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Marks & Spencer Hobs
Traditionally hobs have four burners of different sizes, although variations ranging from single to six ring burners are available. The most popular combination is a small ring for simmering, two medium sized rings for general cooking and a large ring for fast boiling but five and six ring hobs are becoming popular and may include a wok burner featuring a specially designed support, a rapid burner, a griddle plate designed to sit over two burners, or an elongated burner for fish kettles.
A hob unit can either sit on top of an oven unit or can be separately located and powered by a different fuel (a gas hob with electric oven for example).
GAS HOBS
Gas hobs come with pan supports and these are made of dishwasher-proof enamelled steel, stainless steel or cast iron which should be washed by hand as it tends to rust if dish washed.
Gas hobs are available in a range of fashionable finishes including stainless steel, enamelled, glass or glass and metal combined. With a visible flame, good temperature range and controllability gas remains the most popular hob type although with more parts they are often harder to keep clean. Gas hobs have lower running costs compared to their electric counterparts but usually still require connection to the mains for their ignition systems. Ignition is automatic with the gas igniting as soon as the burners are switched, via batteries or integral where the burners are lit at the push of a button.
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CERAMIC HOBS
Because of their simplicity, ceramic hobs look great in contemporary kitchens. The heating element sits beneath the flat ceramic glass plate and the heat is conducted through this to heat the pans. Often available in a range of colours, ceramic hobs are easy to wipe clean. Many have touch sensor heat controls so the entire hob can run flush with a work surface giving a very sleek modern look.
Most pans can be used on this type of hob, but flat bottomed ones are more efficient at transferring heat. Care should be taken when lifting pans on and off hot ceramic hobs so as not to cause damage from dragging. The heat source on a ceramic hob can be one of several different types: halogen lamp, ribbon element, standard radiant element or induction.
Induction hobs work by heating the pan using a magnetic field and provide instant heat as well as being very safe. Additionally they’re the cheapest form of electric hob to run, although the initial cost to buy is greater.
Halogen hobs provide a constant cooking temperature, with all heat being distributed directly into the base of a flat bottomed pan making them very efficient. They’re fast to heat up and quick to respond and best used with heavy based, non-shiny pans. This hob type cools down very rapidly. Halogen hobs tend to be sophisticated and therefore among the most expensive.
Radiant elements provide an even heat, as do ribbon elements, which heat up more quickly. Any type of cookware can be used on these hobs. Radiant rings are the cheapest hob option and can be difficult to clean.
Solid hotplates are commonly made of a cast iron top with an electric heat element sealed inside. Some solid hotplates have one or two rings that heat up more quickly and these will be marked with a large red dot in the centre.
Hotplates are inexpensive to buy, easy to clean and are suited to heavy-based, flat-bottomed pans. They are expensive to run because they heat up relatively slowly and offer poor control.
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Hobs by Manufacturer
View Marks & Spencer Hobs AEG
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Baumatic
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Beko
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Belling
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Bosch
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Candy
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Electrolux
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Fisher & Paykel
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Hoover
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Hotpoint
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Ignis
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Indesit
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Miele
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Neff
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Newworld
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Rangemaster
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Samsung
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Siemens
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Smeg
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Stoves
View Marks & Spencer Hobs Whirlpool
Hobs are available in many styles and types so when you start the search for a new one it’s worth beginning by identifying the features you consider most important, such as look, number of cooking elements or surface material.
Hobs are not rated for their energy efficiency but generally gas has lower climate change effects than electric with the exception of induction hobs, which match the energy efficiency of their gas equivalents.
Heat transfer efficiency from hob to cooking utensils:
• Gas 55%
• Radiant 65%
• Solid hotplate 65
• Halogen 70%
• Induction 80 to 90%
page by Maggie Severn |
