There are four main types of hobs that you can have for your kitchen and these are gas, electric, glass-ceramic and induction. Each of these types of plates has its advantages and disadvantages, which are worth knowing before you go shopping.
Of all cooktops, induction hobs boast the most technological advances and are known for having the highest performance capabilities. These plates use a very particular cooking method that allows great speed and accuracy.
Induction cooktops feature field system windings under each heat source and the required heat is only transmitted to the exact dimensions of a pot’s metal surface. These cooktops only work with pot materials that can adapt to their ferromagnetic fields, for example those made of cast iron, iron or those equipped with ferromagnetic discs. Therefore, glass, aluminum or copper pots cannot work with these plates. Raising or lowering the cooking temperature is more instantaneous and precise, even more so than on gas hobs; in a second you can literally go from low heat to intense heat.
These stoves provide greater safety when cooking as the chances of getting burned are practically impossible and in the event of a spill or overheating, most of these stoves will activate their locks and shutdown systems automatically. Heat generation is automatically cut off immediately when a pot is lifted from the burner. Induction hobs make it easy to clean, since liquids or food cannot get embedded in the surface; daily cleaning with a sponge should suffice.
Vitroceramic plates have plate elements that have radiant or halogen sources that produce cooking heat by irradiation and by the production of consecutive pulses, respectively, the latter being of greater power. Compared to other hobs, its cooking performance is lower than that of induction or gas hobs, but higher than that of electric hobs. Ceramic hobs equipped with halogen sources reach higher temperatures much faster and are therefore best for slow cooking; however, you should be aware that they take a long time to cool down completely.
Most of these hotplate models are equipped with thermal safety systems for your protection. They have an automatic function that turns off the hob after a few hours in case you forget to do it yourself. Also present is a residual heat indicator to show you that the surface is still hot and an overheating system that limits the plate temperature to 30°C. Cleaning these cooktops is also easy; cleaning them with a sponge is often enough.
Electric plates have cast iron surfaces that provide great strength when cooking, but inconvenient delays in heating and cooling due to the low conductivity of this type of metal. For this reason, electric hobs are considered the least appropriate heat sources for elaborate and rapid cooking. These cooktops do not have timers or safety systems in case of spills or overheating. Cleaning them can be quite problematic in case of encrusted food spills; the only recourse in such cases is to thoroughly scrub them.
Gas hobs are favorites in the kitchen thanks to their high performance and ease of use. Modern models feature built-in lighting control to make cooking easier and other controls that change cooking temperatures instantly, making it easy to cook elaborately through simple temperature variations. A timer may also be present and this cuts off the gas supply after a programmed cooking time has elapsed.
Most gas ranges are equipped with a thermocouple safety system that stops the flow of gas when a flame goes out; this is essential to ensure the safety and protection of the environment of the building in which the kitchen is located.
One drawback is that cleaning them can be quite laborious as it involves working on the grates, plate bottoms, and burners. Using a strong but appropriate cleaning product will help treat baked-on food residue.