How to Choose the Best Hob
There are a lot of aspects to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for one with many features. Gas hobs are another popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this cooker from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was also among the quickest on test to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an pause feature, meaning you can stop the process without having to faff around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest flush on the worktop.
The controls are intuitive to use, and we appreciated the clear display that informs you the current power settings, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for just a short period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pots of water to a boil quickly. Safety features like the hob light that is hot or automatic shutdown are also beneficial.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs we tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to achieve the highest temperature, as opposed to six or seven on other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may have to change settings multiple times before your 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 zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. It comes with a dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal' and 'boost power levels. Boost is ideal for frying and searing meat, or bringing water pans to a rapid boil.
It is fully connected through the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 unique programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. In addition, it will automatically recognize the kind of pan you're using and set up the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn sets and has a range of security features, including the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction oven hob
Whether you're having work done in your kitchen, or looking for an alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped drastically in the past few years. Basic four-zone models are now available 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 features the latest induction technology to make your cooking efficient and easy. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, which allows you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's attention to energy savings does not mean that they don't offer flexibility The hob is built to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking requirements. There are also options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker was a hit with testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edge of it. The color scheme of the control panel helps you quickly identify the operating status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are numerous useful functions, including four automated cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
Additionally, the hob has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you if there is any risk of a fire or burnt-on food. There are a variety of safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an auto switch-off if the surface is too hot.
It also resists tough stains and features a CleanProtect protective coating. The hob comes with nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature to accommodate large pans and is easy to put in. There are several bonus features like control locks, as well as a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They use copper plates to generate an electric force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means they can heat up more quickly than gas hobs, and also conserve energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive than gas, and they're easier to clean and that's why they're a popular option.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to help you get creative in the cooking. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans as well as a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boiling point quickly. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook with perfection by pressing the button. The controls are easy to use and allow you to select nine power options, including the P boost option which gives the highest power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan once we put it on the Booster Zone, and boiled pasta water. However it took a long time to cool down once we turned off the hob. Our testers found it difficult to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It comes with a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off feature that stops the hob from working if it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room by a duct on the surface. Our experts thought the duct of this hob was simple to keep clean, although it took two people to lift the filter out and change it.
4. GE Induction oven hob
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 a great choice if you cook with children or the elderly in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the best alternative. Gas hobs are a great option for those who live in areas prone to power outages.