A Guide to the Best Hobs in the UK
A hob is a cook top that can be incorporated into the worktop, and is separated from an oven. 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 quality hob is a must in modern kitchens. There's a range of hobs to fit every budget and style whether you prefer ceramic, induction, or gas. A good hob will cook quickly and evenly and allow you to cook food in a matter of minutes. It also provides sleekness to the kitchen.
One of the major advantages of a gas cooker is the precise temperature control. It is quick to reach high heat levels, which is ideal for boiling water, searing meat, and stir-frying vegetables. Its ability to adjust its heat output quickly makes it ideal for delicate sauces or dishes that require low temperatures.
Gas hobs are also energy efficient. Gas is more affordable than electricity and can be used to power hobs. Furthermore, it uses a direct flame to heat your kitchen utensils this means there is less wasted energy around the edges of the burners.
Modern gas hobs are made with a sleek design to match any kitchen design. You can find models with a shiny black or stainless steel finish that will blend in seamlessly and make your kitchen appear more modern. Alternatively, you can choose a glass ceramic model that is easy to clean and extremely durable.
Gas hobs are a popular option for modern kitchens because of their versatility and convenience. They can also complement traditional kitchen designs, especially when you include a range cooker in your layout. It is important to remember that they could increase the risk of fire when compared with electric or induction hobs. They do not have safety features, such as the ability to shut off immediately and having a child-safety locks on the knobs that control the hob.
When choosing gas hobs it is important to think about the number of burners and cooking zones you need. You can select models with either 1, 2 or five cooking zones. A lot of models also have a central wok burner, which is a powerful burner suitable for rapid stirring-frying or boiling. Make sure you know the type of ignition used. Most gas hobs use an electric spark or a continuous electric pilot flame to light the burners.
Induction Hobs
While gas hobs remain a popular choice for home cooks, induction cookers are gaining popularity due to their speed and efficiency. These flat glass-topped hobs use magnetism to heat the contents of the pan rather than heating the surface, which makes them more efficient, and more secure since there isn't a flame underneath. Induction hobs are equipped with many options, including some that our Good Housekeeping Institute experts have discovered to be particularly useful.
One of them is the bridge function, which allows you to join two hob rings in order to accommodate larger pans. You can also regulate the temperature of each ring individually through the touchscreen panel. This is a great option for those who enjoy entertaining and can be a lifesaver when you have guests who have different dietary requirements. It is worth noting though that induction hobs aren't suitable for those with pacemakers as they create electromagnetic fields that could interfere with their function.
The British Heart Foundation recommends that you keep a distance of at 60 centimeters between any source of power and a hob that is active, in the event that you wear a pacemaker. The magnetic field generated by the hob can also interact with some electronic devices and cause malfunction, so you'll want to make sure that the device isn't in the vicinity of a hot plate or near a live cooking zone.
This model comes from CDA is another induction hob we have available. It comes with five zones as well as various functions, including melt and simmer, which are ideal for bain-maries or slow-cooked stews. The hb was built with safety in mind. It comes with child locks, anti-overflow, and overheat settings.
The design of this induction cooker is a bit more contemporary than other models available. This is reflected by the sleek black surface that will blend perfectly with the majority of kitchen designs. It comes with a range of features including a pause feature, which allows you to temporarily turn off the hob without having to remove the pan and a boost function which provides extra power for quick heat-up. It's also energy efficient, and the touch-screen display has some handy pre-set recipes to help you choose your favourite recipes.
LPG Hobs
Gas hobs offer controllable instant heat, with the capability to reach higher temperatures than electric cooktops. Gas hobs are a favorite in both domestic and commercial kitchens. They are used to heat leftovers or cook up culinary masterpieces.
Our range of LPG gas hobs comes with a wide variety of sizes from 60cm with 4 burners to 90cm consisting of 5 or 6 burners. Many of these hobs are also compatible with natural gas by using a a simple conversion kit which makes them the ideal solution for homes with mains connections.
All our gas hobs are made by brands you trust including Falcon, Imperial and Lincat with models that are available in a selection of finishes. You can find models made of stainless steel, black glass and other finishes that will complement your home.
There are plenty of options to consider when selecting gas hobs, with some models that feature automatic pan detection to provide security. This lets the cooking zones start only when the appropriate cookware has been placed and prevents heat loss. Some hobs have combinable cooking zones to accommodate different sizes of pans. Some hobs have child locks to keep unintentional fingers away from the controls. Some even have an auto switch off feature that turns the hob off if it's not utilized for a specified amount of time.
LPG is also more readily available than electricity in rural areas, which is difficult to locate. The fact that it's liquid means that it can be stored easily and transported, making it a popular option for those who live in remote locations or catering companies who don't have access mains gas.
Our selection of gas hobs provides a variety of options, including some of our models boasting fast water boiling times of under five minutes. They are ideal for preparing pastas, potatoes and other favourites when time is of the essence. A majority of our hobs are also equipped with flat cast iron pan supports for durability, as well as a flame-failure safety device that ensures the flame never extinguishes.
Contact Us
When you cook for your guests or family, the right hob can make all the difference. Our team of experts will walk you through the four most commonly used types and help you identify the cooker hob best suited to you lifestyle, your cooking style and habits.
Gas hobs are extremely precise and control, with a variety of different styles available, from 4 to 6 burners. There are models that can be converted to LPG which is a cheaper and safer fuel. Our selection includes all the major brands in a variety of finishes and colours that match the style of your kitchen.
The word hob comes from an old English phrase that originally referred to "a shelf, grate, or fireside'. It's an old word that describes how we cooked in our homes years ago, with huge fireplaces as well as shelves on which pots were set to cook. Today, the majority of kitchens have an oven and an additional hob (stove top) that can be gas or electric.
Some countries refer to the stove as a cooker, but the British refer to it as a hob. Hobs are a separate piece of equipment that has heating rings that heat saucepans and cookware, while a cooker is a larger freestanding unit that includes an oven and a hob. A range cooker is a combination of a stove and oven, usually built into an worktop. More information on the affected gas hobs along with hazard descriptions as well as product identifiers are available on the Product Safety Report pages linked to above.