The majority of hobs are designed to be built into your kitchen work top.

Hobs

Hobs come with two sets of dimensions, the actual dimensions of the hob and the dimensions required for the work top cut out which the hob will sit in. 

One of the most important considerations when placing any cooking appliance is its fuel source – whether it runs on gas or electricity . If you choose a gas hob it will need to be connected by a Gas Safe registered engineer and will need to be placed within reach of a gas supply and probably an electricity supply as well. Most gas hobs are designed to run on natural gas, but select models are LPG convertible and require an LPG conversion kit. While electric hobs need installing by a qualified electrician. 

Built in hobs vary from being able to take a single pan to six burner/zone giants with dedicated wok stands but by far the most common are those with 4 burners/zones. Unless you cook complex meals for large groups or have limited space you will probably end up with 4 burners/zones, they are less expensive than smaller models and fit in most kitchens and are big enough for all but the largest of households. 

If you do have limited space and go for a smaller hob then don’t worry, with some creative thinking you will find that even a Sunday roast can be prepared with only two burners/zones, (these are known as domino hobs). 

Gas Hobs like the Smeg SE60SGH3 , are great if you like to experiment a lot with your cooking and want a responsive hob with a selection of different size burners. 

 There are three types of electric hob 

• Induction hobs are widely recognized as one of the swiftest, safest and most efficient methods of cooking available. 

• Ceramic hobs combine a sleek look with innovative functions, flexible cooking zones and a smooth durable ceramic glass surface that is heat resistant and easy to clean. 

• Solid plate hobs feature convenient red dot heat zone plates, with a power on light indicator.

Hobs come with two sets of dimensions, the actual dimensions of the hob and the dimensions required for the work top cut out which the hob will sit in.

If you have decided to go for a top of the range induction hob, then look no further than the Zanussi ZIE6004F. It uses an electromagnetic field to instantly generate heat, giving you the control and responsiveness of gas, but with far more energy efficiency. However it does require special pans that have magnetic bases to work.