How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob for your needs there are a variety of factors to consider. From cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is essential.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for one with many features. Gas hobs, also popular and offer great temperature control, but are expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this hob from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also one of the quickest tested to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It has the child lock as well as a pause function so you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features touch controls that sit flush with the worktop for ease of use.
The controls were easy to use, and we liked the display which shows the current power level as well as which zone is currently in use. The "Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a brief time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. The hob's hot light and auto shut-off are great security features, too.
It's not as responsive as other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, compared to seven or six for other models. It also takes longer for the pan to respond when you alter the temperature. You may have to adjust the settings multiple times before you get the proper temperature.
The model in 60 cm includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two areas can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. It features a dual-ring design that can function on both 'normal as well as 'boost power levels. It is perfect for cooking meat, searing it or bringing pots of water to the rapid boiling point.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app and boasts hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface as well as a lockable control panel. In addition, it is able to automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and comes with a variety of security features, including the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped over the past few years, with basic four-zone models costing less than PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that include induction, it's worth paying extra for the latest innovations.
This sleek-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology to make your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with an overall diameter of at least 9 cm and automatically will activate the appropriate zone.
Smeg's focus is on energy efficiency, but it doesn't ignore flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to save energy based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to save more energy by reducing power output to as low as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The color scheme of the control panel allows you to quickly determine the operational status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful functions, including four automated cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
In addition the hob also has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you if there is any danger of a fire or burnt-on food. There are several safety features such as a residual heat sensor and an automatic shut-off if the surface becomes too hot.
It is also resistant to hard stains and comes with an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. This hob is easy to set up and features nine power levels as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are a few bonus features, such as lockable controls, and an emergency fuse to stop accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is placed on the top. They can heat up much quicker than gas hobs, and they also consume less energy because the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are easier to clean, which makes them an extremely popular option.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features that will allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to the boiling point quickly. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook perfectly by pressing one button. The controls are simple to operate and let you select nine power options, including the P boost option that gives maximum power in each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also easy to operate and feature a modern, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone and boiled pasta water. ovens uk took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, and our test subjects were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
In addition to a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also comes with an overheating and child lock block as well as an auto shut-off feature that stops the hob working when it's heated to the point of. Our testers appreciated the fact that there weren't any visible flames that were messy and messy, and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room by a duct on the surface. Our experts thought the duct of this hob was simple to clean, though it required two people to take the filter out and change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the stove can fit into your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style. For example, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features such as an automatic shut-off or cool to the touch surface may make an induction stove a better option. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the ideal alternative. If you live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tilt the balance in favor of a gas model.