15 Gifts For The Oven Lover In Your Life

Leave a Pot on the Hob

Nigella's recipes often suggest you 'leave the pot on the hob' but what does this mean? Hob is the British word for a cooktop or stove top and can be gas or electric.

Dual fuel cookers mix a gas hob with an electric oven to provide the best of both. They can be instantaneous in heating, but they are more expensive to operate than single fuel models.

Hobs made of solid plates

Solid plate hobs have been a staple of homes for a long time. Their basic design comprises flat metal plates that heat up using electricity, making them a cost-effective choice for those on a tight budget. However, their modest initial cost can lead to higher electricity bills in the future due to their inefficient use of energy. These hobs require a lot of heat in the residual and take longer to heat up or cool down.

A popular alternative to solid plate hobs is the ceramic hob which is more expensive to purchase, but much cheaper to run. Hobs of this type come in a variety of styles, including flat and curved and are able to be paired with a range of ovens that can be adapted to any kitchen layout. They are also easy to clean and blend well with modern homes.

Induction hobs are the next step since they utilize electromagnetic fields to cookware directly.  Best place to buy oven and hob  of the hob remains cool, which reduces the risk of burns. It is also safer for children to touch. In addition induction hobs are among the fastest of all kinds to warm up and cool down.

When deciding which type of hob to buy it is essential to take into consideration your preferences for cooking and your energy requirements. Solid plate hobs may be cheap, but they are not efficient. Ceramic and gas hobs on the other hand, are more expensive but are more efficient. Induction hobs are a great compromise, as they combine efficiency with a stylish look.

Gas hobs

The most efficient gas hobs are easy to use, have a clean and stylish appearance and are made of robust materials. They should come with a long-lasting warranty and be easy to clean. They should also be compatible with a range of cookware, and provide instant heat control.

A gas hob works by connecting the gas supply to each burner, which combusts the fuel to create an ignition. The flame is heated by the air and the pan and allows for precise temperature control. Certain models come with a visible flame indicator that makes it easy to determine if the burners are off or on. Gas hobs also have multiple burners of different sizes as well as automatic ignition and a drip pan that can be removed.

Modern gas hobs often have a stainless steel or ceramic top, and some even have sleek black glass finishes. You can choose between vented and open-burner hobs according to the style of your kitchen. Hobs vented have an integrated extractor that takes smoke and steam from cooking pans and lets the heat outside, whereas open-burner gas hobs do not.

Open-burner stoves feature traditional appearance with metal knobs, grates and handles, while vented stoves are sleeker with a flat glass surface. Some models even feature an extra-wide pan support, which is an advantage for larger pots and pans.

Gas hobs are still popular despite the popularity of electric hobs like induction and ceramic. This is due in part to the preferences of consumers and the familiarity with gas cooking. A number of government regulations encourage the elimination of fossil fuel-based appliances and the use of energy-efficient alternatives.

Gas-powered hobs are all electrical components in order to function. It is therefore important to have them installed by a qualified electrician and carpenter who can ensure that the installation is safe and meets industry standards. If you're installing a gas hob the electrician you choose to work with will need to connect a power cable and a gas pipe into your kitchen. In the majority of instances, this is simple and won't alter your existing electrical or plumbing connections.

Ceramic hobs

Ceramic hobs are elegant and attractive appearance They are easy to clean and are more efficient than gas. The high-powered heating element is placed beneath the surface of every zone. These then transmit the heat through the glass to the pan above. This reduces energy wastage as it only direct heats the pan, and not the air around it. They are also easy to regulate and react quickly to temperature fluctuations.

The flat ceramic surface of a ceramic stove is easy to wipe down, so spills and splatters can be wiped off with a clean cloth as they cool. Be aware that they are not suitable for a humid or hot kitchen because the glass can crack and discolour.

Most people aren't bothered by the fact that ceramic hobs produce some heat under the surface. In fact, the majority of models are equipped with integrated cooling fans to control this heat and prevent it from impacting your kitchen or workspace. They're also constructed with insulation and are designed to reduce heat transfer between the hob and your kitchen.

Another benefit of ceramic hobs is that they can be used with most kinds of cookware, in contrast to induction hobs that require a certain type of magnetically conductor pan. Cast iron cookware should never be used on a ceramic stove because it could scratch the surface.

Many ceramic hobs are equipped with a variety of safety features like residual heat indicators and lockout functions to help minimise accidents in the kitchen. Some models even come with 'overflow protection that can sense when a pot is boiling and will automatically cut the power source to the area to minimize damage and mess. Like electric cookers, it's important to ensure a ceramic hob is correctly installed and configured with the right breakers and cables to ensure complete safety. It's best to leave this to a certified electrical engineer so that you can be sure that your ceramic cooker is safe and reliable.

Induction hobs

Like their name implies they have coils under the surface that generate magnetic fields that produce heat in the pan or metal object placed on it. They use less energy than other kinds of hobs, because they are cold until they have a pan placed on them. They also heat more efficiently because the heat is generated through the bottom of the pan, and not from the whole surface of the cooktop.

Like gas hobs, induction models come with a control panel that you can choose your settings and see how much power you're using. They are only compatible using cookware that's compatible with the electromagnetic heating mechanism. This means that the cookware must be made of ferrous or cast iron. Certain stainless steel and non-stick pans can also be used. However, you must always read the label to confirm that your cookware is compatible with induction.

Induction hobs are a favorite option for shared student halls or iQ Student accommodation penthouses. They have sleek LCD displays, and their modern design is a perfect fit for modern kitchens. Induction hobs are safer than traditional gas stoves because they only heat when they are placed over them, and they shut off automatically after the pan is removed.

Induction hobs can be controlled a similar way to an iPhone by the swipe gesture on the slider that controls your preferred temperature. There are also up and down buttons on the control panel to alter the power level or a dial that is hit for precise temperature control.

Some models have dual flex-zones which lets you join two zones to create a larger area to cook larger pots. Certain models come with an automatic switch-off and an indication of residual heat. Other models also have a timer that will alert you when the food is ready. All induction hobs emit low-level magnetic fields at frequencies in the kilohertz range which can cause problems for certain medical devices like pacemakers, so it's important to keep them out of your body when they are not in use.