How to Choose the Best Hob
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best oven hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is crucial.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas ovens hobs, which are popular and offer great temperature control, but are more expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones with three 'Push&Go" functions, and will aid in cooking quick meals. It was among the fastest ways to boil water in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with an option to pause the process, so you can stop the process without having to fiddle around with the controls.
Its design is modern and sleek and blends well with modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has touch controls that sit in the same place as the worktop for easy use.
The controls were easy to use and we appreciated the display that shows the current power level and the zone that is in use. The "Boost" feature creates powerful heat in a short time. It is perfect to stir fry and speedily heating up pans. Safety features such as the hob light that is hot and automatic shutoff are useful.
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 six or seven on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to respond to changes in temperature. You may have to adjust the settings a few times before you get the proper heat.
This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is great for cooking meat while searing it or making water come to a quick boiling.
It is fully connected through the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 special programs that are divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a multislider controls panel with a "lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a variety of security features, including a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs and ovens have become increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free option. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a little more.
This slick-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology that makes your cooking efficient and easy. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's focus on energy saving 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 the power output to as low as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this hob (check out this site) impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded layout allows you to easily identify the state of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" function allows you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The hob also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you if there's a danger of a food item being burned or an igniting fire. There are many safety features, including a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.
It also resists tough stains, and has an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. The hob comes with nine power levels and a 'FlexiDuo feature' to accommodate large pans and is simple to set up. There are a host of extra features, including lockable controls and a safety fuse in case of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create a magnetic field when a pan is placed on top. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs, and they use less energy since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas, and they are also simpler to clean.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to help you develop your cooking ideas. It has two separate zones which can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. A variety of automated functions such as Push&Go lets you achieve perfectly cooked dishes at the touch of one button. There are nine power modes, including a 'P boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the hob to track the pans.
The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up once we placed an oven in the Booster zone. However, it took an extended time to cool down once we shut off the hob. Additionally, our testers were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
Alongside a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It comes with a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the hob from working when it gets too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers liked that. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room through a duct located on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, but it took two people in order to take the filter out.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a kitchen appliance, consider how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, in addition to your cooking style and life. Induction ovens hobs are a great choice for cooking with children or older people in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. Alternatively, for those who prefer efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is ideal. Gas hobs are an excellent choice for those who live in areas susceptible to power outages.