Hob Buying Guide

Close up diagram of an induction hob and a gas hob.

Before you start shopping, our handy hob buying guide will help you weigh up the pros and cons of each type of hob.

With so many types of hob on the market, deciding which one best suits your needs can be a challenge. In our hob buying guide we’ll explain how each type of hob works as well as other factors to consider. So, let’s get started!

Induction Hobs

What is an Induction Hob?

An induction hob works by using an electric current through a coil underneath the hob’s surface. When the hob is turned on and a pan is in place, an electric current is fed through the coil, creating a magnetic field. This transfers heat directly to the base of your pan.

Hob Buying Guide: Image explaining how an induction hob heats up a pan from the base
Induction cooking uses an electromagnetic coil to heat the base of the pan
Image of a seafood paella cooking on an induction hob
Our induction hobs come in many different shapes and sizes
Image of someone cleaning sauce off an induction hob with a damp microfibre cloth.
Induction hobs are easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth

Pros and Cons of Induction Hobs:

  • Energy efficient – Because you are only heating the base of the pan, there is no energy wastage.
  • Easy to keep clean – You can simply wipe down an induction hob with a damp cloth after each use to keep it in tip top condition. The flat glass surface doesn’t have any hidden areas where food or grease can get trapped.
  • Rapid heat – You can expect faster cooking times with an induction hob. This means you can boil water quicker and spend less time waiting for your pan to heat up.
  • Precise temperature control – You can easily adjust the temperature on an induction hob. This is great for gentle cooking tasks like melting chocolate or butter as the hob will respond instantly to temperature changes.
  • Safety – Induction cooking doesn’t use any naked flames. As soon as a pan is taken off the hob, the heating element stops working. The area around the pan doesn’t heat up either, resulting in less chance of accidental burns. An induction hob is a great choice if you have young children at home where kitchen safety is even more important.
  • Cost – As you would expect with any piece of modern tech, the initial cost of buying an induction hob can be higher than a traditional gas or ceramic hob. You will also need to consider buying new pots and pans, as induction hobs only work with special cookware.
  • Noise – Some induction hobs can be considered a little noisier than their counterparts. You may notice a slight humming sound when the hob is in use.
  • Induction hobs are not suitable for use if you have a pacemaker fitted.
Shop Induction Hobs

Gas Hobs

What is a Gas Hob?

Many home cooks and chefs alike enjoy the more traditional method of gas cooking. A gas hob connects to your gas mains and, when you turn the hob on, an ignition point generates a spark and lights the burner. You can then adjust the flame depending on what you’re cooking.

Close up image of a gas hob heating up a saucepan.
Gas hobs provide rapid heat
Image of a five burner gas hob featuring a wok cradle.
Many gas hobs feature a powerful wok burner
Hob Buying Guide: Close up of the controls and burner on a stainless steel gas hob.
You can easily adjust the temperature on a gas hob

Pros and Cons of Gas Hobs:

  • Rapid heat – You can enjoy rapid heat in an instant which is ideal when you’re boiling water or frying anything with a high fat content.
  • Precise temperature control – As you can see the flame, it gives you a visual indication whether you need to increase or lower the temperature. Gas hobs usually have easy to operate controls so you can change the intensity of the flame with ease.
  • Cost effective – Gas hobs have lower running costs than their electric counterparts. Many gas hobs are also cheaper to buy than induction hobs. You are also not limited to specialist cookware as gas hobs can use any type of pan.
  • Less energy efficient – Gas cooking will result in some heat loss around the sides of the pan, unlike induction cooking which only heats the base of the pan. Cooking with gas also uses fossil fuels which has an impact on greenhouse gas emissions and therefore global warming.
  • Harder to clean – Gas hobs have more areas where leftover food and grease can accumulate. This can make cleaning the hob a little more time consuming. Although many gas hobs feature cast iron burners which can be cleaned in the dishwasher, saving you half the job!
  • Safety – Cooking with a naked flame can always pose a risk of a fire or accidental burns. You may want to look at alternative hob types if you have small children or pets in your home.
Shop Gas Hobs

Air Venting Induction Hobs

What is an Air Venting Induction Hob?

An air venting induction hob combines an induction hob and extractor in one. An air venting induction hob extracts steam and odours directly into the centre of the hob whilst you’re cooking. Some models are designed for ducted extraction, where the air is vented straight outside your home. Whereas other models are made for recirculation, where the air is cleaned and vented back into the room. There are some air venting induction hobs which can do both, but it is best to check if you are unsure which type you need.

Hob Buying Guide: image of a boiling pan of water on an air venting induction hob with the steam being pulled into the extractor
Eliminate steam from the source with an air venting induction hob
An image of a Faber air venting induction hob with a pan of vegetables cooking on it. You can see the steam being drawn into the central extractor.
Air venting induction hobs come in a wide range of styles
Image of an Elica air venting induction hob with a stir fry cooking on top of it.
The sleek style of an air venting induction hob suits a modern kitchen

Pros and Cons of Air Venting Induction Hobs:

  • Dual functionality – You can cook and clean the air all from one appliance. This saves you having to purchase two appliances. It is also a more efficient way of working as you remove the steam and smoke directly from the source, improving your air quality.
  • Space saving – Rather than having a bulky cooker hood above your hob, you can keep the space above your cooking zone clear, opening up your kitchen. This type of hob works especially well in an open plan kitchen, installed into an island.
  • Stylish designs – Air venting induction hobs look modern and stylish. You can choose from a variety of finishes to complement your kitchen.
  • All the benefits of an induction hob – This includes being easy to keep clean and that it is safer to use than gas. You can also enjoy rapid heat and energy efficient cooking with an induction hob.

  • Cost – Air venting induction hobs are more expensive than standard hobs due to their extra functionality.

  • Installation – You’ll need to hire a professional to fit your air venting induction hob to ensure the ducting is working correctly.

  • Specialist pans – As with a standard induction hob, you’ll need to ensure your pans are compatible with your air venting induction hob. This type of hob only works with specialist pans which can add to your initial outlay.
Shop Air Venting Induction Hobs

Ceramic Hobs

What is a Ceramic Hob?

A ceramic hob is an electronically powered hob. It has heating ‘zones’ rather than the traditional burners you would find on a gas hob. The ‘ceramic’ part of the name refers to the glass finish of the hob. It’s not referring to the same ceramic that you would expect a plate to be made of. Electric heating elements sit underneath the glass surface. Once you’ve selected the temperature, these elements begin to heat up its surface. This heat then transfers from the glass surface to your cooking equipment, which proceeds to cook your food.

Hob buying guide: An AEG ceramic hob featuring a pan. The red heat zone is visible underneath the pan.
Ceramic hobs feature touch controls
Image of a Smeg ceramic hob in a blue and grey kitchen
Ceramic hobs have a smooth and shiny surface
Hob Buying Guide: A ceramic hob featuring two pans. One with boiling water and the other cooking vegetables
Our selection of ceramic hobs have either four or five cooking zones

Pros and Cons of Ceramic Hobs:

  • Sleek design. Ceramic hobs look great thanks to their smooth and shiny finish. A ceramic hob has a modern and sleek appearance which will complement any new kitchen.

  • Easy to clean. You can keep a ceramic hob looking brand new with little maintenance. The flat surface is easy to wipe clean with a damp microfibre cloth.

  • Easy to install. You can achieve a streamlined look as ceramic hobs sit almost flush to the worktop and are easy for your kitchen fitter to install.

  • Take extra care – Ceramic hobs can be scratched when you move pans from one zone to another. It is important to take extra care while using a ceramic hob as they aren’t as durable as induction hobs which are made of tougher glass. Ceramic glass can be damaged by heavier items and repairs can be expensive.

  • Heat distribution – The heat distribution can be uneven with a ceramic hob which can affect your cooking results.

Shop Ceramic Hobs

Domino Hobs

What is a Domino Hob?

A domino hob is a style, rather than a type of hob. You can find domino hobs in gas, ceramic and induction varieties. As the name suggests, domino hobs are a rectangular ‘domino’ shape which can sit alongside each other in a modular style. This makes them ideal for smaller kitchens as, unlike standard hobs, domino hobs are much smaller. You can combine different domino hobs together to suit your needs and preferences.

Close up image of a gas domino hob with one burner, showing the flame in use
Domino hobs are smaller than a standard hob
Hob Buying Guide: A line up of the various domino hobs Smeg supply
There are lots of different types of domino hob to choose from
Hob Buying Guide: A lifestyle image of Caple's domino hobs along side each other
Combine different domino hobs for a bespoke cooking zone

Pros and Cons of Domino Hobs:

  • Flexible – You can combine various different domino hobs together to create a bespoke cooking area tailored to your needs. You can enjoy the best of both worlds with an induction domino hob and a gas domino hob sitting alongside each other.
  • Specialist – If you enjoy particular styles of cooking, you can choose a domino hob to suit that. For example, if you make lots of stir fries you might want to choose a wok burner domino hob to recreate a more authentic dish. Similarly you can choose a deep fat fryer or a BBQ modular hob to make the meals you like the most.
  • Space saving – Domino hobs are typically smaller than other hob types, making them ideal in compact kitchens. If you’re cooking for one, having a smaller hob takes up less room yet still provides enough space for 1-2 pans.

  • Limited Space – Domino hobs tend to only have one or two cooking zones, so unless you are combining several models, you will be fairly limited on cooking space.

  • Cost – You may need to buy several domino hobs to achieve the cooking zone you want, which could be costly. If you opt for induction domino hobs, you would also need to consider that these need special pots and pans.

  • Installation – If you’re planning on adding multiple domino hobs, this will require careful planning and installing. You’ll need to be sure that the hobs you choose can fit the space you require. If you want the cooking area to look seamless, you’ll need to choose matching domino hobs for a matching aesthetic.
Shop Domino Hobs

Hob Buying Guide: Other Factors to Consider

Brands

At Appliance City, we stock a fantastic selection of hob brands. You may want to choose a brand that matches your other appliances. Kitting out your kitchen with appliances from one single manufacturer means you can achieve a harmonious look. Not only do matching appliances look great, it can also be helpful if your products are Wi-Fi enabled and controllable from an app. One brand, means only one app to navigate!

If you aren’t concerned with matching the brand with your other appliances, you have more options to choose from. Some prefer to spend a little more on their hob as it is one of their most used appliances. If you’re looking for an air venting induction hob, we have some fantastic specialist brands to choose from like Elica and Faber. Browse trusted household names including; Bosch, NEFF and Siemens, plus many more. You can rely on the performance and quality of these well known manufacturers.

Number of Cooking Zones

Hobs come with different burner or cooking zone options. Usually, hobs have between one and six burners or cooking zones. A domino hob has fewer cooking zones, whereas a gas or induction hob will usually have more. Some induction hobs offer a bridge function. This means you can combine two zones to make one larger zone. This feature is particularly useful when using utensils like a griddle or fish kettle.

Close up of an Elica air venting induction hob featuring a steaming pan of chopped vegetables on one side and a fish on a griddle on the other side. This is to show the bridge zone feature in use with a longer pan.

Quiet Mark Certified

If you have an open plan kitchen and living area, you may want to choose a hob that produces less noise. This is especially important when you opt for an air venting induction hob as extractors add to the noise levels. We supply a selection of Quiet Mark certified hobs. These independently certified models are rated as the quietest on the market. So you can cook in a calmer and quieter environment!

Image of a couple cooking together in an open plan kitchen diner. The Quiet Mark logo is featured on the bottom right of the image.

Hob Buying Guide: Conclusion

Now that we’ve discussed the various types of hob and the pros and cons of each, we hope our hob buying guide will help you make your final decision. If you have any questions on anything we’ve mentioned in this guide, please give our sales team a call on 0115 965 1937. We are on hand and ready to help you find the right hob for your new kitchen!