15 Gifts For The Oven Lover In Your Life

Leave a Pot on the Hob Nigella's recipe often suggests that you “leave a pan on the hob”, but what does that actually mean? A stovetop, also known as a hob or cooktop in British English, can be gas or electric. Dual fuel cookers include gas hobs as well as an electric oven , giving you the best of both worlds. They can provide instant heat, but they are more expensive to operate than single fuel models. Solid plate hobs Solid plate hobs are an essential in many homes. Their basic design comprises flat metal plates that are heated with electricity, making them an affordable option for those on a budget. However, their initial cost can lead to higher electricity bills in the future due to their inefficient use of energy. They also require a significant amount of residual heat which means they take longer to warm up and cool down than modern models. A popular alternative to solid plate hobs is the ceramic, which is more expensive to purchase, but far less expensive to run. Hobs are available in different styles, including curvy and flat. They can be paired with ovens of a variety of sizes and shapes to match any kitchen layout. They are easy to clean and blend well with modern homes. Induction hobs are the next step as they use electromagnetic fields to heat cookware directly. This means that the surface itself remains cool, reducing the risk of burns from accidental sources and making it safer for children youngsters to touch. Additionally, induction hobs are the fastest of all the types to heat up and cool down. When deciding which type of hob to purchase it is essential to take into consideration your preferences for cooking and your energy requirements. Solid plate hobs are cheap to purchase, but they're not efficient and inefficient, whereas gas and ceramic hobs are more expensive but more efficient. Induction hobs are a middle ground and combine efficiency with a elegant design. Gas hobs The top gas hobs are simple to use, have a sleek and stylish appearance and are made of durable materials. They should come with a solid warranty and be easy to clean. They are also required to be compatible with a range of cookware, and provide instant heat control. Gas hobs work by connecting each burner to a gas supply which then ignites the fuel and creates a flame. The flame warms both the air and the pan, allowing for accurate temperature control. Some models come with a visual flame indicator, making it easy to determine if the burners are turned on or off in an instant. Other features that are available on gas hobs include numerous burners in a variety of sizes, an automatic ignition system and drip tray that can be removed. Modern gas hobs often have a stainless steel or ceramic top, and some even have a sleek black finish. You can pick between vented and open-burner hobs, in accordance with the design of your kitchen. Vented hobs have a built-in extractor that takes steam and smoke from cooking pans and lets the heat outside, whereas open-burner gas stoves don't. Open-burner hobs sport a classic cooker look with knobs and grates made of metal while vented hobs look more modern and have a glass-like surface that is flat. Some models even feature an extra-wide pan support which is an advantage for larger pans and pots. Gas hobs are still in high demand despite the rise of electric hobs such as ceramic and induction. This is partly due to consumer preferences and the familiarity of gas cooking. Certain government regulations encourage the elimination of appliances that use fossil fuels and the use of energy-efficient alternatives. Gas-powered hobs are all electrical components in order to function. Therefore, it is essential to install them by a qualified electrician and carpenter who will ensure that the installation is secure and meets industry standards. If you are installing a gas hob, your electrician will need to run a power cable and a gas pipe into your kitchen. In most instances, this is a simple task and won't alter your existing electrical or plumbing connections. Ceramic hobs Along with an attractive, sleek finish ceramic hobs are easy to clean and are more efficient in terms of energy consumption than gas hobs. The heating element that is high-powered is located on the floor of each zone. The heat is then transferred through the glass to the pan above. This can reduce energy consumption since it only directly heats the pan and not the air surrounding it. They are also easy to control and can quickly react to temperature fluctuations. Ceramic hobs have a flat, ceramic surface that is easy to clean. Spills and splatters can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth when they cool. It is important to remember that they are not suitable for a steamy or hot kitchen, as the glass can crack and discolour. Some people might be put off by the fact that ceramic hobs generate some amount of heat underneath the surface however this isn't an issue for the majority of. In fact, most models are equipped with cooling fans that are integrated to manage this under-surface heat and keep it from impacting your kitchen or workspace. They're also insulated and designed to minimise heat transfer between the hob and your kitchen. Another advantage of ceramic hobs is that they are compatible with all kinds of cookware, in contrast to induction hobs which require a specific magnetically conductor pan. However, it's best to avoid using any cookware made from cast iron on a ceramic hob since it can scratch the surface. A lot of ceramic hobs are fitted with a variety of safety features like residual heat indicators and locking functions to prevent accidents in the kitchen. Certain ceramic hobs feature the feature of 'overflow prevention which detects when a pot is boiling over and automatically reduces power to the zone it is located to minimize the damage. It's equally important to ensure that a ceramic stove is properly installed and set up with the correct breakers and cables. This is something that should be left to an electrician with experience, so you can be confident that your hob will be safe and reliable to use. Hobs with induction Induction hobs, as the name suggests, have coils under the surface that produce magnetic fields. These fields produce heat within the pan or any metal item placed on the hob. They require less power than other types of electric hobs due to the fact that they remain cold until a pan is set on them, and they are more efficient at heating up a pan since the heat generated comes from the bottom of the pan, rather than the entire cooktop surface. Induction models are like gas hobs because they feature a control panel, where you can select your settings and monitor the amount of power being utilized. They only work with cookware that is compatible with the electromagnetic heating mechanism. This means that it has to be made of cast iron or ferrous metal. Stainless steel and a few non-stick cookwares work, but make sure you check the label or run a magnet across the base to make sure your cookware is compatible with induction. A popular choice for shared student halls as well as penthouses in iQ Student Accommodation, induction hobs have sleek LCD displays and contemporary aesthetics that seamlessly integrate into modern kitchens. They're safer than gas hobs that are traditional because they only start heating when a pan is placed on them, and then they turn off automatically when the pan has been removed. Induction hobs can be controlled in a similar way to an iPhone by a swipe gesture on the slider to set your preferred heat level. In addition, there are typically up and down buttons on the control panel to alter the power level or a dial that is hit for precise temperature control. Certain models come with a dual flex-zone which lets you join two zones to create a larger area to cook larger saucepans. Certain models feature an automatic shut-off as well as an indicator of residual heat. Others also have a timer that will alert you when the food is ready. All induction hobs emit low-level magnetic fields with frequencies in the kilohertz band that can affect certain medical devices like pacemakers, and it is important to keep them out of your body when they are not in use.