How to Choose the Best Hob
There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as little as PS100, but you'll need to spend more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs, which are also popular and provide excellent temperature control, but are expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this cooker from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only 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 controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary, and works well with modern kitchens. ovens hobs is typically made of glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit in a flush position on the countertop.
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 for a brief period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to the boil quickly. Safety features like the hot hob light or automatic shut-off are also useful.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to reach the highest temperature, as opposed to seven or six on other models. It takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may need to alter settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of it is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It comes with a dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal as well as 'boost' power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing pans of water to a rapid boiling point.
It's fully connected through the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 unique programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation types. It features a multislider controls panel with a "lockable interface' that detects the type pan you are using to set the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and has a range of safety features, like 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 looking for an alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped dramatically in the last few years. Basic four-zone models can be found for less than PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system, it's worth paying extra to get the latest technology.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots that have a diameter of at least 9 cm and automatically activates the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's focus is on energy efficiency 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. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to reduce energy consumption by reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.
Testers were impressed with the user-friendly interface of this hob that has intuitive controls that move along the edges of the hob in order to follow your pan. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to determine the state of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" feature lets the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful functions, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling slow cooking, and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
The oven also comes with an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a food item being burned or a fire. There are other safety features, including a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface is too hot.
It is also resistant to tough stains, and has a CleanProtect protective coating. This hob is easy to set up and comes with nine power levels, as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are several bonus features such as control locks, as well as an emergency fuse to stop accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They make use of copper plates to generate a magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means that they can heat up more quickly than gas hobs. They also conserve energy since the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are simpler to wipe clean too and that's why they're an extremely popular option.
This induction hob from Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to get creative in the kitchen. ovens hobs has two cooking zones that can be combined to form an Integrated Zone for larger pans and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to a boil quickly. A range of automatic functions like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes by pressing the button. Nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow the pans.
The controls are simple to use, and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up when we put an oven in the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, and our testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also has a bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It comes with a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off feature that stops the hob from working when it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there weren't any visible flames that were messy and messy, and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room by a duct on the surface. Our experts thought the duct of this hob was simple to keep clean, although it required two people to take the filter out to change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
When choosing a new hob take a look at how it fits into your kitchen's design and layout, in addition to your cooking style and your lifestyle. Induction hobs are an excellent choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a glass face that is wipe-clean is a great choice. Gas hobs are a good choice for those who live in areas prone to power outages.