How to Choose the best ovens and hobs uk Hob
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is crucial.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs just PS100. However you'll have to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs are another popular choice, and offer great temperature control, however they are more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this stove from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also among the quickest tests to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an pause feature, meaning you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and contemporary it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit directly on the worktop.
The controls are simple to use, and we appreciated the clear display which tells you the current power settings, and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for just a short duration, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. The hob's hot light and auto shut-off are great security features, too.
However, it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, compared with six or seven on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, so you may have to change settings several times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper 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. It comes with a dual-ring design that can operate on both 'normal and boost power levels. It is perfect for cooking and searing meat, or bringing pans of water to a rapid boiling point.
It's fully connected through the hOn app and comes with 100's of recipes with cooking instructions and 30 different programs divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It has a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' that detects 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 security features, including an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a non-gas option. Prices have dropped in the last few years, with basic four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more.
This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots that have a diameter of at least 9 centimetres and automatically selects the appropriate zone.
Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to save power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking preferences. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to conserve more energy by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.
Testers were impressed by this hob's user-friendly interface that has intuitive controls that move across the edge of the hob, allowing it to follow the pan. The control panel's colour scheme allows you to quickly determine the operating status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful features, including four automatic 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 food item being burned or the possibility of a fire. There are a variety of safety features, such as a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface becomes too hot.
It is also resistant to tough stains and features an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. This hob has nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature to allow for large pans, and is simple to set up. There are some additional features like control locks, as well as a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is placed on the top. This means they can reach temperatures more quickly than gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on a pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas and Cooking Efficiency they are also easier to clean.
This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to get creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans and an accelerated Booster zone that can bring water to boiling point quickly. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook perfectly with the click of the button. And nine power modes, including a 'P boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the cooktop to follow the pans.
The controls are easy to operate, and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan after we placed it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. It took a while for it to cool down after turning off the hob, and our test subjects were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
Alongside the Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic shut-off mechanism that stops the hob from operating when it becomes too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no flames visible. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room through a duct on the surface. Our experts thought the duct on this hob was easy to clean, even though it took two people to lift the filter to change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a hob uk take a look at how it fits to your kitchen's style and layout, in addition to your cooking style and your lifestyle. For instance, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features such as an automatic shut-off feature and cool to the touch surface could make an induction stove the best oven choice. For those who value speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the ideal choice. Gas hobs are an excellent choice for those who live in areas prone to power outages.