The hob provides a quick, effective, and stress-free way to cook a large variety of foods. They’re also relatively easy to clean (or really easy, depending on the type) and only take up a small amount of space. They’re a widespread feature of kitchens everywhere.
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Despite using and/or owning one for years, you might still have a few questions about hobs. In this article we’re going to answer questions about how to keep your hob in tip-top condition, and if you’re currently searching for a new hob, we’ll help you decide which one you should buy.
What is a Kitchen Hob?
Let’s begin with the most fundamental question of all: what is a hob? And how does a hob work?
A hob is a cooking appliance that’s often found built in to your worktop, or into the cooker itself. They come in a number of different “types”, including gas, electric, and induction.
In terms of design, hobs come in a huge variety of colours, shapes and sizes, which means it should be easy to find one that complements your style of cooking and your kitchen.
The different types of hobs operate in different ways.
- A gas hob connects to your home’s gas supply. They generate a flame that sits under your cooking equipment.
- Electric hobs heat the hob and your pans using coils heated via electric currents.
- An induction hob uses electromagnetic induction to heat the pan, but not the surface of the hob.
How Do I Use A Hob?
The hob is perfect for boiling, frying, sautéing, poaching, and more. To the front of the hob you’ll find the controls. Depending on the type of hob you have these might be dials or touch controls. If your hob is located on the top of your oven then you may find these controls located on the front of the oven.
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To work your hob all you need to do is select the right temperature (this can sometimes be numbered 1-4, 1-5, 1-6 etc., but you will soon understand what temperatures are ideal for certain foods) and then place your pan on the surface. For gas hobs, a numerical value isn’t assigned and rather it will be a dial that allows you to change the intensity of the flame. It’s as easy as that!
How Do I Clean A Hob?
If you use your hob regularly you will have noticed how quickly it can accumulate dirt and grime; particularly oil and grease stains.
However, it’s important to keep your eye out for spillages as the quicker you can deal with them, the better. As a rule of thumb we recommend cleaning your hob surface once a week to keep it in optimal condition, but if you notice any spillages it’s best to deal with them there and then.
So, out of all the different types of hobs available to you, which is easiest to clean, and which is hardest?
Ceramic and induction hobs are easiest to clean as they feature completely flat surfaces, so a simple wipe over will often do the job. Gas hobs take longer as they have removable hob supports which will need cleaning, alongside the hob surface.
Find out more in our article on maintaining your kitchen hob.
What Brands of Hob are Best?
If you’re shopping for a new hob then one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is which brand to buy – so, when it comes to brand, which hob is best? There a number of reputable and popular brands offering high quality hobs, including:
- AEG
- Bosch
- Fisher Paykel
- Siemens
- Smeg
We have confidence in the quality of every brand that we stock. We only stock from manufacturers who are reputable, but these five brands are consistently the most popular with our customers in regards to hobs.
Which Hob is Right for Me?
This is one of the more difficult questions to answer, but here are a few tips to make it easier.
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Measure up
If you’re replacing an existing hob then you can take the dimensions of your current hob and use these to select your new one. If you’re purchasing your first hob, then you should measure the available space and use these dimensions to narrow down your list of potential new hobs.
If you’re not sure how to measure a kitchen hob then don’t worry, it’s very simple – measure the length and width of your unit – that’s it!
Look at as many hobs as possible
This will help you understand the designs and features that are available to you, so you can get an idea of the right hob for you. Once you have a list of criteria that you want your new hob to have you can use this to select the best one for your needs.
Read reviews
This may sound obvious but it is often overlooked; you should read reviews of all shortlisted models. Some hobs might seem perfect at first but aren’t ideal for your specific property or circumstances, or alternatively you may read a review from someone in a similar situation to yourself that can highlight why a particular model is or isn’t the best choice.
Whether you’re in the market for a new hob and want to know how to select the one that’s best for you, or you just want to find out how to best maintain your existing hob, the information above should steer you in the right direction. If you have any additional questions regarding our hobs then contact us for more information.
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Categories: Kitchens
