How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob, there are many factors to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is crucial.
A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to pay more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs, which are also popular and offer great temperature control, but are expensive, are another alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones, three "Push&Go" functions and can assist you in making quick meals. It was also among the fastest tested to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It has a child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process quickly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is sleek and contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with controls that are flush with the worktop for easy use.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display that tells you the current power setting, and which of the five zones is active. The "Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a short time. It's ideal for stir-frying and quickly boiling pans. Safety features such as the hob light that is hot or automatic shutdown are also beneficial.
It's not as responsive as other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to seven or six for other models. It takes longer to respond when you change the temperature of cooking, which means you may need to alter settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.
The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of it is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. Dual-ring design permits it to operate with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying and searing meat, or bringing pots of water to the rapid boil.
It is fully connected through the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 special programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a multislider controls panel with a 'lockable interface' and can detect the type pan you are using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a variety of safety features, such as an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth paying more for the most up-to-date technology.
This sleek model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots that have minimum diameters of 9cm, which allows you to switch on the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not mean that they don't offer flexibility The hob is built to conserve power by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking preferences. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to conserve more energy by reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's colour scheme allows you to quickly determine the operational status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful functions, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
In addition to this the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you when there is a risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are a variety of safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.
It also has an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough stains and cooking marks. This hob is easy to install and comes with nine power levels and an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are also a variety of bonus features, such as lockable controls and a safety fuse in case of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They make use of copper plates to create a magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means they can heat up faster than gas hobs and also save energy as the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are simpler to wipe clean too and that's why they're an extremely popular option.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of ovensandhobs.uk features that will allow you to get creative in the cooking. It has two separate zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring the water to a boil. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook perfectly by pressing the button. Nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to follow your pans.
The controls are also easy to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up once we placed an oven on the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, and our testers had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also comes with a bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It also has a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off system which prevents the hob from working when it gets too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no visible flames. Our testers were impressed by the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room by an air duct that is located on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, but it required two people in order to remove the filter.
4. Induction Hob by GE
Think about how the hob will work with the layout and design of your kitchen as well as the style of cooking you prefer. Induction hobs are an excellent choice for cooking with children or the elderly in mind. They come with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who prefer speed and efficiency, an electric hob with a clean ceramic glass facia is the best choice. For those living in regions that are prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tilt the balance in favor of a gas model.