A Guide to the Best Hobs in the UK A hob is an oven that is distinct from cooker. A cooker is a stand-alone appliance that has a stove and an oven. Malignant - and possibly mischievous - sprites of the countryside, Hobs were often combined with Goblin to give us the Hobgoblin. Gas Hobs A good hob is essential in modern kitchens. Whether you prefer gas, induction or ceramic, there's an appliance to suit your style and budget. A high-quality hob will heat up quickly and evenly to cook your food in a snap and adds a sleek finish to your kitchen. One of the key benefits of a gas hob is the precise temperature control. It's quick to reach high heat levels, which is ideal for boiling water, searing meat and stirring-frying vegetables. Its ability adjust its heat output quickly makes it ideal for delicate dishes or sauces that require the use of a lower temperature setting. Another benefit of a gas hob is its energy efficiency. Gas is cheaper than electricity and can be used to power a hob. It also makes use of direct flames for heating your kitchen utensils. This means that there is less energy wasted around the burner edges. Modern gas hob s feature modern designs that will complement any kitchen decor. You can find models with glossy black or stainless steel finishes that blend seamlessly and make your kitchen look more contemporary. If you prefer, you can pick a glass model that is easy to clean and extremely durable. Gas hobs are a popular choice in modern kitchens due to their flexibility and simplicity of use. They can also complement traditional kitchen designs, particularly when you integrate an oven in your kitchen layout. It is important to be aware that they can increase fire risk when as compared to induction or electric stoves. They lack the safety features such as the ability to shut off immediately and having a child-safety lock on the knobs for control. When choosing a gas stove, take into consideration the number of cooking zones and burners you need. You can find models with one or two cooking zones. Many models also have central wok burners which is a powerful burner suitable for quick boiling or stir-frying. Find out the type of ignition that is used. The majority of gas hobs light the burners by using an electric spark or an ongoing electric pilot flame. Hobs Induction While gas hobs are an option for home cooks, induction cookers are gaining popularity for their speed and efficiency. These flat glass-topped stoves rely on magnetism instead of heat to heat the contents of the pan. This makes them more efficient, and safer as there is no flame under. Induction hobs have a variety of features. Our Good Housekeeping Institute experts found that some of these features can be very useful. One of these is a bridge function that allows you to join two hob rings together to accommodate larger pans. You can set the temperature of each ring individually using the touchscreen panel. This is a fantastic alternative for those who love to entertain and is a lifesaver if you have guests with different dietary needs. It is worth noting though that induction hobs aren't suited for those with pacemakers as they create electromagnetic fields that can interfere with their operation. The British Heart Foundation recommends that you keep a distance of 60 centimeters between any power source and a hob that is active, especially if you're wearing a pacemaker. The magnetic field generated by the hob may interact with other electrical devices, causing malfunction, so you should ensure that the device isn't in the vicinity of an oven or a live cooking area. This model from CDA is another induction hob we provide. It features five zones and a variety of functions, such as melt and simmer, which are perfect for slow-cooked stews or bain-maries. The hob is also built with safety in mind. It comes with child locks, anti-overflow, and overheat settings. This induction cooker has a more modern design than other models. This is reflected in the sleek black surface which will integrate well with a variety of kitchen designs. It has a range of features such as a pause feature that lets you shut off the stove without taking off the pan, and the boost feature that gives additional power to speed up heating up. It's also rated as energy efficient and its touch-screen comes with some handy pre-set options for your favourite recipes. LPG Hobs Gas hobs are able to achieve higher temperatures and provide instant heat control. With options that can be used in professional and domestic kitchens, they're a preferred choice for people who want to make culinary masterpieces from scratch or simply heat up leftovers. Our range of LPG hobs is available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 60cm with four burners up to 90cm with 5 or 6 burners. A lot of these hobs can also be converted to natural gas using a simple kit. This makes them the perfect solution for homes with mains connections. All of our gas stoves are made by brands you trust, including Falcon, Imperial and Lincat with models that are available in a selection of finishes. There are models available with stainless steel, black glass, and other finishes that will complement your home. When selecting a gas stove, there are plenty of options to take into consideration. Some models provide automatic pan detection as a security feature. They permit the cooking zones to only activate when the cookware required is present, preventing the heat from being wasted. Some hobs have combinable cooking zones to accommodate different sizes of pans. Some also have child locks to keep unintentional fingers from the controls. some even have a handy auto switch that shuts off the stove when it isn't used for a specified amount of time. Another great thing about LPG is that it's far more readily available than electricity, which is often more difficult to access in rural areas. Being liquid means that it can be stored easily and transported which makes it a popular choice for those living in remote areas or catering businesses that don't have access to gas lines for mains supply. Gas hobs come in various models, and some have boiling times as short as five minutes. This makes them ideal for cooking pasta or potatoes, as well as other dishes in busy catering settings where time is crucial. Our hobs come with cast iron pan supports that are durable and come with an alarm system for flame failure to ensure that the flame never completely extinguished. Contact Us The best hob can make all the difference when cooking with your family or friends. Our experts will guide you though the four most commonly used types and help you select the cooker hob that is most appropriate for you, your lifestyle and cooking habits. Gas hobs offer excellent precision and control, with a variety of styles to choose from, from 4 to 6 burners. You can find models that can be converted to LPG which is a cheaper and safer fuel. Our selection includes all the major brands in a range of finishes and colours that will match your kitchen style. The word hob comes from an old English phrase that originally referred to a shelf, grate, or fireside'. It's an old term that explains how we used to cook at home in the past with huge fireplaces and separate shelves for pots. Today, most kitchens have an oven, as well as an additional hob (stove top) that is either gas or electric. Other countries might refer to the stove as a cooker, however the British refer to it as hob. Hobs are a separate piece of equipment with heating rings to heat saucepans, while a cooker is a bigger freestanding unit comprising both oven and hob. A range cooker is a combination of a stove and oven, usually built into the worktop. More information about the affected gas hobs along with hazard descriptions as well as product identifiers can be found on the Product Safety Report pages linked to above.
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