ceramic, making sure that steam, smoke and cooking smells don't linger within your home.
Induction
The heating elements of hobs with induction are made up of a series of copper wire coils beneath the surface, which generate electromagnets to heat pans that sit on them. The coils agitate the free electrons inside the base of your pot, which then transmits heat uniformly and directly to your food. The surface of the stove never gets hot and, the moment you remove your pan the cooking zones are turned off automatically.
Induction hobs are typically more expensive than other models however they're also quicker to heat and use 30-70 percent less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. They are also easier to clean since the surface of the hob doesn't get hot and only the contents of your pan do.
Some manufacturers offer an induction model with additional features, like a pause feature that shuts off power to your stove when you walk away or connect two cooking rings with the same power to provide increased flexibility. These are sometimes referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more costly than traditional induction models however, they're worth considering for those who value multitasking. 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 lot of options for cooks who want to be more adventurous. It was a great performer in our test with fast heating and accurate control when making pancakes. The oven also has an integrated dishwasher as well as an automatic pan detection function to make cleaning even simpler. The only issue is that there are only a handful of compatible pans that can use it to cook with utensils with magnetic bases. This could be a problem when you have a lot of non-compliant cookware, or just some of it is suitable for induction hobs.