In this section
- Planning your kitchen
- Buying your kitchen
- Appliances and furniture
- Maintenance and care
- Kitchen design tips
- Accessible kitchens
- FAQs
- Kitchen image gallery
Special features
KBSA Consumer Guide
Our FREE guide contains practical advice for consumers who are considering buying a new kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or home office.
Hobs
A hob is essential. You can do without an oven but regular cooking, if your hob fails, is challenging.
Once hobs were merely functional, with a choice between electric and gas, brown and white. Now electric hobs have improved using halogen or the ingenious “induction” method (both have a similar performance to gas). With induction, the metal pan completes the circuit, giving fast heat and prompt switch off when removed. Gas has become better still with lotus shape burners for a better heat spread.
Hobs are becoming a style point in modern kitchens, and are accordingly available in all colours, materials such as stainless steel and interesting designs. Wide hobs, multi-fuels (electric and gas) and five or six ring burners offer flexibility but consider your usage before choosing – if your kitchen accommodates more than one cook at once, position the hob away from the oven, that way you don’t get in each other’s way.
If you enjoy eastern cuisine, you can buy a speciality hob with a wok burner. Similarly, if you are a BBQ fan, choose a BBQ grill. If you are left handed, go for front rather than right hand side controls as this eliminates the risk of reaching across the heat. If you cook for a large family, more than four rings may be useful, and if you have young children it may be worth considering paying a little extra for a hob guard or in the case of gas, choosing an automatic re-ignition or cut off device should the flame blow out.
