5 Oven Myths You Should Avoid
Leave a Pot on the Hob Nigella's recipes often suggest you 'leave an oven on but what does that mean? Hob is the British term for a cooktop or stove top and can be gas or electric. Dual fuel cookers mix a gas hob with an electric oven to give you the best of both. They are quick to heat, but are more expensive to run than single fuel models. Hobs made of solid plate Solid plate hobs are a common feature in many homes. Their basic design is made up of flat metal plates that are heated by using electricity, which makes them an affordable option for those on a budget. Their low cost at first can lead to higher energy bills in the long run due to their inefficient use. These hobs require a lot of heat that remains and take longer to warm up or cool down. A popular alternative to solid plate hobs is the ceramic which is more expensive to purchase, but is much less expensive to operate. Hobs of this type come in a variety of styles, such as flat and curved, and can be combined with a range of ovens to suit any kitchen layout. They are also easy to clean and blend with modern homes. The next step is the induction hob that makes use of electromagnetic fields to warm your cookware directly. This means that the hob surface itself remains cool, reducing the danger of accidental burns and making it safer for small kids to be around. Induction hobs also are able to heat up and cool down the fastest. When choosing which best hobs uk to purchase it is essential to take into consideration your preferences for cooking and your energy requirements. Solid plate hobs are affordable to buy, but are not efficient and inefficient, whereas gas and ceramic hobs are more expensive, but more efficient. Induction hobs provide an alternative and combine efficiency with a stylish design. Gas hobs The best gas hobs are simple to use, have a clean and elegant appearance, and are made from sturdy materials. They should also have a good warranty and be easy to clean. Additionally, they should be compatible with a wide range of cookware and offer instant heat control. A gas hob functions by connecting an electric supply to each burner, which then ignites the fuel to produce a flame. The flame heats the pan and the air to enable precise temperature control. Some models have a visual flame indicator, which makes it easy to tell when the burners are off or on. Gas hobs also have multiple burners in various sizes as well as automatic ignition and a removable drip pan. A lot of modern gas hobs come with ceramic or stainless steel top, with some having a sleek black glass finish. There are vented and open-burner hobs, according to the design of your kitchen. Hobs vented have an integrated extractor that takes smoke and steam from cooking pans, and then releases them to the outside, while open-burner gas stoves don't. Open-burner hobs sport a classic design with knobs and grates made of metal while vented hobs look more modern with a glass-like surface that is flat. Some models even feature an extra-wide pan support which is a boon for larger pans and pots. Despite the increasing popularity of electric hobs, such as ceramic and induction, there is still a large user base for gas hobs. Gas cooking is popular with people, and they are familiar with gas cooking. A number of government regulations encourage the gradual elimination of appliances that use fossil fuels and the use of energy-efficient alternatives. Gas-powered hobs require electrical components to function. Therefore, it is essential to install them by a certified electrician and carpenter who can ensure that the installation is safe and complies with industry standards. If you're installing a gas stove the electrician you choose to work with will need to route an electrical power cable and a gas pipe into your kitchen. This is usually a simple procedure that won't affect your existing electrical or piping connections. Ceramic hobs Ceramic hobs have a sleek and attractive finish and are easy to maintain and are more efficient than gas. The high-powered heating element is located on the floor of each zone. The heat is then transferred through the glass into the pan above. This reduces energy waste as it only requires the power needed to heat the pan directly, not the air around it. They are also easy to control, and react quickly to temperature changes. Ceramic hobs feature a flat ceramic surface that is easy to clean. Spills and splatters can be easily removed using a damp cloth once they cool. You should keep in mind that they are not suitable for a humid or hot kitchen, as the glass may crack and discolour. Some people may be a bit sceptical about the fact that ceramic cooktops generate some amount of heat underneath the surface, but this isn't an issue for the majority of. In fact, many models are designed with integrated cooling fans to help regulate this heat and prevent it from affecting your workspace or kitchen. They also have insulation to reduce heat transfer from the hob to your kitchen. Ceramic hobs are also more versatile than induction hobs that require certain types of magnetically conductive cookware. However, it's recommended to avoid using any cookware made of cast iron on a ceramic hob, because it could scratch the surface. Many ceramic hobs come fitted with a variety of safety features like residual heat indicators and lockout functions to help minimise accidents in the kitchen. Some have even 'overflow safety', which can detect the moment a pot is boiling and will automatically reduce the power source to the area to minimize the risk of damage and create a mess. Similar to electric cookers it is crucial to ensure the ceramic hob is installed and equipped with the correct breakers and cables for complete security. It is best to leave this to a trained electrical engineer, so that you can be certain that your ceramic hob is safe and reliable. Induction hobs As their name suggests they have coils under the surface which generate magnetic fields that produce heat in the pan or in any metal objects placed on it. They consume less energy than other kinds of hobs because they are cold until they are surrounded by a pan. They also heat more efficiently because heat is generated by the bottom of a pan, not from the entire cooktop surface. Like gas hobs, models with induction have a control panel where you can choose your settings and see how much power you're using. They only work using cookware that's compatible with the electromagnetic heating mechanism. This means that it has to be made of cast iron or ferrous metal. Stainless steel and some non-stick pans also work, but make sure you check the label or use a magnet on the base to make sure your cookware is compatible with induction. Induction hobs are an extremely popular choice for shared student halls or penthouses for student accommodation from iQ. They feature sleek LCD displays, and their contemporary design is a perfect fit for modern kitchens. They're more secure than gas hobs with traditional designs because they only start heating when the pan is placed on them, and they turn off automatically when the pan has been removed. Induction hobs can be controlled similarly to an iPhone. A swipe on the slider will adjust your preferred heat level. Alternatively, there are usually buttons to move up and down on the control panel that change the power level or a dial that is touched to control the temperature with precision. As well as nine power levels, some models come with two flex zones which lets you connect two zones to create a larger cooking area for larger saucepans. Certain models come with an automatic shut-off feature and an indicator of residual heat. Other models also have an alarm that informs you when the food is ready. Induction hobs emit low-level magnetic fields at frequencies in kilohertz. This could affect medical equipment, such as pacemakers.