A Guide to the Best Hobs in the UK
A hob is an oven that is separate from a cooker. A cooker is freestanding and includes the hob as well as an oven.
The mischievous and perhaps malignant – sprites of the countryside, Hobs were often combined with Goblin to give us the Hobgoblin.
Gas Hobs
In any modern kitchen, a good hob is essential. No matter if you prefer ceramic, induction, or gas there’s a hob to fit your taste and budget. A good hob will cook quickly and evenly which allows you to cook food in no time. It also gives a sleek finish to the kitchen.
One of the key benefits of a gas stove is the precise temperature control. It’s quick to reach high temperatures, which is ideal for boiling water, searing meat and stirring-frying vegetables. Its ability to adjust the heat output quickly is beneficial for delicate dishes and sauces, which require a lower temperature setting.
Another advantage of a gas hob is its energy efficiency. It runs on natural gas, which is typically cheaper than electricity, which makes it less expensive to run a hob. It also uses direct flames to heat your kitchen utensils. This means that there is less energy lost around the burner edges.
Modern gas hobs are designed with a sleek look to match any kitchen design. Models with a stainless steel or glossy black finish blend seamlessly into your kitchen and make it look more modern. You can also pick a glass ceramic model that is easy to clean and is highly durable.
Gas hobs are the most popular choice in modern kitchens due to their versatility and ease of use. They can also complement classic kitchen designs, particularly when you include a range cooker in the layout. But, it is important to remember that they could increase the risk of fire when compared with electric or induction hobs. This is because they lack the added security features that allow them to shut off immediately and also having child-safety locks on the control knobs.
When choosing gas hobs you must consider the number of burners and cooking zones you require. There are models with one or two cooking zones. Many models also have central wok burners which is a powerful burner suitable for rapid stirring-frying or boiling. You should also verify the type of ignition system used. Most gas hobs light the burners by using an electric spark or a continuous electric pilot flame.
Hobs induction
While gas hobs are a popular choice for home cooks Induction cookers are gaining popularity due to their speed and efficiency. These flat glass-topped stoves use magnetism instead of heat to heat the pan contents. This makes them more efficient and safer because there is no flame beneath. Induction hobs have many features, including some which our Good Housekeeping Institute experts have discovered to be particularly useful.
One of them is the bridge function which lets you join two hob rings in order to fit larger pans. You can also manage the temperature of each ring individually by using the touchscreen panel. This is a great choice for those who love entertaining and could be a lifesaver when you have guests who have different dietary requirements. Induction hobs could be hazardous for people who have pacemakers as they create electromagnetic fields that can interfere with the operation of their devices.
The British Heart Foundation recommends a minimum of 60cm separation between a source of power and any active hob, if you’re wearing a pacemaker. The magnetic field generated by the hob may interact with other electronic devices and cause them to malfunction, so you must ensure that your device isn’t within reach of an oven or a live cooking zone.
This model is from CDA is another induction hob we provide. It features five zones and various functions, such as melt and simmer, which are perfect for slow-cooked stews or bain-maries. This hob was made with safety in mind, and so it has child locks as well as overheat and anti-overflow settings that prevent accidents or damage.
The design of this induction hob is a bit more contemporary than other models available. This is evident by the sleek black surface that blends well with all kitchen styles. It has a range of options such as a pause feature that lets you turn off the stove without taking off the pan and a boost feature which gives an extra amount of power to facilitate a rapid heating. It is also rated energy efficient and its touch-screen includes a variety of pre-set options for your favourite recipes.
LPG Hobs
Gas hobs offer controllable heating instantly, and the ability to reach far higher temperatures than electric cooktops. Gas hobs are a favorite in both domestic and commercial kitchens. They are used to heat leftovers or create culinary masterpieces.
Our selection of LPG hobs is available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 60cm with 4 burners, to 90cm when you have 5 or 6 burners. A lot of these hobs are also compatible with natural gas by using a an easy conversion kit which makes them the ideal solution for homes with existing mains connections.
All of our gas hobs are from reputable brands like Falcon, Imperial, and Lincat. They are available in a variety of finishes. You can find models with stainless steel, black glass, and other finishes to match your home.
There are plenty of features to consider when choosing gas hobs, including some models offering automatic pan detection for greater security. They allow the cooking zones to only be activated when the cookware required is in place, preventing heat from being wasted. Some hobs also feature combinable cooking zones to accommodate different sizes of pans. Others offer child locks to keep unintentional fingers away from the controls, and some even have a handy auto switch off device that turns off the stove when it’s not used for a specified period of time.
LPG is also more readily available than electricity in rural areas, where electricity can be difficult to find. Its liquid form makes it easy to store and transport, making it the perfect for those who live in remote areas or cater businesses that don’t have access to gas mains.
Gas hobs come in a variety of models, some of which have water boiling times as little as five minutes. They are perfect for making pastas, potatoes, and other favourites when time is at a premium. Our hobs have cast iron pan supports that are durable and feature an alarm system for flame failure to ensure the flame is never extinguished.
Contact Us
The best hob can make an enormous difference when cooking with your family or friends. Our team of kitchen experts will walk you through the four most popular types that will help you identify the cooker hob which is most appropriate for your lifestyle and cooking habits.
Gas hobs provide excellent precision and control, with a variety of styles available with 4 to 6 burners. You can even find models that can be converted to use LPG which is a more secure and more affordable fuel. Our range includes all the top brands, with a broad range of finishes and colours to complement your kitchen design.
The word hob is an ancient English term, originally meaning “a grate or shelf in front of a fire’. It’s an archaic term that reflects the way we cooked at home many years ago, with massive fireplaces and separate shelves where pots were placed to cook. Nowadays, kitchens are fitted with an oven as well as an additional stove top (hob) that can be electric or gas-powered.
Some countries refer to the stove as a cooker, however the British refer to it as a hob. Hobs are an independent piece of equipment that has heating rings for saucepans. A cooker is a bigger unit that incorporates a hob and an oven. A range cooker is an oven and a hob which are usually incorporated into a single unit. More information about the gas hobs affected by this issue, including hazard descriptions and product identifiers are available on the Product Safety Report pages linked to above.