Ten Myths About Hob And Oven That Aren't Always True
Wiki Article
Types of Hob and Oven
Hobs and ovens are a common feature in most kitchens. They come in various styles. You can even mix types such as domino, electric and gas to suit your cooking needs.
A hob may also have safety features such as child and position controls. These features will prevent children from accidentally altering the heat setting or touching the hob.
Types
The hob is the central element of any kitchen and can have a major impact on the results of your cooking. There are a number of different types of hob and the one you choose will depend on what your particular cooking requirements are.
Gas hobs are the classic choice, and they provide a rapid heating function and instant response to temperature fluctuations. They are a favorite option for professional chefs because they provide precise control. However, they're not as clean as other hobs and may require a higher degree of maintenance.
Electric hobs are a flat ceramic surface with heated elements beneath and are available in a variety of sizes with between four and six cooking zones. Each zone includes its own heating element that can be controlled individually by you. It is possible to boil potatoes in one ring while cooking sausages on another. This type of hob is able to be more efficient than gas and is a child-safe option because the cooking zone only heats up when you place a pan 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 aren't as quick to respond to temperature fluctuations or cool down as other hobs.
The Domino hob is a space-saving option to electric and gas hobs. It combines ovens beneath the cooking surface. They can be incorporated into smaller kitchens that have limited installation space and work well in kitchenettes and apartments. They tend to be cheaper than standard hobs, and can be energy efficient, but they are also susceptible to damage and require greater maintenance.
Gas
A gas hob is a cooking surface with burners that can be incorporated on kitchen countertops to give a seamless look. They are typically used with natural or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but they can also be powered by propane gas. They have a modern and sleek design that can give a sophisticated touch to your modular kitchen.
A traditional gas stove comes with a number of burners. The majority of them are four, but there can be up to six. The flames are ignited using an igniter or by turning the knob. The flames are then controlled by a set of valves that can be adjusted to control the temperature.
Modern built-in gas stoves, on the other hand include burners with multiple flames. This allows you to control both the outer and the inner rings of each burner to allow you to precisely control the cooking. These kinds of burners offer quicker heat up times and are more reliable than old-fashioned ones.
In the past, it was required for gas stoves to be constantly lit to ensure that the burners were hot and fuelled. This was a safety feature to avoid accidents such as not turning off the oven even though the stove was lit by a match or the pilot flame. Modern cookers are designed with safety in mind and come with a built-in fire failure device that shuts down the burners automatically should the pilot light fail.
Gas stoves and hobs need to be cleaned, checked and maintained on a regular basis. To do this, you should arrange a visit with an Gas Safe registered engineer. They will not only to ensure that your appliance is functioning properly, but will they will also provide expert guidance on how to avoid any future problems.
Electricity
A well-designed hob is just as crucial when it comes to creating the perfect kitchen. Worktops, refrigerators freezers and ovens are the first items that come to your mind. Whichever type you choose, conventional, induction or gas cooker the type of hob you choose can impact how your kitchen functions and how easy it is to keep clean.
Electric hobs have heating elements underneath a smooth glass surface which is typically cleaned with a non-abrasive cleaner. The elements turn on when you turn on the hob and can be notched up to various power levels by turning or pressing the control knob. They can take some time to warm up however once they are heated, they have a tendency to offer better and more consistent temperature control. They are equipped with indicators that let you know if a zone is hot or not.
Typically, they come in four to six different sizes of rings that can be cranked up to various levels of power. They are ideal for flat-based cookware but not for cast iron pans, as they can overheat. Some models come with dual-ring designs (such as the Belling BEL CH602T) that permit boiling water on one ring and saute sausages on a different. Some models come with a Boost function that focuses high heat into one ring. This is helpful for stirring-frying, searing meat or boiling large pots.
Induction hobs are different from standard electric models because they utilize electromagnetic fields instead of traditional gas flames to cook your food. They can achieve precise temperatures faster and are more efficient in energy use. They have a cool to the touch surface as well as flashing indicators that inform you if a ring has been used or is still hot.
Ceramic
Ceramic is an ingredient that can be used to create decorative or practical 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 it's made it is then covered with paint-like or decorative materials to give it a more textured and vibrant look.
Ceramic hobs blend design and function to make an impressive piece of modern kitchen furniture. They work by using radiant heating technology, passing an electric current through the coiled elements hidden beneath the oven hob black glass surface of the hob. They generate heat when activated. This is transferred to your pan by way of an infrared system. You can adjust the strength of the heating by adjusting the controls with touch or knobs.
Some ceramic hobs come with dual ring designs that have one smaller and a larger cooking area, allowing you to choose the most suitable size for your pan. You can also buy hobs with boosters that generate powerful heat quickly. This is great for searing food or bringing pans to a boil quickly.
Ceramic cooktops are more efficient in energy than other types of hobs as they take longer to heat up and change temperatures. There are vented cooktops that incorporate a ventilation system into the ceramic cooktop, ensuring steam, smoke and cooking smells aren't left in your home.
Induction
The heating elements in induction hobs consist of a set of copper wire coils under the surface, which create electromagnets that heat the pans that sit on them. The coils agitate the free electrons inside your pan's metal base which transmits heat efficiently and directly to your food. The surface of the hob is never hot and the cooking zones are automatically turned off when the pan is removed.
Induction hobs are generally more expensive, but they also get hotter faster and use 30 to 70% less energy than gas or other types. They are also easier to clean, because the surface of the hob doesn't get hot and only the contents of the pan do.
Certain manufacturers offer an induction model that comes with additional features like a pause feature that cuts off power to your hob whenever you move away from it, or connect two cooking rings at the same power level to provide added flexibility. These are sometimes referred to as FlexInduction hobs. They may be more costly than traditional induction models, however, they're worth considering if multitasking is important to you.
Our top choice is this induction hob made by Smeg, which has four cooking zones of good size with a bridge function as well as nine power levels, giving you a variety of options for ambitious cooks. In our tests, it did well with precise control and rapid heating when making pancakes. The cooker comes with dishwasher built-in, as well as automatic pan detection, which makes cleaning much easier. There's a small selection of compatible pans, however it cannot be used to cook with utensils that have a magnetic base. This can be a problem when you have a lot of cookware that isn't compatible or some of it is suitable for induction hobs.