Halogen Hob Guide

Are you considering upgrading your kitchen or looking for a more efficient way to cook? If so, Halogen hobs are an ideal choice. Offering high heating capacity, faster heat-up times and easy-to-clean surfaces. There’s no denying the allure of a halogen hob!

This article will delve into the wonderful world of halogen hobs to offer insight into their advantages over regular stoves. We’ll look at how these great appliances can be integrated into your kitchen. Also, we offer advice on what to look for before purchasing. So read on if you’re curious about learning more about halogen hobs!

What is a Halogen Hob?

A halogen hob is an electric cooktop that uses halogen lamps to generate heat. The halogen light bulbs are located beneath the glass cooking surface, and the temperature is controlled using a simple dial.

How Halogen Hobs Work?

Halogen hobs use halogen bulbs to generate radiative heat (described in the following section) to cook food. The halogen bulb is a glass tube containing a tungsten filament. To ensure that the filament has a long life, the tube is filled with halogen gas. As such, it is classed as an incandescent bulb. The properties of the halogen tubes make the hobs highly efficient. They can reach high temperatures quickly and can be used to both cook and brown food.

Halogen hobs use a dial to control the amount of power that is supplied to the bulb to control the temperature. It is similar to using a dimmer to control lighting.

What is Radiative Heating?

Radiative heating is the process of transferring heat from one object to another via electromagnetic radiation. This type of heating differs from convection heating. Convection heating involves the transfer of heat from the heater to the surrounding air. With radiative heating, the heat is distributed via infrared light. This light travels through the air without heating it directly. When the radiation hits a surface, including your skin, it is heated. Incidentally, heat from the Sun is similarly transferred to us.

Halogen heaters are an excellent example of radiative heating. This radiant energy can penetrate objects in its path, providing a more even and consistent temperature.

Benefits of Halogen Hobs

The most apparent benefit of halogen hobs is their energy efficiency. As halogen is more efficient at converting energy into heat than other cooking technologies, you’ll save about 23% on your electricity bill according to Halogen Hobs Consume Less Electricity. Halogen hobs also have several other advantages over traditional hobs:

• They provide a more even heating surface, meaning that your food will cook more evenly and consistently.
• They heat quickly as gas cooktops and have a high level of temperature control
• They stay cooler than traditional gas or electric hobs, making them safer. Also, the heating element is protected by a glass cover preventing direct contact with it.
• They are easy to clean.
• The halogen bulbs are very long-lasting.
• Halogen hobs are typically more compact than traditional hobs. They can save you valuable space in the kitchen.

Disadvantages of Halogen Hobs

Despite the many advantages of halogen hobs, there are also some drawbacks. One of the main disadvantages is that halogen elements can become very hot when in use. This may pose a burn risk if they are touched directly. Also, halogen hobs are best suited for smaller kitchens, as they may only be able to handle large amounts of food if they take a long time to heat up.

Choosing the Right Halogen Hob

When shopping for a halogen hob, there are several things that you should look for. Ensure that the halogen bulb is of good quality and is rated to last for at least five years. Check that the hob has an adjustable temperature setting so that you can adjust the heat according to what food you are cooking. The hob should be easy to clean and maintain; you want a hob with simple parts that require constant cleaning. Finally, consider how much space the halogen hob will take in your kitchen. Halogen hobs come in all shapes and sizes, so make sure you find one that fits your kitchen layout. Also, if you are replacing a cooking appliance, ensure that you replace it with a halogen hob with the same cut-out requirements or slightly larger. Avoid purchasing a product that requires the same or smaller hole, or you can end up with an unsightly gap.

What are the Size Options for Halogen Hobs?

Halogen hobs come in three standard sizes – 60 cm, 70 cm, and 80 cm. The 60 cm halogen hob is the smallest size and is suitable for use in smaller kitchens or surface-level cooking. The 70 cm halogen hob is the most popular and offers a good balance between size and features. The 80 cm halogen hob is the largest halogen hob available. The large size provides plenty of space for all types of cooking tasks.

The number of halogen heating elements on a halogen hob can vary. The number depends on its size. The 60 cm halogen hob will usually have two halogen heating elements. The 70 cm halogen hob may have three or four halogen heating elements. The larger 80 cm halogen hob can have up to five or six halogen heating elements. Each element can be different a different size. Smaller elements provide a lower output and are a good choice for smaller pots or when a lower output is required. Larger elements are suitable for large pots requiring a greater amount of heat.

How Much Does It Cost to Run a Halogen Hob?

Halogen hobs are a great way to cook food quickly and efficiently. But how much do halogen hobs cost to operate? The cost of operating halogen hobs will depend on the Wattage (power) and duration of use. Also significant is the electricity tariff in your area. The Wattage used depends on the size of the elements and how high they are used.

Halogen hobs consume between 1 and 2 kW per hour, depending on the size and power of the elements. For example, a halogen hob with two halogen rings (each rated at 1.2 kW) would consume 2.4 kWh per hour.

As electricity costs vary from region to region, let’s look at a fictional situation. In Hobland, a unit of electricity is 15 hobs per unit (with one unit being 1 kWhr). If we use a 2 kW element for an hour a day, we can determine the cost. To do so, we multiply the Watts used by the cost and time used. In this example, we multiply the power of the element (2 kW) by the unit price (15) and the number of hours used (i.e. 2 x 15 x 1). The result is 30. Thus the cost is 30 hobs. Please refer to our Halogen Running Costs Calculator if you want to determine the cost for your purposes.

If you wish to check how much to run a halogen hob you can use our halogen hob running cost calculator.

For tips on reducing your cooking costs see How to Save Power When Using a Halogen Hob.

Where to Purchase Halogen Hobs

Halogen hobs can be found at most major appliance stores and online retailers. They are typically available in various sizes, designed to fit in smaller and larger kitchens. It’s important to compare prices between retailers to find the best deal for your budget.

Best Cookware for Halogen Hobs

When you choose cookware for halogen hobs, there are a few factors to consider. The most crucial factor is the material of the cookware. Halogen hobs work best with cast iron, stainless steel, aluminium, and ceramic cookware. Cast iron is excellent for even heat distribution and retains heat well, making it perfect for halogen hobs. Stainless steel cookware is also a great option, as the heat penetrates quickly and efficiently into the material. This results in faster cooking times. Aluminum is also a good choice for halogen hobs as it heats up quickly and evenly distributes heat. However, aluminium may warp slightly over time if used at high temperatures. Finally, ceramic cookware is an excellent option for halogen hobs, as it’s non-stick and distributes heat evenly.

Besides the material, you should also consider the size of your elements when selecting cookware. If the pot or pan is too small, it may not fit properly on the hob and won’t be able to use the halogen heat efficiently. If the pan or pot is too large, it will block the heat from reaching other areas of the hob, resulting in uneven cooking. The best option is to choose cookware that fits snugly on your elements for the greatest efficiency.

Finally, when selecting cookware, choose pieces with flat bottoms. This will ensure that your halogen hob elements can transfer heat evenly and quickly. Thick-bottomed pans work best on halogen cooktops. Avoid pans that have mirrored bottoms, as heat can be reflected away.

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Halogen Hob

Halogen hobs are easy to clean and maintain. To keep your halogen hob in good working order regularly wipe down the hob with a damp cloth to remove any dust or grease that has accumulated. Also, check the halogen bulb for any signs of wear and tear.

For instruction on cleaning your halogen hob see How to Clean Your Halogen Hob to Last Longer.

How to Safely Use a Halogen Hob

Halogen hobs are safe and easy to use, but there are certain safety precautions that you should take when using them. First, ensure that you always use cookware suitable for halogen cooking. Don’t leave the halogen hob unattended for extended periods, as halogen hobs can heat up very quickly and pose a fire hazard. Halogen hobs generate much heat, so make sure that you keep your kitchen well-ventilated by opening windows or using an exhaust fan. Finally, always use oven mitts when handling hot cookware on halogen hobs.

Summary

Halogen hobs are an excellent alternative to traditional hobs. They offer several advantages over other hobs. They offer even heating surfaces, long-lasting halogen bulbs, faster heat up times and more compact designs. As long as you use halogen hobs safely and maintain them properly, they can be a great addition to the kitchen. Happy halogen hobbing!

For more information on Halogen hobs see our article on Halogen Cooktops.

Halogen Hob FAQs

Q: How long will a halogen hob last?

A: Halogen hobs are typically very long-lasting, with halogen bulbs rated to last for at least 5 years. The quality and type of halogen bulb you use will also affect the lifespan of your halogen hob.

Q: Is a halogen hob safe to use?

A: Yes, halogen hobs are safe to use if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take basic safety precautions. Always make sure that your cookware is suitable for halogen cooking, and don’t leave the halogen hob unattended for extended periods of time. Additionally, halogen hobs generate a lot of heat, so make sure to keep your kitchen well-ventilated.

Q: Are halogen hobs more energy efficient than traditional hobs?

A: Yes, halogen hobs are much more energy efficient than traditional hobs due to halogen’s superior ability to convert electricity into heat. This means that you’ll save money on your electricity bills in the long run.

Q: Can halogen hobs be used for camping?

A: Yes, portable halogen hobs can be used for camping and travelling.