How to Choose the Best Hob
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from price to energy efficiency. Therefore, hobs deciding which features are important is crucial.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost as little as PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with numerous features. Gas hobs are another popular choice, and offer great temperature control, but they're also more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this cooker from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also among the most efficient tests to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It has the child lock as well as a pause function so you can stop the process in a snap without having to fiddle with controls.
Its design is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest directly on the worktop.
The controls are easy to operate and we loved the clear display that informs you the current power settings, and which of the five zones is active. The "Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a brief time. It's ideal for stir-frying and rapidly heating up pans. Safety features like the light on the hot hob and automatic shutoff are beneficial.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. We found it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature in contrast to seven or six on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you change the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings a few times to achieve the correct heat.
This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of it is a half-flex zone that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It features dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal' and 'boost' power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat, searing it or quickly making water come to a quick boil.
It's fully connected via the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes, with cooking instructions and 30 different programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation styles. It comes with a multislider control panel with a "lockable interface' that can identify the type of pan you're using to set the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible 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
Whether you're having work done in your kitchen, or seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped drastically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now available at less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that come with induction it's worth paying more for the most up-to-date technology.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9 cm, allowing you to switch on the appropriate zone without having to select it manually.
Smeg's main focus is on energy efficiency, but it doesn't ignore flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. There are other options to save even more energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 kW.
Testers were impressed by this hob's user-friendly interface that has intuitive controls that slide across the edge of the hob, allowing it to follow the pan. The control panel's color-coded design makes it easy to determine the state of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" function lets you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
Additionally the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you when there is a risk of fire or burnt-on food. There are many safety features like the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.
It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist hard staining and cooking marks. The stove is simple to set up and comes with nine power levels as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are several bonus features, such as lockable controls, and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when a pan is placed on top. This means they can reach a temperature much quicker than conventional gas hobs. They also conserve energy since the cooking area only is heated when you turn on a pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas, and they're easier to clean and that's why they're an extremely popular option.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to help you develop your cooking ideas. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form an Integrated Zone for larger pans as well as the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to the boil quickly. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook perfectly at the touch one button. The controls are simple to use and allow you to select nine power modes, including a P boost setting that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also simple to use and have modern, minimalist designs that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up when we put a pan on the Booster zone. However it took some time to cool off after we shut off the hob and our testers found it difficult to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.
As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off feature that stops the hob from working when it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no flames visible. Our test subjects were pleased with that. Unlike a traditional extractor hood vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct on the surface. Our experts thought the duct of this hob was simple to clean, though it took two people to take the filter to change it.
4. Induction Hob from General Electric
Consider how the stove can work with your kitchen's layout and design as well as what your cooking style is. For instance, if frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features such as an automatic shut-off feature and a cool to the touch surface could make an induction cooker an ideal option. For those who prefer efficiency and speed, an electric hob with a glass face that is wipe-clean is the best ovens choice. Gas hobs are a great option for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.