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How To Use Your Hob
You’ve picked out that fancy new hob. Now it’s time to make the most of your new cooking tech and pull off some culinary masterpieces. Our handy guide will run you through how to use your new hob, from an introduction to induction cooking to our top tips on cleaning your brand new appliance.
Using your hob
Most hobs will have 4 burners or zones laid out with 1 large, 2 medium and 1 small sized zone. You’ll also find some hobs with 5 burners or zones, as well as domino hobs that come with 2 cooking zones.
Some hobs even have speciality burners, such as a wok burner for fast and powerful cooking, or an economy burner which uses much less energy to cook your food. Find out more about what to expect from your hob in our short video.
Get to know your induction hob
Modern, stylish and incredibly powerful, induction hobs are becoming the new go-to appliance for modern kitchens. Because they use electromagnets to heat up what’s in your pan, they’re more powerful than other models and use less energy. Plus, the slick glass surface makes them look the part and they’re really easy to clean. Get up to scratch with induction tech in our short video.
Cleaning
Gas hobs
Gas hobs are the trickiest out of all the types to clean and maintain, but we’ve got some top tips to make it super simple. First, you’ll need to clean the pan supports in a sink of hot soapy water. You’ll then want to clean the individual cooking rings, as well as giving the hob’s surface a once over. Take a look at our video for a full run through.
Electric hobs
Electric hobs such as ceramic, solid plate and induction are all easy to keep clean. The glass surface of ceramic and induction models can be easily wiped down after each use for that shiny look every day. Take a look at our video for some top cleaning tips.
How to use the smart features on your hob
The smart revolution is taking appliances by storm, and it’s no different for hobs. Some models can talk to your compatible hood through the WiFi to make sure they’re working in tandem with each other. If you increase the heat on your hob, the hood will then change its settings to suit. Find out more about the smart features you’ll come across in our short video.
Servicing your appliance
Top tip: We’d always recommend giving your appliance an annual safety check along with your boiler, especially with gas appliances. Just contact your energy supplier or your local gas safe registered engineer to book one in.
Using your appliance FAQS
- What are the safety features on my hob?
You’ll find a flame failure safety devices on a lot of gas hobs. These cut off the gas supply as soon as the flame has gone out.
On ceramic hobs you can sometimes lock the control panel (on models with touch controls) so those little ones can’t change any of the settings.
Most induction hobs have an automatic safety cut off feature. This means the zone turns off as soon as you remove the pan. You might also find a control lock feature similar to ceramic hobs.
- How do I use the simmer function on an induction hob?
Each manufacturer is different. It’s worth checking your product manual for the exact instructions.
- Can I use cast iron pans on electric hobs?
Yes, you can. Just make sure they have a completely flat bottom, otherwise they won’t work.
- What pans can I use on an induction hob?
You can only use pans that have a magnetic base. We’d recommend going for a pan with a thicker base, as they’re easier for your hob to detect.
Caring for your appliance FAQs
- How do I stop getting scratches on my induction hob?
To prevent any scuffs or scratches on your shiny hob, make sure there’s no sharp material on the base of your pans and your hob is always clean before use.
- What is the best way to clean a gas hob?
The majority of manufacturers advise using a warm damp cloth followed by a quick wipe down with a dry cloth to remove any marks.
- How do I get burn marks off my ceramic hob?
Each manufacturer advises differently, but as long as you clean up spillages as soon as they happen, there should be no burn marks on the hob.
- Are gas racks and burners dishwasher safe?
Enamel pan supports usually are, but cast iron pan supports and the burner caps will need to be hand washed.
AO Care
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