How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob there are a variety of factors to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are important is essential.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs just PS100. However you'll have to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs, also well-known and offer excellent temperature control but are more expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones, three 'Push&Go" functions, and can help you prepare quick meals. It was also among the fastest on test to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It comes with an child lock and an pause feature, so you can stop the process in a snap without having to mess with controls.
Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with controls that are on top of the worktop to allow for ease of use.
The controls are easy to use, and we appreciated the clear display that informs the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a brief time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly boiling pans. The hob's hot light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to seven or six on other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the cooking temperature, so you may have to change settings several times before the pan reaches the right heat.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. It features a dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal as well as 'boost power levels. It is perfect for cooking, searing meat or bringing pots of water to a rapid boil.
It's fully connected through the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and preparation types. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface and a 'lockable' control panel, plus it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans from third parties and has several safety features like the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free option. Prices have dropped 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 comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots that have an overall diameter of at least 9cm and automatically selects the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are options to save even more energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 2 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. best oven allows you to quickly determine the status of each zone, while the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful functions, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
The hob also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you when there's a risk of a meal that's been burned or the possibility of a fire. There are a variety of safety features, including a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface gets too hot.
It also has an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard stains and cooking marks. This model has nine power levels, a 'FlexiDuo feature' to accommodate large pans and is easy to install. There are also a number of extra features, such as locking controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is placed on top. They heat up faster than gas hobs, and they also use less energy since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas and are simpler to clean and that's why they're a popular option.
Indesit's induction hob is full of features to allow you to get creative in the cooking. It comes with two distinct zones which can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go lets you cook your food perfectly at the touch of a button. There are nine power modes that include a 'P boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily set using the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to follow your pans.
The controls are simple to use, and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up when we put a pan on the Booster zone. It took a while to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
In addition to having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven from working if it gets too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers liked the fact that it's. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room via an air duct that is built into the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, however it required two people 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, and also your cooking style and life. Induction hobs are a good choice for cooking with children or the elderly in mind. They come with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the best alternative. Gas hobs are a good choice for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.