How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the best ovens hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs just PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs are another popular choice and hobs And ovens provide great temperature control, but they're more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob and oven has four cooking zones with three 'Push&Go" functions and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was among the fastest ways to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It has the child lock as well as a an pause feature, so you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern, blending in well with modern kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features controls that are in the same place as the worktop to make it easy to use.
The controls were easy to operate and we appreciated the display which shows the current power level and which zone is currently in use. The "Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a brief time. It's ideal to stir fry and speedily heating up pans. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great security features, too.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to achieve the highest temperature, as opposed to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may need to alter settings multiple times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
This 60 cm model comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex zone where two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing water pans to the rapid boiling point.
It is fully connected to 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 comes with a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' that detects the type pan you are using to set the correct cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn pan sets and comes with a variety of safety features, like an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free option. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the position of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency doesn't overlook flexibility either The hob is built to reduce power consumption by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking preferences. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to conserve more energy, reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The control panel's color-coded layout allows you to easily identify the state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" function lets the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The hob also comes with an alarm system that will notify you in the event of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features, including a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface is too hot.
It's also hard-wearing with a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough staining and cooking marks. This hob has nine power levels and a 'FlexiDuo feature' to allow for large pans, and is easy to put in. There are also a number of additional features, like control locks and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when a pan is placed on top. They can heat up much quicker than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas and they are also simpler to clean.
Indesit's induction hob is full of features to allow you to be creative when cooking. It has two separate zones that can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring boiling water to. A range of automatic functions like Push&Go allow you to cook your food perfectly at the touch of one button. The controls are easy to use and allow you to choose nine power modes, including the P boost option that provides maximum power in each zone for five minutes.
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 once we put it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. It took a while to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our test subjects could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also comes with a bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones for larger pans. It also has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the hob from working when it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no visible flames. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room via an air duct that is located on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people to remove the filter.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the stove will fit into your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style is. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as an automatic shut-off feature and cool to the touch surface could make an induction stove the best choice. Alternatively, for those who prefer speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is ideal. Gas hobs are a great alternative for those living in areas that are susceptible to power outages.