The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Best Hob

How to Choose the best hob (great post to read)

There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the best ovens hob, from price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric hob costs less than PS100. However you'll have to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs, also popular and provide excellent temperature control but are more expensive, are another option.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this cooker from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking only four minutes. It has an child lock and pause function so you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle with controls.

Its design is sleek, contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features control buttons that sit in the same place as the worktop for ease of use.

The controls are easy to operate and we loved the clear display that informs you the current power setting and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a brief time. It is ideal to stir fry and speedily boiling pans. The hob's hot light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.

However, it's not as responsive to touch as other hobs tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to achieve the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the cooking temperature, so you may need to alter settings multiple times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.

This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It has a dual-ring design that can operate on both 'normal as well as 'boost' power levels. Boost is ideal for frying, searing meat or bringing water pans to a rapid boiling point.

It's fully connected through the hOn app and comes with hundreds of recipes that include cooking instructions and 30 different programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation types. It has an intuitive multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. In addition, it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the proper cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans made by third-party manufacturers and comes with several safety features such as the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped dramatically in the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more.

This sleek-looking model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction tech to keep your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with an overall diameter of at least 9 centimetres and automatically activates the appropriate zone.

Smeg's focus is on energy efficiency, but it doesn't ignore the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to save energy based on the highest temperatures that the zones can operate at. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to save more energy by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.

The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edges of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to determine the state of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" function lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

In addition to this the hob also has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you of any danger of a fire or food that has been burned. There are several safety features such as a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off if the surface gets too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough staining and cooking marks. This model has nine power levels as well as an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to accommodate large pans and is easy to install. There are also a number of bonus features, such as control locks and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They use copper plates to generate an electric force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means that they can heat up much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to run than gas, and they are also simpler to clean.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to be creative in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and an instant booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go let you achieve perfectly cooked dishes with the click of the button. Nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily set using the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to track your pans.

The controls are simple to use, and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up when we put an oven hob in the Booster zone. However it took a long time to cool down once we turned off the hob. Our testers were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.

In addition to the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and overheating block as well as an auto switch-off system that shuts down the hob when it's too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no visible flames. Our testers liked that. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through a duct in the surface. Our experts thought the duct on this hob was easy to clean, even though it required two people to take the filter out and change it.

4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE

When selecting a kitchen appliance, consider how it fits to your kitchen's style and layout, and also your cooking style and your lifestyle. Induction hobs and ovens are a great option if you cook with children or older people in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. Gas hobs are a good alternative for those living in areas susceptible to power outages.