A Guide to the Best Hobs in the UK
A hob is a cooker top that can be incorporated into the worktop, and is separated from an oven. A cooker is a freestanding unit that includes both a stove and an oven.
Malignant - and possibly mischievous - sprites of the countryside, Hobs were often combined with Goblin to create the Hobgoblin.
Gas Hobs
In any modern kitchen, a good hob is essential. There's a hob to suit every budget and style whether you're looking for ceramic gas, induction, or ceramic. A good hob will cook quickly and evenly and allow you to cook your food in a matter of minutes. It also gives an elegant look to your kitchen.
A gas hob's precise temperature control is among its most significant advantages. It's easy to reach high heat levels, which is ideal for boiling water, searing meat and stir-frying vegetables. Its ability to adjust heat output quickly is also ideal for delicate dishes and sauces, which require a lower heat setting.
Gas hobs are also energy efficient. It runs on natural gas, which is generally cheaper than electricity, making it cheaper to run a hob. Additionally, it uses a direct flame to heat your utensils, this means there is less wasted energy around the edges of the burners.
Modern gas hobs feature a sleek design to match any kitchen decor. Models with a stainless steel or glossy black finish will blend seamlessly into your kitchen and make it appear more modern. If you prefer, you can pick a glass model that is easy to clean and highly durable.
Gas hobs are a common option for modern kitchens because of their versatility and ease-of-use. They also work well with traditional kitchen designs, especially when you incorporate the range cooker into your kitchen layout. However, it's important to keep in mind that they could increase the risk of fire when compared to electric or induction hobs. This is due to the fact that they don't have the added security features that allow them to be switched off instantly and also having child-safety locks on the knobs that control the hob.
When you are choosing a gas stove, you should be aware of the number of cooking zones and burners you need. You can pick models with either 1, 2 or five cooking zones. A lot of models also have central wok burners, which is a powerful burner that is suitable for fast boiling or stir-frying. Check the type of ignition used. Most gas hobs use an electric spark or an ongoing electric pilot flame to ignite the burners.
Induction Hobs
While gas hobs are popular with home cooks, induction cookers are gaining popularity for their speed and efficiency. These glass-topped flat stoves use magnetism instead of heat to heat the contents of the pan. This makes them more efficient, and safer as there is no flame beneath. Induction hobs have many features, some of which our Good Housekeeping Institute experts have found can be particularly beneficial.
One of them is the bridge function that lets you join two hob rings in order to fit larger pans. You can also control the temperature of each ring separately through the touchscreen panel. This is a good option for those who love entertaining and can be a lifesaver when you have guests with different dietary requirements. Induction hobs can be dangerous for people with pacemakers because they generate electromagnetic fields that can disrupt the operation of their devices.
The British Heart Foundation recommends that you keep a distance of at least 60cm between any source of power and an active hob if you are wearing pacemakers. The magnetic field created by the hob could interact with other electrical devices and cause them to malfunction, therefore you should ensure that your device isn't near a hot plate or near a live cooking area.
Another induction hob available is this model from CDA that has five hob zones as well as a variety of features, like melt and simmer, which can be ideal for bain maries or slow cooked stews. This hb has also been designed with security in mind, which is why it has child locks and anti-overflow and overheat settings to prevent accidents or damage.
The design of this induction stove is a little more modern than some others we have available. This is evident by the sleek black surface that will blend perfectly with the majority of kitchen designs. It comes with a variety of options, including a pause feature that allows you to shut off the stove without taking off the pan, and an increase feature that provides an extra amount of power to facilitate a rapid heating. It is also rated energy efficient, and its touch-screen panel comes with some handy pre-set options for your most loved recipes.
LPG Hobs
Gas hobs offer controllable heating instantly, and the capability of reaching higher temperatures than electric cooktops. Gas hobs are popular in commercial and domestic kitchens. They are used to heat leftovers or create culinary masterpieces.
Our selection of LPG hobs comes in a variety of sizes, from 60cm with four burners up to 90cm when you have 5 or 6 burners. A lot of these hobs can also be converted to natural gas using an easy kit. This makes them the perfect solution for homes with mains connections.
All of our gas hobs are manufactured by brands you trust, including Falcon, Imperial and Lincat with models available in a selection of finishes. From stainless steel to black glass, you're certain to find a model that will suit your home and match other appliances in your kitchen.
When selecting a gas stove, there are plenty of features to consider. Certain models have automatic pan detection as an additional safety feature. This allows the cooking zones to activate only when the required cookware is placed, preventing heat waste. Some hobs also have combinable cooking zones to accommodate different sizes of pans. Others offer child locks that keep unintentional fingers from the controls, and some even have a handy auto switch that shuts off the hob if it isn't used for a certain amount of time.
Another benefit of LPG is that it's far more accessible than electricity, which is typically difficult to locate in rural areas. It's liquid form makes it easy to store and transport, making it an ideal for those who reside in remote areas or cater businesses without access to mains-gas.
Our selection of gas hobs provides a variety of options, with some of our models offering quick water boiling times of under five minutes. They are ideal for preparing pastas, potatoes, and other meals when time is at a premium. Our hobs come with cast iron pan supports that are durable and feature the flame failure safety feature to ensure that the flame never completely extinguished.
Contact Us
Whether you're cooking for guests or family, the right cooktop will make all the difference. Our experts will guide you though the four most popular types and help you identify the cooker hob that is best suited to you and your lifestyle as well as cooking habits.
Gas hobs come in a variety of styles, from 4 to 6. They provide high-quality control and precision with precision. You can even find models that can be converted to LPG which is a more secure and more affordable fuel. Our selection includes all the major brands in a range of finishes and colours that will match your kitchen's style.
The word hob comes from an old English phrase that was originally used to mean "a shelf, grate or fireside'. It's an old-fashioned term that explains how we used to cook at home in the past, with large fireplaces, and shelves for pots. Today, the majority of kitchens have an oven and a separate hob (stove top) which is either electric or gas.
Some countries refer to the stove as a cooker, however the British call it a hob. hobs oven ovensandhobs are a separate appliance that uses heating rings to heat saucepans as well as a cooker, which is a larger freestanding unit that consists of a hob and an oven. A range cooker is a large combination of a hob and oven, which is often integrated into a worktop. On the Product Safety Report links above, you can find out more information about gas stoves that are affected. This includes safety descriptions and product identifiers.