There are many aspects to consider before buying a hob. Here they are collected, point by point, in our opening summary. With the exception of the general details on price and consumption, each topic was treated separately for each type of plan.

Price

Choosing an economic plan does not necessarily coincide with long-distance savings. On the other hand, opting for an energetically more efficient solution can be an excellent investment. In any case, gas systems are the least expensive to purchase, followed by electric ones and, finally, induction hobs. In our usual selection of products, we have chosen the best hobs, dividing them into three price ranges.

Energy consumption

The analysis of energy consumption can be very useful for resolving some doubts related to the choice of the hob. In doing so, two variables must be taken into consideration: the cost of running the appliance and energy efficiency.

Type and structure of the plan

There are three main types of hobs on the market: gas, electric and induction. Very different from each other, they have advantages and disadvantages to consider before making the purchase. The shape of the fires and the type of power supply are closely related characteristics. The gas hob has a relief structure made up of various components and requires a grill on which to place the utensils. The electric and induction models work differently and, in most cases, the hob is completely flat.

Dimensions, positioning and number of burners

Here are three interconnected elements to make of them, from whose combined analysis it is possible to identify the hob that meets our needs. The built-in hobs are the most popular of all and are designed to integrate perfectly into the kitchen. The standard width for a 4-burner stainless steel hob is 60 cm while the depth is 51 cm. But as the number of burners available increases, the sizes also grow.

Main commands and functions

Lighting, extinguishing and management of the burners vary according to the model chosen. For this reason, we have included in the guide a specific study for each type of plan.

Heat output of the hob

The value of the thermal power supplied shows us how much heat is produced by the hob in operation. Also in this case, there are differences between gas, electric and induction models.

The right tools for every hob

Another key point revolves around the choice of pots, pans and pans to use. In three specific sections of the guide, we will identify the right tools for each type of hob.

The safety factor

The new generation hobs are designed to protect the safety of users as much as possible, limiting health risks as much as possible. Nevertheless, even with regard to safety, there are distinctions to be made.

Pros and cons of the various systems

At the end of each section, we have included a schematic list of pros and cons, useful for quickly understanding the advantages and disadvantages of the three cooking systems.

The prices of hobs can fluctuate significantly and the variables that come into play in determining this behavior are many. Shape, color, quality of the materials used, consumption and dimensions are just some of these. But what most influences the final result is undoubtedly the typology. Let's take, as an example, a standard gas hob model equipped with 4 burners. A gas hob of this kind, such as the KENZ 4 Burner Cooker Hob, can cost even less than 20,000 LKR, to reach well over 100,000 LKR if we move to the professional sector. The figures of the electric counterpart, on the other hand, are a little higher. For an electric resistance hob with 4 plates, such as the ELBA Hob 4 Electric Plate, the cost exceeds 30,000 LKR while, if we consider a model with halogen lamps, it can even reach 1,50,000 LKR. Even more is the amount to shell out for an entry-level induction hob. For the ELBA Induction Hob 60cm, for example, we are talking about at least 150,000 LKR. As for gas-powered models, even for electric ones, the cost can exceed 200,000 LKR if we choose a very high quality product, designed for professional use. Beyond the exemplary cases described here, we have collected the best models in three distinct price ranges: economic (within 20,000 LKR), medium (from 21,000 to 100,000 LKR) and high (over 1,000,00 LKR).

Economic range (within 20,000 LKR)

The products we have chosen for our selection represent the hobs market at 360 degrees. The economic models show themselves to be successful in terms of value for money and, naturally, they do not excel in terms of richness of functions. Furthermore, to see the first induction hob models appear, we will have to wait for the mid-range. In any case, we have selected the best that can offer a maximum spending budget of 20,000 LKR. Let's start with two very simple products, both with only two burners and characterized by extremely compact sizes. 2 Burner Euro Hob is a gas hob made with good construction materials and refined design. Candy 60 Cm Gas & Electric Hob, on the other hand, is an extremely elegant electric/gas stainless steel hob. Moving on to the terrain of 4-burner hobs, we re-propose the dualism between gas and electric models. The KENZ 4 Burner belongs to the first category, a product that focuses decisively on ease of use. Equipped with four standard knobs, it is designed as a built-in hob. The same goes for the Ferre Gas Electric Hob, an electric piano with raised plates that heat up very quickly.

Mid-range (from 21,000 to 100,000 LKR)

With a maximum spending budget of 100,000 LKR, we take home cooking hobs that are more refined in design and equipped with advanced functions. In addition, entering the mid-range opens the doors to the universe of induction models, which are difficult to buy for less than 21,000LKR. We want to start from here, presenting the PHILIPS Induction Cooker, a very complete induction hob, equipped with one comfortable burner. Manageable through touch controls, it boasts nine temperature adjustment levels and the boost function for ultra-fast heating. ELBA Induction Hob, on the other hand, is an efficient and elegant electric hob, equipped with a glass ceramic surface that covers the three radiant areas. Designed for built-in, it provides a maximum energy absorption of 4000 Watts. Turning to more traditional solutions, we have chosen two versatile and stylish gas models. PowerBox Glass Top 4 Burner is a 60 cm wide 4-burner hob. It is characterized by a refined enameled surface. Similar in structure is the ABANS Signature 4, model equipped with separate grids for each fire. Beautiful and well finished, it is also very easy to clean.

High-end (over 100,000LKR)

The high-end market offers built-in solutions of great value, capable of combining power, efficiency and style. Elba Elio Gasmatik, for example, is a gas hob that integrates five burners into a 90 cm body, two of which are placed close together, which can be used both individually and in pairs. The matt finish of the grids is superb, which reflects the color of the surface. Remaining in the field of gas hobs, ELBA Hob Vitroceramic is a candidate to win the ranking of the most elegant models. In this case, although there is one less fire than the previous model, the glass top with built-in burners is a real pleasure for the eyes. And the same goes for the small separate grids, which are very easy to clean. Among the high-end built-in hobs, we have also chosen a induction model. ELBA Induction Hob, while being quite traditional in aesthetics, shines for performance. Incredibly fast in heating tools, it is equipped with all the most advanced functions in circulation, including the ECO-logic mode that optimizes consumption to the maximum.

There are two elements that come into play in evaluating the consumption of a hob. On the one hand, we have the expenditure in Rupees which makes us understand how much we pay to produce heat, on the other a percentage that indicates how much of this heat has been wasted. If we limited ourselves to considering only the first factor, a gas hob, such as the Asian 4 Burner Gas Hob, would easily outclass the models of different types. Yes, because the cost of gas is much lower than that of electricity, so much so that to get the same amount of heat, we will spend about half. The problem with this type of fires, however, is the low energy efficiency, or the high heat waste they produce. To give a concrete example, a gas fire wastes about 60% of the heat produced, reaching an efficiency of 40%. With an electric hob, on the other hand, waste drops to about 35%, to reach 10% with an induction hob, such as the ELBA Induction Hob. For this reason, only by relating the cost of the raw material with energy efficiency will we be able to truly understand how much the use of the hob costs us. Making a short calculation, it turns out that to produce 1 kWh of energy, we spend 40 LKR with a gas hob, 60 LKR with an induction hob and 80LKR with a traditional electric model.