From traditional gas to more modern induction, choosing the perfect hob can seem somewhat daunting, as a good quality hob is a must for your kitchen, so it’s well worth researching the various options available to find one that not only suits your style of cooking, but will stand the test of time.
With a lot of choice available from different fuel types, sizes and settings, getting the right fit for your kitchen isn’t always easy. To help you decide which is best for your cooking needs, we’ve got the low-down on the benefits of the three main fuel types, but the first decision to make is the positioning…..
Where you put your hob is your individual choice and should be discussed at the design stages, although you may be limited to a certain area if you go for a gas hob. Many people choose to place their kitchen hob directly above their oven for ease of use.
However, there are other options available for you to consider. For example, if you have a built-in oven, you may need to place your hob on the adjacent countertop. Alternatively, you could make a feature of your kitchen hob by locating it on an island, as a focal point in your design. Remember that you might want to add a cooker hood too, which may influence where you fit your appliance.
Gas Hobs
A standard gas hob features four or five burners and a manual ignition switch that lights the gas burner you wish to use, with easy-to-turn knobs that enable you to control the flames which are generally located in a row at the front of the hob or to one side of the burners. A gas hob must be installed by a qualified professional.
Many professional chefs prefer to cook on gas flames, and gas hobs remain popular in the home too. They offer instant heat and superior temperature control, ensuring your recipes are cooked to perfection every time. Gas hobs can be preferable in terms of efficiency too, as they are often cheaper to purchase and use and gas hobs are generally available in glass or stainless steel.
Induction Hobs
Induction cooking works by heating the pan directly rather than heating the hob. It’s as fast to respond as gas and as precise as electricity. Because of this, you’ll find your pans are up to heat and simmering away much more quickly. And because the hob itself isn’t heated, there’s no burnt-on food. A simple wipe will clean the cooking surface.
Because of the way induction cooking works, you need specific types of pots and pans. These have flat bases made of ferrous or “magnetic” metal, which is quite common on good quality cookware, and will have been labelled as suitable for use on Glass Ceramic Induction Hobs. Induction hobs are faster and more efficient than regular hobs, simply because they only heat the surface of your pan. To compare the two, 40% of the energy in a common gas hob is used to cook your recipe, whereas an induction hob utilises 84% of the energy.
Electric Hobs
Often also known as ceramic hobs or halogen hobs, electric hobs are a mainstay in kitchens across the world and feature a sleek glass surface design, these are particularly well suited to modern kitchens. Ceramic hobs are a great choice for people who have a strict budget. They are often a lot cheaper than their induction equivalents and come in a vast number of styles and sizes to suit any kitchen.
Ceramic hobs are quicker to heat up than an electric hot plate, but are often quite a bit slower than a gas or induction hob. If you are energy conscious, ceramic hobs are normally not the best choice as the entire cooking zone is heated. This means that a lot of energy can escape from around the sides of the pan, plus the zones can remain hot for quite a while after you have turned off the heat.
Which one should you choose will mainly be dependant on your budget, performance and usage of your hob. Our showroom in Sutton Coldfield is the ideal place for advice and to be able to view different variations to make your kitchen design perfect. Please contact us here or call us on 0121 351 5169 for further advice on choosing the perfect hob.