How to Choose the Best Hob
There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from the price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is essential.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs just PS100. However, you will need to pay more for one with many features. Gas hobs are another popular choice, and offer great temperature control, but they're pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones, three 'Push&Go" functions, and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was also one of the most efficient tests to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It has an child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has control buttons that sit in the same place as the worktop for easy use.
The controls are intuitive to use, and we appreciated the clear display that tells you the current power settings and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for just a short period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pans of boiling water to the boil quickly. Safety features like the hot hob light and automatic shutoff are useful.
It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature in contrast to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the temperature of cooking, which means you may need to alter settings several times before the pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
The model in 60 cm includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex area 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 and boost power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boiling.
It's fully connected through the hOn app and boasts hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 unique programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. It comes with a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' and can detect the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a number of security features, including a lockable panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free alternative. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with basic four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots that have minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without having to manually select it.
Smeg's main focus is on energy savings however, it doesn't overlook the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to save power based on the maximum temperatures of the zones. There are other options to save even more energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" function lets you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are plenty of useful functions, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, melting slow cooking, and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
The hob also comes with an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a meal that's been burned or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features such as a residual heat sensor and an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It is also resistant to tough stains, and has a protective coating of CleanProtect. This hob has nine power levels, an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect for accommodating large pans and is easy to install. There are several bonus features, such as lockable controls, and a safety fuse to protect against accidental pressing of buttons.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They utilize copper plates to create magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They heat up faster than gas hobs, and they also use less energy since the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
Indesit's induction hob is full of features to allow you to get creative in the cooking. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone for larger pots and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boiling point quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook perfectly with the click of the button. There are nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to track your pans.
The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone and boiled pasta water. 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.
In ovens uk to a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also has a child lock and overheating block as well as an auto shut-off feature that shuts down the hob when it's overheated. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room via a duct on the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, but it took two people to take the filter out.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric
Think about how the hob can work with your kitchen's layout and design as well as what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are an excellent option if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. If you value efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. Gas hobs are a great choice for those who live in areas prone to power outages.