11 Strategies To Refresh Your Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob

When choosing the best hob for your needs there are a variety of factors to take into consideration. From cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is crucial.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with numerous features. Gas hobs are another popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

This Haier oven hob comes with four cooking zones, three "Push&Go" functions, and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to faff around using controls.

Its design is sleek and modern, blending in well with modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features control buttons that sit flush with the worktop for ease of use.

The controls were easy to operate and we loved the display that displays the current power level as well as which zone is in use. The "Boost" feature creates powerful heat in a short time. It's ideal for stir-frying and rapidly boiling pans. Safety features like the hot hob light and automatic shutoff are useful.

However, it's not as responsive to touch as other hobs in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to achieve the highest temperature, in contrast to seven or six on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings multiple times before you get the proper temperature.

The model in 60 cm has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two areas can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. It has a dual-ring design and hob can function on both 'normal and boost' power levels. It is perfect for cooking meat, searing it or bringing pots of water to a rapid boil.

It's fully connected through the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and preparation types. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. In addition, it will automatically recognize the type of pan you're using and set the correct cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn sets and has a range of security features, including an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

When you're doing work on your kitchen or simply seeking a better alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped dramatically in the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that include induction, it's worth paying extra for the most up-to-date technology.

This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the position of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.

Smeg's attention to energy savings does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to reduce power consumption by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking needs. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to reduce energy consumption by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.

Testers were awed by the user-friendly interface of this hob that has intuitive controls that move along the edge of the hob in order to follow your pan. The control panel's color-coded layout makes it easy to identify the status of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" feature lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful functions, including four automated cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

The hob also has an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a meal that's been burned or the possibility of a fire. There are also several safety features, such as a residual heat indicator and an automatic shut-off when the surface gets too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough marks and stains from cooking. This hob has nine power levels and the FlexiDuo feature to allow for large pans, and is simple to set up. There are several bonus features such as lockable controls, and an emergency fuse to stop accidental button pressing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction hob uk

Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is set on the top. This means they can heat up much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive than gas and are simpler to wipe clean too, which makes them an extremely popular choice.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to get creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring boiling water to. A variety of automated functions such as Push&Go let you achieve perfectly cooked dishes with the click of a button. And nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow your pans.

The controls are easy to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan after we put it on the Booster Zone, and pasta water that was boiling. It took a while to cool down after turning off the hob, and the testers were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also has a bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an auto switch-off system that shuts down the hob when it's overheated. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no visible flames. Our testers were impressed by the fact that there was no visible flame. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs, about his, draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via an air duct on the surface. Our experts believed that this hob's duct was easy to keep clean, although it took two people to lift the filter out to change it.

4. Induction Hob by GE

Think about how the hob will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are a good choice if you cook with children or older people in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the best alternative. For those living in regions susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.