Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and ovens are a common fixture in kitchens. They come in a variety of styles. You can also mix different varieties like domino, electric and gas to meet your cooking requirements.
A hob may also be equipped with safety features, such as child and position controls. They can stop children from touching the hob, and prevent them from changing the heat settings accidentally.
Types
In the center of every kitchen, the stove takes centre stage and plays a major part in how your food is executed. There are many kinds of hobs available, and which one you choose depends on the needs of your kitchen.
Gas hobs are a classic option. They are quick to heat up and respond immediately to temperature changes. Professional chefs prefer them because they provide precise control. However, they aren't as easy to clean as other hobs and may require a higher degree of maintenance.
Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface with heated elements beneath. They can be found in a variety of sizes with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone is equipped with its own heating element which can be controlled separately by you. It is possible to boil potatoes in one ring and cook sausages on another. This type of hob is able to be faster to heat than gas and is a child-safe alternative since the cooking area is only heated when you place a pan on it.
Ceramic hobs are a chic and user-friendly option to electric and gas hobs. They have a smooth, hard-wearing surface that is easy clean, but they aren't as fast at responding to temperature changes as other hobs and can be slower to cool down.
Domino hobs are a space-saving alternative to electric and gas hobs that incorporate ovens beneath the cooking surface. They are great for kitchens that have little space. They can also be used in kitchenettes and flats. They are often cheaper than standard hobs and can be energy efficient, but they are also susceptible to damage and require greater maintenance.
Gas
Gas hobs are cooktops with burners that can easily be fitted into the kitchen countertop for a seamless appearance. They are usually powered by natural or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) however they can be powered by propane gas. They are sleek and modern design that can add a touch of sophistication to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove comes with a variety of burners. The majority of them are four burners, however it can be as many as six. These are ignited with either a match or by turning the knob. The flames are controlled by the valves that can be adjusted in the temperature.
Most modern built-in gas stoves, on the other hand are equipped with burners that have multiple flames. This lets you control both the inner and outer rings of each burner so that you can precisely control your cooking. These kinds of burners allow for much faster heat up times and are more reliable than older models.
In the past, it was essential for a gas stove to be lit at all times to ensure that the burners remained hot and fuelled. This was to avoid accidents, like accidentally turning on an oven when the stove is still lit with an igniter or a match. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind. They have a built-in flame failure device that shuts off the burners automatically should the pilot light fail.
Gas stoves and hobs have to be regularly checked and cleaned, as well as maintained. The best way to ensure this is to book an appointment with a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only be able make sure that your appliance functions correctly, but also offer expert advice on how you can prevent any future issues.
Electricity
When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, the worktops, fridge freezer and ovens will always get the most attention but a good hob is equally important. The type of hob you select will influence the way your kitchen functions and how easy for you to clean.
Electric hobs have heating elements that are placed on a smooth, glass surface. This is usually cleaned with a nonabrasive cleaning product. These elements switch on when you turn the hob on and can be notched up to various power levels by turning or clicking a control knob. It can take them some time to warm up but once they've done so, they are in place, they provide more reliable and consistent temperature control. They have built-in indicators that inform you whether a particular area is hot or not.
Typically, they are available in four to six different sizes which can be adjusted to different power levels. They are ideal for flat-based cookware but not for cast iron pans, because they could overheat. Certain models (such as Belling BELCH602T) have dual-ring designs that let you cook sausages and boil water in the same ring. Some models even come with a 'boost' feature that concentrates the power of high-powered heat into one ring to stir fry cooking, searing meat or boiling large pots of water.
Induction hobs are different from standard electric models because they use electromagnetic fields instead of conventional gas flames to heat your cookware. This enables them to achieve precise temperatures in a smaller period of time, making them extremely energy efficient. They also have a cool-to-the-touch surface and flashing heat indicators that inform you that the ring is in use or still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramic is a material that can be used to create useful or decorative objects. It is formed by mixing earthen elements, clay powders and water into a specific shape, then fired in a high-temperature oven, also known as the"kiln. After it's been made it is then covered with paint-like or decorative substances to add colour and texture.
Ceramic hobs are a stunning combination of form and function and can be found in any modern kitchen. They work by using radiant heating technology, which passes an electric current through coiled elements hidden beneath the black glass surface of the hob. When activated, they generate heat which is then transferred to your pan through an infrared system. You can alter the intensity of the heating by using the knobs or the touch controls.
Some ceramic hobs come with dual rings, with the smaller and the larger cooking area. This allows you to choose the ideal size for your pan. There are hobs equipped with booster burners that produce high-powered heat in a short time perfect for searing food or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly.
As compared to other types of hobs, ceramic cooktops generally take longer to warm up and alter temperature, but once they do they're typically more efficient in terms of energy consumption. You can also find vented cooktops that incorporate a ventilation system into the ceramic cooktop, ensuring smoke, steam and cooking smells aren't left within your home.
Induction
The heating elements of the induction hobs are a set of copper wire coils that are placed beneath the surface that generate electromagnets to heat pans sitting on them. The coils stir up the free electrons inside the base of your pan which transmits heat evenly and directly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot, and the cooking zones are automatically shut off when the pan is removed.
Induction hobs are usually more expensive than other models however they're also quicker to heat and consume 30 to 70 percent less energy than ceramic or gas hobs. Induction hobs are also simpler to clean since only the contents of the pan gets hot, not the surface.
Certain manufacturers offer a specific induction model that comes with additional features, such as a pause function, which cuts the power to your stove when you leave it, or link up two cooking rings simultaneously at the same power level for added flexibility. They are commonly referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They are more expensive than traditional induction models, but they're worth considering if you are a multi-tasker.
Our top choice is this induction hob from Smeg, with four cooking zones that are large enough, a bridge function and nine power levels that give you a wide range of options for ambitious cooks. In our tests, it performed very well with precise control and quick heating when making pancakes. The oven also has a built-in dishwasher and an automatic pan detection feature to make cleaning more simple. The only issue is that there are only a handful of compatible pans that can make use of it for cooking with the utensils that have magnetic bases. This can be a problem when you have a large quantity of cookware that's not compatible or the smallest portion is compatible with induction cooktops.