A Guide to Hob and Oven Cooktops

ovens and hobs and stoves are vital kitchen appliances There are a variety of types available. Here's a quick guide to the most common hob cooktops.

Solid plate hobs are easy to use, durable and can heat up metal plates to heat your pans. Solid plate hobs are cost-effective to run, however they can take some time to cool down or heat down.

Gas

Gas stoves and hobs have many features but are very different. Hobs on the other hand are built into your kitchen counter and give it a more sleek look. Moreover, a modern hob is more secure than older stoves due to the revolutionary flame failure mechanism that shuts off the gas supply if it detects an insufficient flame on the burner.

A gas hob has multiple burners that permit you to cook with various methods. You can adjust the heat for any recipe, from boiling water to frying. Additionally, the burners can be separately switched on or off which allows you to optimize your energy consumption for optimal efficiency.

The primary differences between a hob and a gas stove are that a gas stove has the design of projecting and a pipeline that connects it to an LPG cylinder, whereas hobs have a sleek, built-in design and sit on top of the kitchen's platform. As such, you won't have to worry about moving the cooker in case you want to change your kitchen layout in the near future, unlike a freestanding stove.

Gas stoves also require an additional gas pipe and a ventilation system, which can increase installation costs. This kind of hob is more likely to have more energy consumption than induction models or electric models, depending on the energy rates in your area and consumption habits.

Gas is piped into burners of a gas cooker through a connection at the back. When you turn the control knob on a gas hob, a valve regulator will be activated that allows gas to flow in. Once activated, the burners are ready to cook.

Aside from their ease of use and convenience gas hobs are easier to clean than gas stoves. While a traditional gas stove has numerous crevices where food spills could build up, a modern stove has a smooth glass surface that eliminates these problems and is easy to clean. The unique gas hobs made by FUJIOH are also easy to maintain, since you can remove the aluminum alloy burner and venturi parts for a thorough cleaning.

Electric

A hob is an essential part of any fitted kitchen. It can be either an electric or gas hob. A solid plate cooker is also an option. These are great for flat-based products like pans, and they're simple to use. They can be more expensive to run as they take longer to cool and heat than other options. However they are extremely durable and easy to clean.

If you're looking for something a bit more modern an electric ceramic hob is a great choice. The fascia is washable and they're elegant. The cooking rings can be controlled individually and can be adjusted in size so you can cook multiple things at the same time, perfect for busy households. There are also models which have a combination of induction and electric, so you can get the best of both worlds.

There are also gas induction hobs that provide more traditional appearance with a stainless steel finish. They're also faster to heat than a standard gas hob and are more easy to manage. They employ an induction heating element to heat your pans directly, stopping the heat from being wasted on the hob like you would with a gas cooktop.

Induction hobs are more expensive to purchase but they are also less expensive to run because they have a faster heating process than gas and generate less heat residual. They are also more constant in their temperature, meaning that you're less likely to have hot spots on your hob.

Plate hobs are typically a cheaper option, but are not as energy-efficient as other types. They're a good option for novices as they're simple and easy to operate. They're not recommended for those with children, however, since they're very easy to burn yourself if you're not careful. They're also not suitable for heavy cast iron pots or woks as they can cause warping.

Induction

Unlike traditional gas or electric hobs, induction cooktops don't warm up the ring rather, they utilize electromagnetic technology to directly create heat in the pan. This is done by copper coils that are placed under the glass surface that emit an electromagnetic field when switching on. This generates a magnetic charge which heats the metal in your pan.

The benefit of this is that only the surface of your pot and not the entire surface of the cooktop made of glass - is heated, so it's much safer to touch and cleaner too. It also cooks food faster and boils water more quickly than conventional models.

But induction technology isn't without its disadvantages. First of all, you cannot use non-ferrous metal or aluminium pans unless there's copper or iron in the bottom of the pan, since they are poor conductors for electricity. Thankfully, it's easy to find pans that are induction-ready today with enamelled cast iron and stainless steel. Glass, too, if constructed with an induction-ready base, can be used.

You'll also find that induction hobs use less energy than their gas and radiant electric counterparts, using little in the way of heat into the air. This efficiency is the reason why the EPA has awarded induction cooktops with their Energy Star Emerging Technology award and could help you save a substantial amount of money on your energy bills.

Another issue is that the electromagnetic fields created by induction hobs could interfere with some pacemakers, but this depends on the type of device you have fitted. If you're not sure, talk to your GP or cardiac electrophysiologist. They'll be able advise you on whether an induction unit is compatible with your particular pacemaker, and, if it's compatible, how far away from the device you should keep it to minimize interference.

Plate