Hobs Buying Guide and Tips

Are you looking for a Hobs but don't know whether gas, electric or induction Hobs best suit your needs? Our buying guide helps break down your choices and the advantages of each when looking to buy a new hob for your kitchen.

What Are The Types Of Hobs?

Gas Hobs

Utilize a gas flame to heat cookware.

• Instant heat control and visual feedback when controlling the flame.
• There's a wide variety of designs and finishes: as a rule, enamel is easier to clean than glass or stainless steel.
• Buy a gas hobs with a wok burner, or place a grill on top for barbecuing.
• Look for flat cookware supports (trivets) that provide a stable support for your pots and pans.

Electric Hobs

Use electricity to heat an element, which heats cookware on contact.

• Ceramic radiant hobs: Use coiled metal elements under tempered ceramic glass. Other ceramic hob elements use halogen bulbs to create heat. Semi-halogen burners combine a halogen bulb with a coiled metal element.
• Radiant coil hobs: Found on cheaper stove tops, radiant coil hobs utilise a coil element to heat cookware directly.
• Solid hotplate hobs: A low-cost electric option. Slower to heat up and cool down than other hobs.

Induction Induction coils on the hob generate a magnetic field that induces heat in cookware placed on top. Essentially, the saucepan or pot becomes the element, so the hob surface doesn't get hot. Since most of the energy is produced in the saucepan itself, the heat response is quicker and more efficient. Induction is the fastest cooking method, taking about half the time of other hob to boil water.

Combination Hobs If you can't decide between gas and electricity, have the best of both with a dual-fuel hob, such as a gas set-up with an electric element.

How Important Is Cookware?

• Induction hobs: Cookware needs to be close to the same size as the diameter of the hotplates. Pans that overhang won't heat properly around the edges, and those that are too small won't be recognised.
• Electric and gas hobs: Choose pans with a flat base for good contact with the element.

Temperature Control -- What's Its Function?

One of the most important elements of cooking and food preparation is temperature control. A hob that heats up too fast, or is unpredictable can burn food.

• Gas hobs are more controllable than electric hobs.
• Electric hobs are useful for cooking at low temperatures, such as a slow simmer.
• Induction is just as controllable as gas, with fast responsiveness to changes in heat settings.

Should I Consider Size And Space?

Take into account where your hob will be installed. Do you have the bench space to fit it? Also consider the ventilation and clearance for both the range hood and cupboards.

Is Design A Significant Factor?

• A good hob will have an easy-to-clean design -- a flat surface, free of dirt traps.
• Induction hobs are easy to clean because their flat surface doesn't heat up, meaning food doesn't bake onto the surface.
• Look for easy-to-use control knobs; a good size, with easy-to-read temperature level markings.

Match Your Lifestyle

Budget

Cost: A ceramic hob is the most affordable option.

Space: Choose a hob that uses your kitchen bench space most effectively.

Cookware: Save money by using your existing pots and pans.

Families

Size: Look for a hob with more than the standard four elements.

Speed: Induction hobs are quick and can save time.

Safety: With kids hovering around the kitchen, induction hobs are cool enough to touch while cooking.

Aspiring Chefs

Control: As the industry standard, a gas hob gives instant heat control.

Design: Look for a hob that's easy to clean as you cook.

Versatility: Gas hobs can be had with a wok burner and hotplate.

Simple Hobs Choices

Cooking control: Gas and induction offer the most control over your cooking.

Energy efficiency: Induction hobs lose little heat thanks to direct contact with pots and pans.

Size and space: Ensure you have the necessary bench and ventilation space to fit your new hob.

Extras:

Safety: Many electric hob have a residual-heat warning light that stays on until the hob has cooled.

Accessories: Look for wok burners and grills on gas hobs.

Source : http://www.harveynorman.com.my/home-appliances/kitchen/buying-guides-fridges.html/

Fridges Buying Guide and Tips

Fridges have come along since days of "freezer at the top, fridge down the bottom." Today, there's a refrigerator --- like fridge freezers and bar fridge --- to suit everyone. Our guide compares types and outlines what to consider.

What Are The Fridge Types?

Before you decide which fridge to buy, it's important to compare the different types and understand what their different layouts offer.

Top-Mount:

• Freezer sits above the fridge compartment.
• Wide shelf space.
• These are the most common type of fridge.

Bottom-Mount (aka Upside-Down):

• The fridge section is above the freezer.
• Having the fridge at eye level means you don't need to bend down to access (non-frozen) food.

Side-By-Side:

• The fridge and freezer sections are beside each other, with doors opening outwards.
• Usually wider than top and bottom-mount fridges, so consider the available space in your kitchen.

Chest-Style:

• The lid is on top and opens upwards.
• Large internal space.

Wine Fridge:

• Toughened, double-glazed glass doors give better thermal insulation and energy efficiency.
• Dual-zone wine fridges have two separate compartments with independent temperature controls. Perfect for keeping the red and white wines separate.
• Adjustable shelving in the bar fridge accommodates different bottle shapes and sizes.

Which Size Suits Me?

Measure the available space in your kitchen to make sure that there is at least 50mm of extra space around the back and the sides for ventilation. It's also a very good idea to measure all the access points in your house or unit, such as stair cases, doorways, and the roof clearance.

Considerations About Capacity

• A household with two people: capacity of 250-300L.
• Average family of four: capacity above 400L.

Energy Efficiency Is Important: The Energy Label

Registered suppliers supplying registrable goods must affix the Energy Label on the units that they supply in Singapore. The Energy Label shall be affixed only after the National Environment Agency (NEA) has issued the Certificate of Registration (COR) for the model. Retailers are only allowed to display models that have the label affixed on them.

The more ticks, the better the appliance’s energy efficiency.

What Is Frost-Free?

Frost-free prevents ice build-up and eliminates the need for manual defrosting by using a fan to circulate dry, cold air throughout the freezer. It also improves food quality and energy efficiency by evenly distributing the cold air.

Shelves And Compartments

• Adjustable shelving accommodates food in all shapes and sizes.
• Look for smooth removable shelves made from moulded plastic or safety glass. They are easier to clean.
• Spill-proof shelves have a small gutter to catch spills and stop leaks.
• Salad crispers keep vegetables at the perfect temperature.
• Dairy compartments prevent cross-contamination with other foods.
• Deep-door storage offers greater versatility; milk and juice bottles just keep getting bigger\!

Controlling The Temperature

• Adjust the temperature to suit your groceries.
• Some fridges offer compartments with separate temperature control.
• Some side-by-side models include drawers that can be controlled independently.
• Digital controls, via an LED display, are easy to use and read.

What Is Anti-Bacterial Protection?

Anti-bacterial systems help destroy bacteria on food, preventing mould or mildew build-up, to make food last longer.

Is It Noisy?

Before making your purchase, find out how loud the fridge's internal fans, motors, automatic timers, and ice dispensers are. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a studio apartment next to a noisy fridge.

Suit Your Style And Space

Fridges are generally available in plastic or stainless steel finishes. Some refrigerators allow you to change the direction in which the door opens for greater versatility.

Optional Extras

• Twin cooling systems cool the fridge and freezer separately by using independent evaporators and fans.
• Fridges with four compartments have independently adjusted temperature settings, allowing each of them to be used as fridge freezers.

Usage	Size	Type	Optional Features
Small Space	300L	Top-mount	Reversible door
Family	400L	Side-by-side	Anti-bacterial protection
Entertainer	450L	French Door	Twin-cooling system

Simple Fridge Choices

Fridge types: Top\- and bottom-mount, side-by-side, French-door, pigeon pair, chest-style and wine fridge.

Size: For a household of two, 300L should be ample. A family of four should look for 540-620L.

Energy Rating: Fridges with more stars and lower kilowatt hours (kWh) are more efficient.

Optional Extras:

Super-thin insulation technology: For greater internal capacity.

Twin cooling system: Cools the fridge and freezer separately.

Source : http://www.harveynorman.com.my/home-appliances/kitchen/buying-guides-fridges.html/