What is the difference between electric and ceramic hob?
Ceramic hobs heat up quicker than a solid plate, but induction hobs are the clear winner of this one. Induction hobs offer unparalleled temperature control, both heating up and cooling down, enabling you to adjust your meal from boiling to simmering in an instant. Which is Safer?
Whilst induction hobs rely on high-frequency electromagnets to generate heat, electric hobs produce heat by passing an electric current through elements located beneath the ceramic glass surface.
Induction hobs are very efficient since there is no wasted heat. You do not have to heat up an element and then transfer that heat to the pan. This means you can boil water almost twice as fast using an induction hob compared to an electric hob, and significantly quicker than you could using gas.
A ceramic hob is an electronically powered hob. It has heating 'zones' rather than the traditional burners you would find on a gas hob. They come in a variety of styles to suit any kitchen and represent an alternative to the traditional gas method of cooking.
In short, induction cooktops are far more efficient than ceramic cooktops as they only heat the pan and not the surrounding air or the cooktop's surface. Induction cooktops remain cooler during the cooking process, the ceramic top only heats from residual pan heat and loses heat quicker once turned off.
Ultimately, the biggest pro of a ceramic cooktop is the modern aesthetic it brings to your kitchen. These units do not feature the unappealing coil heating elements found in common electric cooktops, and can be easily integrated into almost any kitchen design.
Ceramic hobs have heating elements beneath the glass which conduct heat to the ring which then heats the pot or pan on the surface. Induction hobs use copper coils which an electric current passes through to create a magnetic field.
To ensure your ceramic hob remains in good condition and easy to clean, we recommend heavy gauge coated aluminium or hard anodized stainless-steel pans with a thick base. You can also use good quality enamel on steel or cast-iron pans, but these may scratch the hob surface.
While many think induction and electric cooktops are similar, the cooking technology reflects a very big difference with induction vs. electric cooking. In a word: efficiency. An induction cooktop offers 40% faster temperature response than electric cooking and is more energy-efficient than electric cooktops.
Ceramic hobs have residual heat indicators to let you know when the surface is safe to the touch. Whilst induction hobs are the safest choice as their surface remains safe to the touch throughout cooking, the surface will get hot but not hot enough to burn.
How do I know if my hob is induction or electric?
The easiest way to tell that your hob is an induction hob is to see if it only works with magnetic pans. If it only works with magnetic pans, it is an induction hob. If it works will all kinds of pans, it is a regular electric hob.
Induction – When it comes to electric hobs, induction is the premium choice. It's widely touted as the closest you can get to cooking on gas, thanks to its fast heat-up times and responsiveness when adjusting temperature.
There are five types of hobs to choose from; electric, ceramic, gas, induction and domino. Here's some advice to help you decide which one to buy for your kitchen.
- They are easily scratched by sliding pans.
- Can be broken by falling objects.
- They are costly when repairing.
- Spilt syrup corrodes them.
- They are only efficient when the correct size pan is used.
Electric hobs come in several different varieties – there are induction hobs which use magnetic coils to generate heat within the pan, and there are the more traditional sort which uses electricity to heat up a platter, upon which pots and pans can be placed during cooking.
The power usage for an induction hob is 1.95kWh, whilst the ceramic electric hob is 1.65kWh. Based on the calculations, the induction hob uses less energy and is cheaper to operate compared to a ceramic electric hob.
Never use plastic or aluminium foil dishes on the cooktop. Aluminium and copper-bottomed cookware can leave a metallic residue on the cooktop. If left, this becomes difficult to remove. Clean the cooktop after every use.
An induction cooktop is faster, safer, and more energy-efficient than a ceramic model. The advantage of a ceramic cooktop is that you don't need special pans for cooking.
They Prefer Gas
Professional chefs know what it takes to deliver so take some tips from the experts. To start cooking like a pro, start with their preferred tool - a gas stovetop. Gas stoves offer an incredible experience with every use.
Induction cooktops are some of the most expensive, but they are also arguably the safest and most efficient type of stove for both the environment and your utility bill.
What are the benefits of a ceramic hob?
A ceramic hob is undoubtedly the easiest style to keep clean, along with induction, and the smooth surface allows maximum heat transference to achieve rapid heat up times. This type of hob is available in either a rotary control knob or touch control style.
Induction stoves and cooktops sometimes cause a rattling sound, which is a result of the high energy transferring from the coil to the pan. This whirring sound often goes away when you turn down the heat or add food to the pot or pan, but it can be annoying for some users. Induction cooktops scratch easily.
Hob – 10-15 years
Whether you have a gas or electric hob when problems start occurring it's important to take action quickly to guarantee optimal safety.
Pans for ceramic hobs
Stone, glass and ceramic pans are not suitable to use on a ceramic hob because they do not conduct heat well. Aluminium, stainless steel and copper pans will work, but they do tend to leave marks on the glass, however because of the easy to wipe surface it should be quick to get rid of.
Cast iron cookware is safe to use on ceramic-glass stoves and cooktops and shouldn't cause damage to the pan or cooking surface when you follow the right tips. Because cast iron is heavy, always place it gently on the cooktop and pick up, rather than slide, when you need to move it around.
What happens if I use the wrong pan on an induction hob? If you accidentally try to start cooking on your induction hob with a pan that's incompatible, don't panic. You won't cause any damage to your stovetop or your pan, but the burner itself simply won't turn on, so your pan won't get hot.
Induction's functionality and sustainability have won over a growing number of professional chefs, both at their restaurants and at home.
Induction uses magnetic fields to heat cookware, so your pan must contain conductive, ferrous metals to transfer heat. This makes cast iron a great option for induction cooking.
Some people worry that induction stoves are unhealthy because of the electromagnetic fields used to heat pans, but in general, you don't have to worry about electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from an induction stove. They are non-ionizing and do not damage DNA or cells directly. They give off intermediate frequency EMFs.
Ceramic cooktops are easy to clean and generally quite energy efficient, too, but they are slightly more fragile than traditional gas hobs. If you drop a heavy pan on them – or if they are poorly installed – then there is a chance that they might crack, and this could be dangerous.
How do I choose a kitchen hob?
Make sure the tempered glass is scratch-resistant, temperature-resistant and corrosion-resistant. Safety: When you buy a hob, make sure it has a flame failure device and a built-in timer. The flame failure device cuts the gas supply if the flame goes out in case it's blown out by the wind or fan.
Induction burners (also called an induction cooktop or induction stovetop) look much like a ceramic stove top—flat, with the usual defined circles establishing where you place pots and pans. But unlike an electric cooktop, the circles don't glow orangey-red when the “hot zones” are turned on.
Please note, only Plug and Play hobs will come with a cable and plugs for self-installation. Your hob will not arrive with a cable, most induction hobs (apart from our plug and play) cannot be plugged into a 13 amp socket and will need to be hard wired by a qualified electrician.
Electric. They are the most common in homes, both vitroceramic and induction hobs. At first glance, they may look the same, but the technology that makes them work is different.
Induction hobs are more energy efficient than other hob types because there is very little wasted energy. They heat pans directly using induction heating, which involves creating a magnetic field between the hob and the pan.
Ceramic hobs are one of the most common types of hobs, they are seen on electric cookers and are quick and easy to clean. Compared to some of the more traditional hobs it can't be denied that ceramic hobs have a certain modern look and feel to them.
The word "hob" is very old and originated from a time when cooking was done over open fires in large fireplaces. The hob was a shelf or grate that was placed at the back or to the side of the fire. It was intended to keep pots warm via indirect heat, rather than in the direct heat over the fire.
The word is a noun meaning approximately "holder", derived from the Old English verb habban "to have, hold".
Basic differences between a gas stove and a hob
Traditional gas stoves have a freestanding body type while modern hobs have a built-in design. Traditional gas stoves are limited to basic functions such as on and off. On the other hand, modern hobs come with an array of features that make cooking easy.
How much energy does an electric hob/oven use? Electric hobs tend to be more efficient at cooking than gas hobs, but the cost of electricity is higher so they can also cost more to run – around 0.71kWh per use.
Which is the best hob gas or electric?
Gas hobs are famous for their speed and ease of use, making them the top choice for professional cooks and restaurant kitchens. There is a reason the saying goes 'now we're cooking with gas' rather than electricity!
Many people love ceramic hobs and stove tops because of the way that they evenly cook food in an efficient manner versus other types of hobs. However, sadly, they can be subject to wear and tear that can cause permanent damage that is very visible – specifically when cracks form.
Ceramic hobs add a touch of style to the kitchen with their super smooth and sleek appearance, which also makes them easy to wipe clean. They are electric and heat up quickly, although not as fast as gas or induction hobs.
A ceramic hob is undoubtedly the easiest style to keep clean, along with induction, and the smooth surface allows maximum heat transference to achieve rapid heat up times. This type of hob is available in either a rotary control knob or touch control style.
There are five types of hobs to choose from; electric, ceramic, gas, induction and domino. Here's some advice to help you decide which one to buy for your kitchen.