The marketplace is filled with many types of hob that you should consider when buying a new one! Depending on your kitchen design and your cooking regime there may be particular features that you’re looking for – or you may just want an extremely practical option.
Before you choose it’s helpful to learn more about the differences in how hobs perform to ensure you get the one that suits your needs. What are the pros and cons of electric versus gas hob? Find out more here…
Gas or electric hob?
Gas hob pros
- Gas is generally cheaper energy than electricity
- Instant control of flame from high to low
- Immediate heat
- Flexible use for many different types of pots and pans
Gas hob cons
- Can be a hassle to clean as they often need disassembling
- Open flames mean loss of efficiency
- Designs can look outdated
- Can be unsafe for families with young children
- A gas supply is needed
- Igniters can become defective
Gas ceramic hob
A gas ceramic hob (gas-on-glass hob) combines the controllability of gas with the advantage of being really easy to clean.
It’s essentially a gas hob mounted on top of ceramic glass making it stylish and modern, with easy to control heat and good overall heat distribution. It does tend to be more expensive than a traditional gas hob and is slower to heat up than electric ceramic models. Installation must be carried out by a professional.
Electric hob pros
- A flat surface is much easier to clean
- Easy and less expensive to install
- Simple to turn on and off
- Cooking areas stay cooler
- Heat relates to a dial number
- Hobs are stable and durable
- Child-friendly
Electric hob cons
- New models can be quite expensive
- Power cuts will prevent the hob from working
- Hob takes longer to heat up
- Care must be taken to avoid tops getting damaged and stained
Different types of electric hobs
Electric hob types include:
Induction hobs
Induction hobs combine the responsive heating of gas hobs with the easy cleaning of electric hobs. The main area where these hobs cut through the competition is their speed. It takes less than four minutes to boil a large pan of water – as fast as some kettles.
When you power up an induction hob metal coils under the glass surface creates a magnetic field. This interacts with the iron in the base of the pan. The electric current generated creates the heat. This means you’ll need induction-ready pans that contain iron to cook with.
Only the pan gets heated with the ceramic glass surface staying cool, which increases safety whilst cooking, and flashing heat indicators show when the ring is on. This makes induction hobs extremely energy efficient.
Want a gas induction hob? If you really want to stick with gas some induction hobs also include a gas burner. Dual fuel hobs combine the modern efficiency of an induction hob with the traditional control of the gas burner. Induction zones have intuitive touch controls with a gas burner that has hard-wearing cast-iron pan supports.
Ceramic hobs
A ceramic hob is defined as a flat ceramic cooking surface with heated elements fitted on the underside. They come with four of five zones for cooking and if you opt for modern touch-operated designs there aren’t any buttons or dials that stick out. Halogen hobs are high-tech and use red lights to indicate the warming of pans.
Ceramic hobs are easy to clean and low maintenance, but aren’t as efficient as gas or induction and take longer to cool down.
Domino hobs
Domino hobs look just like a domino! They typically have two heat zones and provide great flexibility when cooking. They’re also an ideal space saver for small kitchens, and allow you to mix and match with your cooking styles. They can be expensive and aren’t really suitable for households that need more cooking space.
Need a professional cooker hob repair?
Gas hob servicing and gas hob repair are tasks that are undertaken daily by trained field engineers with years of industry experience. You’ll be able to book a three-hour slot even at the weekend – and get a call up to 30 minutes before the arrival time. And you’ll be provided with a year-long guarantee on all parts and labour.