Hobs
Induction is the quick, controllable choice, gas gives you a real flame, and vented induction removes steam through the hob itself.
The two things to settle first are the fuel you have and the size of your worktop cut-out. Everything else, from extraction to which pans you can use, is covered in our guide below the products.
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Browse hobs by type
- Induction hobs: a magnetic field heats the pan itself, so cooking is quick and precise and the surrounding glass stays cooler.
- Gas hobs: a visible flame that responds the moment you turn the knob, with any pan. Wok burners add high heat.
- Vented induction hobs: induction with an extractor built in, pulling steam and smells downwards so no hood is needed overhead.
- 5 burner gas hobs: wider gas hobs with space for more pans, usually including a wok burner.
- Ceramic hobs: electric zones beneath smooth glass, an affordable, uncomplicated option for any flat-based pan.
- Domino hobs: narrow modules to combine, for example a teppanyaki plate next to a gas wok burner.
- Mixed fuel hobs: gas burners alongside induction or electric zones on a single hob.
Which hob suits you?
| Hob | Suits | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Induction | Quick, controllable cooking and the easiest clean-up. | Your pans must have a magnetic base, and bigger hobs normally need their own circuit. |
| Gas | Anyone who likes cooking over a flame, with any kind of pan. | Fitting by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and an LPG version if there's no mains gas. |
| Vented induction | Islands, and rooms where a hood won't fit or would spoil the view. | Ducted or recirculating air, looking after the filters, and the cupboard space lost underneath. |
| Ceramic | A straightforward electric hob at a lower price. | It heats up and cools down more slowly than induction. |
| Domino | Designing your own layout, perhaps with a wok burner or teppanyaki plate. | Each module has its own cut-out and its own supply. |
| Mixed fuel | Having a flame and induction next to each other. | It needs both a gas supply and an electrical connection. |
Making the choice
Induction, gas or ceramic?
Induction responds fastest and gives the finest control, and because the glass doesn't get as hot, spills don't burn on. Gas lets you see the heat and takes any pan, round-bottomed woks included. Ceramic is the simple electric choice: it suits any flat-based pan but reacts more slowly when you turn it up or down.
How wide, and how many zones?
Four zones or burners on a 60cm hob are enough for most kitchens. If you regularly juggle several pans, or cook with big pans and griddles, you'll appreciate the extra room of a five-zone hob between 70cm and 90cm wide.
Flexible zones
Many induction hobs can merge two zones into one, and some offer a free area where the heat follows the pan wherever you put it. That's ideal for griddles, fish kettles and oval casseroles.
Extraction
Whatever hob you choose, it needs extraction. That means either a cooker hood above or a vented hob that draws steam down. Vented hobs either duct air outside or clean it through filters and return it to the room. Some hobs also link to a hood of the same brand, which then sets its fan speed by itself as you cook.
Controls and safety
Induction controls may be touch sliders, knobs or a magnetic dial. Most hobs also include child locks, pan detection and warnings that a zone is still hot. Modern gas hobs have flame failure devices, which shut off the gas if a flame blows out.
Before you order
- Measure the cut-out. The new hob has to fit the hole in your worktop, or the worktop will need recutting. The cut-out size is on each product page.
- Check the supply. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer may connect a gas hob, and larger induction hobs generally need a dedicated cooker circuit put in by an electrician.
- Look underneath. Vented hobs need space below for the fan and ducting, and a hob above an oven needs the gaps given in the fitting instructions.
- Try the magnet test. If a fridge magnet clings firmly to the base of a pan, it will work on induction.
The brands we sell
Our hobs come from . The brand filter beside the products narrows the list, and each brand's own page shows its matching ovens and hoods.
Buying a hob from KDH Electrical
Every hob comes with the full UK manufacturer's guarantee. Delivery costs nothing on orders over £600 and normally arrives within 3–7 working days. Within our installation area we can fit induction, ceramic and electric domino hobs and recycle the old one, with both priced in your basket. Vented induction, gas and mixed fuel hobs are fitted by your own qualified installer, with a Gas Safe registered engineer for anything on gas, but we can still take your old hob for recycling.
Spotted it cheaper at another UK retailer? Our price match means we'll look at matching it. To talk it through, call 01622 541312 or visit our showroom in Rochester, calling before you travel to check what's on display.
Hobs: your questions answered
Will my pans work on an induction hob?
Only if the base is magnetic. Hold a fridge magnet against the bottom; a firm grip means it's suitable. Cast iron and most modern stainless steel pans pass the test.
Can I connect a gas hob myself?
No. In the UK, connecting a gas hob is a job for a Gas Safe registered engineer only.
Do induction hobs need their own circuit?
Larger ones usually do. Some 60cm induction hobs run from a standard 13A socket, often with their maximum power reduced. The product page gives the electrical requirements.
How does a vented induction hob get rid of steam?
A fan inside the hob pulls steam and smells down through a vent. The air is then either ducted outside or cleaned by filters and returned to the room.
Is induction cheaper to run than gas?
Induction wastes very little heat because it warms the pan directly. Whether it's actually cheaper comes down to your gas and electricity tariffs.
What size of hob should I buy?
A four-zone 60cm hob is plenty for most kitchens. Wider hobs of 70cm to 90cm, with five zones or burners, make sense if you often have lots of pans going or use griddles.
Can a hob be fitted above an oven?
Yes, as long as both are designed for it and you keep to the gaps in each set of fitting instructions.