How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as little as PS100 however, you'll have to shell out more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs, also popular and offer great temperature control but are more expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this stove from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was also one of the quickest on test to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an option to pause the process, so you can stop the process without having to mess around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features control buttons that sit flush with the worktop for ease of use.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved 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 for a brief period of time. It is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the hob light that is hot or automatic shut-off are also beneficial.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to achieve the highest temperature, as opposed to seven or six on other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you might have to alter settings multiple times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
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 pans or pots. Dual-ring design permits it to operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is great for cooking meat, searing it or quickly making water come to a quick boil.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app and comes with hundreds of recipes that include cooking instructions and 30 different programmes split into different food categories and preparation types. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it can automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the proper cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans made by third party companies and has a number of safety features like the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more.
This slick-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction tech to keep your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically recognises the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's main focus is on energy savings however, it doesn't overlook flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the highest operating temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to save more energy, reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.
Testers were impressed with the user-friendly interface of this hob with easy-to-use controls that slide along the edges of the hob, allowing it to follow the pan. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see the status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The hob also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you when there's ovens uk a risk of a food item being burned or an igniting fire. There are other safety features, like a residual heat indicator as well as an auto shut-off feature if the surface is too hot.
It also has an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough staining and cooking marks. The stove is simple to install and has nine power levels and the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are several bonus features such as locking controls and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They utilize copper plates to create magnetic force when a pot or pan is placed on them. This means they can reach a temperature more quickly than gas hobs, and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas and they are also easier to clean.
This induction hob from Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to be creative in the kitchen. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to form an Integrated Zone for larger pans as well as an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go lets you create perfectly cooked meals by pressing the button. The controls are easy to use and allow you to choose nine power modes including a P boost setting which gives the highest power in each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also easy to use and have modern, minimalist designs that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan when we placed it on the Booster Zone, and boiling pasta water. However it took a long time to cool down after we turned off the hob and our test participants were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
As well as a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an auto shut-off feature that stops the hob working when it's heated to the point of. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any visible flames that were messy and messy, and the glass was easy to clean. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke out of the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, but it took two people to remove the filter.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the hob can work with your kitchen's layout and design and the style of cooking you prefer. For instance, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features such as automatic shut-off and an icy to the touch surface could make an induction hob the best option. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the ideal option. Gas hobs are a great option for those who live in areas prone to power outages.