A Guide to Ovens and Hobs
Ovens and hobs add a sleek, modern feel to any kitchen and can be neatly integrated into your kitchen worktops and units. Shop our complete range of ovens and hobs today.
Electric hobs are heated by a variety of 'cooking ring designs, which have between four and six power levels. It can take some time for them to heat up and cool down.
Hobs in various types
Every home should have the kitchen hob, range cooker or stovetop (the latter being a whole kitchen appliance where you can bake and roast food). It is used to cook a variety of methods, so it is essential to select the ideal hob for your needs. Whether you are a master chef who favours precision or a busy family cook who wants speed, there's a hob to meet your requirements.
Induction and electric ceramic stoves are completely flat and frameless and add to the sleek appearance of any kitchen. Each of the four or five zones can be controlled by a separate dial. This allows you to choose of boiling potatoes on one ring while sautéing sausages in another - ideal for busy families. They also heat up quickly and have a smooth surface that makes them easy to wipe clean. They can be more costly than gas hobs, and they may take longer to heat up and cool down.
Gas hobs offer instant heat and allow for precise control, which makes them popular with chefs. They're also secure, with built-in flame failure safety systems that shut off the gas supply if there's a leak. However, they are less efficient in energy than induction or electric hobs, and are more difficult to clean because of the burners and pan supports.
Plate hobs are the most popular form of the hob and have been used for many years. They have a flat surface with electric or gas rings that heat up when you turn the dial. They are affordable, but not ideal for cooking with cast-iron as they don't evenly spread heat across the entire surface.
Induction hobs make use of an electromagnetic field to directly heat your pan - instead of heating the surface as traditional hobs do. They're more secure than gas and have no open flame, and are easy to wipe clean. They're also more expensive than gas or electric hobs and may take longer to heat up and cool down.
Gas hobs
Gas hobs are a preferred choice for home cooks due to of their quick heating capabilities and ease of control. You can find models with between two and six burners. Some models have a wok-burner specifically designed for stir-frying cooking. Some have a visible flame indicator that shows you whether the hob is on or off.
They cook food faster than electric or induction models, and are therefore perfect for kitchens with a lot of activity. They can also be cheaper to run than electric hobs provided you get electricity from a provider that produces renewable energy sources.
You can pick between built-in or freestanding gas hobs. If you plan to remodel your kitchen, the freestanding models are the
best ovens and hobs choice since they can be moved easily. They can be difficult to put in and might require you to hack into your finished carpentry. This isn't a good choice for every home.
Freestanding models feature a smooth, flat surface that makes them easier to clean than other kinds of hobs. They usually have sleek stainless steel trims that can blend in with many kitchen designs. Some even feature touch-sensitive controls, as well as a power boost function that lets you increase the intensity of a particular burner by as much as 50%, meaning you can bring a pan of water to a boiling point in no time.
Some gas
hobs and ovens feature an automatic safety system that will shut off the supply of gas once the flame goes out, so you don't risk burning yourself in the process. They are also less expensive than some electric hobs to operate,
oven and hob also provide precise temperature control for various cooking methods.
It's important to mention that gas hobs emit carbon dioxide as they burn, which may be an issue for people who are concerned about the environment. Fortunately, there are models that don't release any CO2 whatsoever when they're in use. These are known as "zero emission gas hobs' or 'eco-friendly gas hobs', they're still equipped with the usual features of a traditional gas model but don't emit any CO2 at all while operating.
Electric hobs
Electric
best hobs are a popular choice for kitchens of any style. They have a variety of advantages over other kinds. They are able to heat up and cool down faster than gas hobs, meaning less residual heat is left behind after the cookware is removed. They also cook more consistently and are less susceptible to hot spots than some gas models. Since they are electric, they require less maintenance and are cheaper to run than gas.
Most commonly seen in modern kitchens, ceramic or glass electric hobs have a sleek and elegant appearance that's easy to clean and safe to contact. They're also a great choice for families with kids since their flat surfaces are less likely to be damaged by heavy pans. They are also relatively inexpensive to run and can easily be replaced if damaged.
As opposed to traditional plate hobs (
missworld.ai's website) that make use of coils to generate heat that is then transferred to the cookware, ceramic hobs utilize an induction system to heat directly the pan. They can heat and cool quicker and are suitable to cook with any type of cookware. They're typically more expensive than electric plate hobs, however they'll help you save money on energy costs over the long term because of their high efficiency and the way they convert nearly all the electrical energy into usable heat.
It's important that you maintain your ceramic or tempered glass stove regularly to avoid any problems. For instance, cleaning the cooktop with a non-abrasive cleaning solution is recommended as well as checking and replacing faulty heating controls, as well as regularly cleaning out burner caps and grates. It's also important to look for any indications of gas odour, as it could indicate an issue with gas lines or a gas leak. If you suspect this, it's
best hobs to speak with a professional gas engineer for assistance. Make sure that the hob has cooled completely before cleaning to avoid any severe damage. This will also prevent any accidental spills and fires!
Hobs with induction
A modern alternative to traditional electric and gas hobs, induction cookers utilize a magnetic field to heat the pan instead of the cooktop itself. They heat up faster than other stoves, and will save you energy over time. They are also a lot safer to use because the cooktop surface remains cool to the touch, and many have safety features, such as an automatic shut off to prevent accidents.
The majority of induction hobs have a glass or ceramic top and are powered by an alternating current, which creates a magnetic field to heat. An induction-compatible pan must have a flat bottom as well as an iron or steel core, and the magnetic field only gets activated when the pan is placed in the cooking zone. Most hobs feature an bridging zone that can connect two zones to accommodate larger pans.
Induction hobs are renowned for their efficiency and many people have reported a dip in their energy costs after switching to one. They are also believed to be more secure since the cooktop surface stays cool to the edge, reducing the risk of burns, and only heating the pan and its contents. This makes them more child-friendly than gas or electric hobs which can become extremely hot and can pose a fire danger.
Most induction cooktops come with a variety of control types. The simplest is an easy touch bar/power bar at the top of the hob. Others have a fully-functional display that shows all the options, and allows you to adjust the power levels as well as set timers.