5 Reasons To Consider Being An Online Hobs Oven Buyer And 5 Reasons To Not
Types of Hobs
A hob (known as stove top in North America) is a cooking appliance that heats pans using electricity or flames. There are many different kinds of hobs, so you can choose one that is best suited to your preferences and kitchen.
Induction hobs are equipped with flat ceramic surfaces and a range of four or five zones to heat your pans. The modern touch-operated designs look sleek and elegant and are easy to clean.
Ceramic hobs
Ceramic hobs can give your kitchen a modern, sleek appearance. The flat glass-ceramic surfaces can be easy to clean and are able to be cleaned in the event of spills or splatters. They are quick to heat up and are energy efficient and can lower your electricity bill. However, one drawback of ceramic hobs is that they may be slow to change temperature settings and can be a hassle when cooking food that requires immediate reduction or increase in heat.
Electric hobs use a solid plate that is heated by electric elements underneath. The power of each element can be individually adjusted through rotating knobs. You can also use the 'boost' feature in order to increase the temperature of a single area. Ceramic hobs hold heat extremely well, so even when they've been shut off, they will still be hot to the touch. It's important to install ceramic hobs in a location that is safe from items that could ignite and out of reach of children.
The benefit of this kind of hob is that it can be set up in a variety of worktops, including laminate and solid wood as well as granite. It's also reasonably priced and is an excellent option for those looking to replace your old hobs without spending a lot of money. However, just like any other appliance, they do need to be properly installed and connected to the mains power supply, so we would recommend hiring an electrician who is experienced to ensure that the new hobs are safe to use.
This kind of hob is sensitive to pan shapes and sizes. You will need to purchase cookware that is exactly the same as the element or fits comfortably in each of the heating zones. If the cookware isn't compatible, then the element will not recognise it and won't start to heat up the base of the pan. This can cause 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 require professional installation. However they heat up faster as an entire pot of water can often boil in less than four minutes. This type of hob is also a good choice for cooks who want to limit the amount of heat being produced. However, it should be noted that a glass hob is more prone to damage than stainless steel ones and will need to be cleaned more frequently, as the build-up of grease and residue tends to remain instead of slipping off.
This Bertazzoni hob is a great example of gas on glass. It comes with four monobloc burners in matt black with metal control knobs to create a sleek, elegant appearance. It also has an oblong wok ring with 4kW for added versatility, plus dishwasher-proof pan supports that are easier to keep clean.
Another highly recommended model is this Bosch gas hob, which is an attractive slab of toughened glass with advanced cooking technology. The dual ring design to the left of the hob features the double inner flame to improve uniform heat distribution which accelerates cooking time. It also comes with an indicator for power that lets you control the exact temperature of the flame. You can choose from nine preset settings, such as high settings to sear steaks and a lower one for scrambled eggs.
Our test subjects also appreciated the controls, as they were easy to use and intuitive. A few minor drawbacks include the fact that you must physically press the controls nine times before you can reach the highest level of heating, and that it can be difficult to determine the state of the burners through the glass.
A few of the top gas on glass hobs are available at an affordable price, such as this Neff model. It's not going to win any design prizes however it's going to serve its purpose and be an excellent option for your kitchen at just over PS120.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs are perfect for modern homes. They are not only sleek and stylish, but they are also safer, faster and more energy efficient than their predecessors.
Ceramic glass hobs are among the most sought-after electric stoves. They're constructed with a sleek glossy finish and an easy-to-clean surface that's resistant to scratches or smudges. They also come with a power booster feature which allows you to boost the heat for a short time.
Induction hobs are a different electric hob perfect for modern homes. Induction hobs cook your food directly by using electromagnetic fields, unlike traditional gas and electric plates. This means that they are more energy efficient and have precise temperature control. However they require a particular type of pan to work with them and can be expensive to install.
A gas-on-glass hob is a second option that's an excellent choice for modern homes. It is equipped with a burner under the glass, which is flat, like a traditional gas stove. The glass is heatproof and shatterproof, making it much easier to clean than glass that is tempered. A lot of these hobs come with the "hot surface indicator" that alerts you to the heat.
Gas hobs remain a preferred choice for many home chefs However, they can be noisy and difficult to clean. They also take time to warm up and cool down and their flame can be difficult to manage. Electric hobs on the other hand are more energy efficient and easier to clean.
To achieve the highest level of modern technology You can even find electric hobs that are compatible with LPG gas. You can switch between various fuels, giving you the flexibility to adapt to your lifestyle. It's important to note that these stoves must be installed by a registered gas safe engineer and will require a specific 6mm cable to be installed in your kitchen. These hobs are not suitable for those who have pacemakers because the electromagnetic field can interfere with them.
Induction hobs
On the glass surface of induction hobs are copper coils which run an alternating electrical current. When an induction-compatible dish is placed on a hob, the coils produce magnetic fields that produce heat directly in the pan, rather than heating the surface of the worktop (gas) or an insulated plate (electric). Induction hobs are efficient in terms of energy efficiency, since they don't squander heat.
There are many different models of induction hobs that range from basic models that have one cooking zone that is that is marked with rings to more advanced multi-zoned induction hobs that have up to six zones, allowing you to cook several pots simultaneously in one Flex zone. Some of these premium models come with a touch-slider control that looks very similar to the way you use an iPhone. You can choose the desired temperature by sliding your finger from left to right over the power bar located in the middle. Certain models can even be programmed with settings for specific recipes or food types which can save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Induction hobs can be more expensive than ceramic hobs. However, they are considered to be more efficient over the long term as they heat up much quicker and use a smaller space for heating up which can help you save on energy bills. They also cool faster and have a more secure design with no hot plates, which makes them perfect for families with young children or elderly persons living in the house. They do, however, create magnetic forces that can affect certain medical devices such as pacemakers. It is therefore crucial to center pans and avoid using smaller pans on larger burners.
Like all electric hobs, you will have to clean your induction hob frequently, since food particles and other debris may build up over time. You can make use of a basic oven cleaner or invest in a specialist one to keep your hob in good condition and shining for a longer time. Avoid using the abrasive cleaning products or the a scouring pad on your stove since they could scratch the surface.