What Island Hob Will Be Your Next Big Obsession

· 6 min read
What Island Hob Will Be Your Next Big Obsession

Including a Hob to Your Kitchen Island

Having a hob in your island adds an intriguing focal point to the room and works truly well with open-plan kitchen concepts. It also enables you to see what is cooking and motivates social interaction whilst food is being prepared.

It is necessary to guarantee that you comply with gas regulations by having a clear area of 30cm or 15cm on either side of the hob for security and workspace. You'll also require to think about ventilation and extraction.
1. Space

A hob on an island can add an additional level of function and make the kitchen a main center for your home. It can likewise help you create a more liveable area and conserve room that might have been taken up by sinks or cabinets.

Selecting to place  extractor fan for island hob  on an island can also open up a variety of storage choices and offer you a work surface that is flexible, adaptable, and easy to clean. Nevertheless, it's essential to remember that a hob will take up valuable counter top area. This can restrict the quantity of area you have for other activities like meal preparation and serving. In addition, a hob on an island can cause more noticeable splatters and mess, making it harder to keep the location looking beautiful.

It's important to keep in mind that when you set up a hob on your island, you might need to think about ventilation and extraction systems. This can include aspirating hoods connected to the ceiling, downdraft extractors that increase out of the island when not in use, and filters built into the hob itself. This can include to the expense and complexity of setting up an island hob, however it's vital for making sure adequate ventilation to avoid hazardous gases, such as carbon monoxide, from developing in the kitchen.

One of the biggest benefits of having a hob on an island is that you can separate it from the sink. By doing so, you can centre your sink and construct outwards from either side of it to attain symmetry and balance in the total design. This can help to remove a few of the visual mess from the area that can often be triggered by having a sink on an island, including dishcloths, washing-up liquid, tea towels, and so forth.

cooker island 's also worth bearing in mind that you will require to make sure that your hob is a safe range far from the end of your unit run and any tall units for security and regulations purposes. Conrad advises a minimum of 60cm from completion of your island to a tall cabinet.
2. Social

A main hob in your kitchen island can produce a social hub, encouraging guests and member of the family to engage while the cook prepares meals. This can work specifically well if you have an open-plan living space and kitchen. In regards to functionality, positioning your hob in the island can likewise make meal preparation more streamlined and efficient, permitting you to keep other locations of the kitchen devoid of mess.

Another benefit of an island hob is that it can provide you more exposure of what you're doing, making it much easier to keep an eye on your cooking and avoid spills or splashes. However, this can be a downside for some individuals as it can expose the cook to a great deal of interruptions and noise.

For this reason, numerous people choose to have their sink in the island different from the hob, decreasing the quantity of devices they have on display and developing a more streamlined kitchen layout. This is particularly popular with Belfast sinks, which can be an elegant addition to your kitchen and help you keep dirty dispense of sight.


One thing to keep in mind when planning a kitchen island with a hob is that you'll need to leave adequate space either side of the cooking area to abide by gas regulations. In order to avoid inadvertently touching the flame or the hot surface area, you'll need a minimum of 30cm on each side for gas hobs and 15cm for induction hobs.

When it comes to kitchen islands with a hob, you'll also need to consider your kitchen ventilation choices, as it's important to have sufficient ventilation in an open-plan kitchen. For this, it's usually advised that you install a cooker hood straight above the hob, which will offer more efficient ventilation and prevent the accumulation of smoke, steam and cooking smells. These hoods can either vent directly to the exterior through a window or recirculate filtered air back into the room. A downdraft system is also an excellent option for kitchen areas with an island hob, as it supplies more powerful ventilation than standard extractor fans.
3. Storage

A kitchen island can be a dining table or food prep surface area however also plays host to your hob and sink. This produces a social center to captivate guests and household whilst you prepare and tidy, and is a terrific method to optimise space by getting rid of the need for base cabinets versus walls.

However, this does entail the added difficulty of ensuring appropriate ventilation and extraction for cooking fumes. An island hob needs to be fitted with a hood that successfully catches smoke and odours at the source, and is created with sleek and integrated performance to fit in flawlessly with your island design.

Depending upon your kitchen design and individual choice, you can select a vented hob that needs a different extractor hood or surface-based options like a glass draft hood that sits flush with the induction hob to form a stylish and inconspicuous installation. Ensure that you choose a venting hob with the correct size and ventilation power to fit your island cooktop, taking into consideration design compatibility with your kitchen design, electrical or gas connections, and any structural adjustments required.

Alternatively, you might consider an open shelving solution that's tucked into the island overhang, as this can be a beautiful centerpiece for your kitchen style. This can be a wonderful method to display gorgeous wooden boards, reactive glaze-ware crockery or artisanal glassware and includes charm to your homely kitchen. This style of storage works particularly well for smaller sized kitchen areas, as it does not require a great deal of space and is simple to keep tidy with a couple of thoroughly curated bits and pieces on program instead of a mess of utensils in a cabinet. If you aren't a total minimalist, install some hooks under the overhang of your island to hang mugs and treasured cooking utensils from to offer the area a personalised touch.
4. Security

A hob put on an island is ideal for creating a dedicated cooking location while keeping your kitchen open and social. It can likewise be used to increase effectiveness by allowing the cook to connect with visitors or family seated around the table while food is being prepared.

Just like all kitchen home appliances, safety is a crucial issue when installing an island hob. The hob should be positioned at an appropriate height to prevent mishaps and ensure that it is not too near to other flammable materials. For included peace of mind, pick a hob with safety functions such as hot-plate signs and a power cut off switch. If you are using your island for seating, ensure that there suffices space behind the hob so that anyone taking a seat does not get too close to any hot pans.

Ventilation is likewise a crucial consideration when planning an island hob, and there are a range of alternatives available to meet your needs. For instance, a venting hob incorporates ventilation directly into the cooktop for a sleek and unobtrusive design. This option is best for decreasing steam and odours while cooking, making your kitchen more comfortable and practical to use.

There are also wall mounted extractors that can be incorporated into a wall above the hob, supplying reliable ventilation without effecting on your kitchen's décor or obscuring the view of your island. You could even go with a downdraft extractor, which is installed below the surface of the hob and pulls air down through ducting in the ceiling.

If you select to set up a gas hob on your island, it's necessary that it is effectively installed by a Gas Safe engineer. In addition, you ought to make certain that there suffices clearance space on either side of the hob to prevent tripping or unintentional spills. Lastly, when selecting your countertop, decide for a resilient material that can withstand heat and wetness.