Electric Hob Usage Guide

General tips for getting the best from your electric hob and avoiding common faults, from Braintree Appliance Repairs.

Getting the best from your electric hob

1. Use pans with flat, clean bases that match the size of the cooking zone — warped or undersized pans heat unevenly and waste energy.
2. Wipe up spills, especially sugary or acidic ones, as soon as the hob has cooled — left too long they can etch or stain glass and ceramic surfaces permanently.
3. Use the correct hob cleaner and a scraper designed for glass/ceramic hobs — abrasive pads and general kitchen cleaners can scratch the surface.
4. On induction hobs, make sure your pans are induction-compatible (a magnet will stick to the base) — non-compatible pans simply won't heat and can seem like a fault.
5. Don't slide heavy pans across the surface — lift them on and off to avoid scratching glass and ceramic hobs.
6. If a cooking zone won't switch on, check the control lock/child lock hasn't been accidentally activated before assuming there's a fault.

If a fault persists after checking the above, it's usually down to a worn part rather than something you can fix at home — see Electric Hob Repairs.