Buyer's guide - Cooking hobs

Overview… ...

By Alexandra Aussenac Your guide to cooking hobs

Spotlight on cooking hobs
Whip up a feast and save money!
Getting the best out of your hob
Focus on…user-friendly controls
What to look for in a hob
Conclusion

Spotlight on cooking hobs

Cooking hobs are an essential part of any kitchen. There are loads of models out there, so you're bound to find one to suit your needs!
From traditional gas hobs to induction cooking tops, cooking technologies are constantly evolving. Different technologies are designed for different uses, as everyone has different budgets and requirements.
There are many things to consider when you're choosing a cooking hob, including performance, safety, ease of use and power consumption….

Whip up a feast and save money!

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You don't need a large oven to prepare fancy meals. You can get creative in the kitchen using just a cooking hob - without burning a hole in your pocket!

Quick and easy cooking without burning a hole in your pocket

Gas and electric hobs are reliable and economical, and are ideal for first-time home buyers.
Electric cooking hobs are easy to install and use (a single socket will do). Electric cooking hobs are mostly made out of cast iron for increased durability. What's more, you won't need matches or a user manual to get them working: just turn the button to get the hob going.
However, because these types of hobs don't have programs, they don't have security features to prevent overheating or overflowing pans either. However, you should make sure that your electric cooking hob has a light indicator for waste heat. When this indicator lights up, it means that your cooking hob is still very hot, even if it's turned off (the temperature of the plate exceeds 60°C) - great if you want to avoid a nasty burn!
Electric hotplates are the cheapest on the market. They can be used as a stand-alone hob, which you can use when you're travelling, or to complement your existing hob, particularly when you need lots of cooking space.
There are also dual fuel cooking hobs, which combine two different cooking methods - gas and electric, ceramic and induction, or even gas and induction.
Gas hobs have performances similar to those of induction hobs. They provide better heat control than electric hobs, and are more responsive to changes in temperature: you can quickly brown a cut of meat and leave it to simmer in just a few seconds, or leave a dish stewing for a few hours. Whatever you enjoy cooking, gas hobs will cater to all your needs in an instant.
What's more, you can keep a close eye on cooking speeds just by watching the size of the flame. Gas hobs are probably one of the safest cooking methods, because they come with special connectors and automatic gas-supply cut-off features in case the flame goes out. Some hobs even automatically re-light flames.
Consider a gas hob with easy-access knobs on the front panel to make cooking easier: you won't risk burning your fingers when you need to turn them. The size and type of pan supports also matter: several separate pan supports are simpler to clean, while all-in-one pieces provide optimal balance for your pots and pans.
Hobs with one-hand ignition are quick, easy and economical: just turn the control knob and the flame appears - there's no need for matches!

Exceptional performances in a refined design

If you want to clean your hob in a flash, opt for a ceramic-glass hob. This material is used to manufacture both ceramic and induction hobs. As well as being extremely stylish, ceramic-glass hobs are no more than 5cm thick and stand out thanks to their heating systems.
Technologies found in ceramic-glass hobs are a significant improvement to those featured on electric hobs. There are two types of ceramic hob: radiant hobs with glass ceramic panels; and the more powerful halogen hobs, which use infrared lighting. Halogen hobs heat up extremely quickly, which is great for browning meat or boiling water in a few seconds.
Halogen heating elements only work when you activate the switch. It's best to leave stews simmering away nicely on radiant heating elements as you won't risk them spilling over and creating a mess on the hob.
If you like to entertain friends and family, then you will need a hob with an extendible radiant heating element. These types of hobs evenly distribute heat under larger pots and pans, ensuring your food is cooked all the way through in less time.
Ceramic-glass hobs are the safest, most practical option and cook food to perfection without your having to constantly check it, as you would with a gas hob. Featuring multiple safety features, such as a waste heat indicator and an automatic mode that shuts off the power after a couple of hours, some models - mainly those with touch-sensitive controls - stop functioning as soon as an excessive rise in temperature or overflow is detected.
Induction hobs are economical, safe and powerful.
At first glance, induction hobs appear to be the same as ceramic-glass hobs, but they actually use completely different heating technologies. On induction hobs, it's not the hob that heats up, but the actual pan, which creates an electromagnetic field generating heat. When the pan is removed from the heat, the hob goes cold; when the pan is put back on the hob, it automatically heats up again.
The only thing you'll need with these types of hobs is the appropriate cast iron or steel pans to form a electromagnetic field. Glass, aluminium or copper pans will leave induction hobs cold. It's a great excuse to splash out on a new set of pots and pans! Induction hobs reduce the risk of burns, but don't eliminate the risk entirely because a hot pan transfers heat to the hob. However, induction hobs are often equipped with a light indicator for waste heat and turn themselves off in the case of overheating. Induction hobs are more versatile than gas hobs, particularly at lower temperatures, and have precise power controls. Temperature control is easy, thanks to the illuminated column indicating the power level.
Because these types of hobs don't heat up, you can switch from a low to a high temperature setting in an instant. The change in temperature will automatically be transferred to the pot or pan. What's more, thanks to the booster function, which allows maximum temperature settings to be reached with just the touch of a button, induction hobs can boil 3 litres of water in just 3 minutes.
Induction hobs are highly responsive and therefore an economical method of cooking; in fact, induction hobs consume around a third less power than ceramic-glass hobs, and 50% less energy than gas hobs.

Getting the best out of your hob

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Now that you've chosen a cooking hob that's right for you, it's time to move on to selecting a few essential kitchen utensils to make your life easier!

Cooking like a master chef!

You'll need suitable pots and pans made out of electromagnetic metal - such as iron - if you want to use an induction hob. Pots and pans that are compatible with induction technology usually carry the label "Class Induction", so you'll know exactly which ones you can use.
Remember to check whether your existing pots and pans are compatible with induction hobs before you splash out on a new set! If a fridge magnet sticks to the bottom of your pots and pans, they'll work with induction hobs, because they'll disperse the electromagnetic field of your induction hob.
If you can't bear to part with your favourite pot or pan, don't worry! There are discs that you can slide between the pan and the burner. Usually equipped with a removable handle, these types of discs conduct heat and can be removed effortlessly, without you scalding yourself.
To keep your induction hob sparkling clean, there's no need for elbow grease! Because induction hobs only heat up when in contact with a pot or pan, spillages don't get baked on top. Stained spots can be easily wiped clean with a sponge.

Stoves: an essential part of everyday life

Stoves are made up of several cooking hobs and one or two oven cavities, giving you plenty of space and scope for cooking.
The differences between stoves lie in the type of cooking hob and type of oven included.
Electric and gas stoves are the least expensive. Although there are still many stoves that work entirely on gas, most modern stoves include an electric oven, which is safer to use and easier to clean, mainly thanks to self-cleaning pyrolysis technology.
Ceramic and induction stoves provide top-end performances, but carry a heftier price tag. To get the advantages of induction hobs without paying the premium price, why not take a look at dual fuel stoves, which incorporate both gas and electric cooking technologies?
If price and space isn't a problem for you, then you might be interested in a range-style cooker. As a general rule, range-style cookers have five chambers and two oven cavities to provide performances similar to those of a professional product used by master chefs. They also have a stylish design that'll look great in any kitchen.
Range-style cookers can be used as pizza ovens, grill-stones or even wok supports, so East meets the West in your kitchen!

Bestsellers

BOSCH HBN331E0B Built-in Electric Single Oven - Brushed Steel: £ 263.90 Inc. VAT; IN STOCK

Samsung BQ2Q7GO78 Built-in Electric Single Oven: ~~£ 749.99~~; £ 512 Inc. VAT -31%; IN STOCK

BELLING CRS60 Built-in Ceramic Hob: ~~£ 249.99~~; £ 210 Inc. VAT -16%; IN STOCK

ESSENTIALS CBCONW10 Built-in Electric Oven - White: ~~£ 129.99~~; £ 89.90 Inc. VAT -30%; IN STOCK

HOTPOINT DH93K Built-in Electric Double Oven - Black: ~~£ 449.99~~; £ 413 Inc. VAT - 8%; IN STOCK

Samsung BF641FB: ~~£ 291~~; £ 235.90 Inc. VAT -18%; IN STOCK

Focus on…

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User-friendly controls

Since cooking hobs are contemporary, your kitchen utensils and accessories must follow suit.
Touch-sensitive controls are not only stylish, they're also practical, easy to clean, and give you complete control over heating power.
Some gas hobs are now available with a tempered glass finish. To complete the look, opt for buttons designed for the front panel: in addition to being easy to access, they won't melt when you put your pot or pan next to them.

What to look for in a hob

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Cooking hobs are powerful, practical and stylish - but don't skimp on safety!

Safety first!

Most ceramic hobs, especially those with touch-sensitive controls, include features for child safety and to prevent overheating and overspill. As soon as liquid covers the infrared detector contained in each button, the hob will automatically switch off. You can also lock the controls to prevent little fingers from accidentally switching them on. Gas cooking hobs are also equipped with automatic gas-supply cut-off features should the flame be extinguished. Therefore, you needn't worry about gas leaks or fires; you can focus on cooking with complete peace of mind. Don't forget to turn off all the hobs once you've finished in the kitchen, though!
A flexible hose with screw-type connectors, with a valid use-by date, is required for hooking up your gas hob to the gas supply. These types of hose are sturdy and can't be accidentally pulled out of their sockets.
Induction hobs have especially good safety features. Equipped with overspill and overheating protection just like ceramic hobs, some induction models even limit the maximum temperature to 300°C.
Does your phone always seem to ring just when your pot of water has finally reached boiling point? No worries - induction hobs provide three solutions to this problem: with the automatic power-off mode, the burner turns itself off after a few moments so you don't have to.
If you prefer, you can remove the pot or pan from the heat while you go and answer the phone. The hob will automatically switch to stand-by mode, and switch itself back on when you put the pan back on the hob.
Finally, you can programme your burner's settings using the electronic timer. Just select the desired heating time and decide whether the hob automatically stops at the end. If you do set this preference, a sound signal will inform you when your hob switches itself off.
Some induction hobs can detect when small, metal kitchen utensils with a diameter of less than 10cm, such as knives, forks and spoons are being used. In such cases, the burner will not create an electromagnetic field, so you won't be putting yourself at risk as you serve your dinner.

Different cooking technologies

Now that you've understood which cooking hob to choose in relation to your cooking habits and lifestyle, let's learn more about how to get the best out of your stove.
If you have a lot of red meat in your diet, a halogen or induction hob is ideal for you. With quick warm-up times, these types of hobs grill red meat in just a few seconds.
If you enjoy slow-cooked meals such as stews, an induction hob would suit you, although some people are drawn to the versatility of a gas or ceramic-glass hob.
Thanks to precise power settings, induction hobs offer lower heating temperatures than those of gas hobs, giving you more control over what you're cooking, which is especially handy for prolonged use.
If you can't choose between these cooking methods, why not have the best of both worlds? You can create your own hob using a domino hob! With one or two burners, domino hobs allow you to combine different heating methods, from gas and induction to wok and grill-stone.
Professional cooks find domino hobs particularly useful. For example, they can combine a grill with a deep fat fryer, bringing together two wildly different cooking methods in one space!

Conclusion

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You don't have to splash out on a top-of-the-range cooking hob. With such a large choice of cooking hobs available on today's market, you can choose a hob that suits your budget and your culinary needs.
From safe and simple gas and electric hobs to powerful and stylish ceramic-glass hobs, there's plenty to choose from when it comes to cooking hobs! Make the most of all this technology by combining them in a dual fuel or domino hob.
Remember, safety should always come first when you're choosing a hob. Contemporary cooking hobs boast an ever-increasing range of protective features to make cooking a pleasure! So get cooking!