How to Choose the Best Hob
When deciding on the best hob to buy there are a lot of aspects to take into account. 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 model with a lot of features. Gas hobs are a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're also more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones, three 'Push&Go" functions and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was also one of the fastest tests to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an option to pause the process, so you can quickly stop the process without having to fiddle around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It is typically made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit flush on the worktop.
The controls are easy to use and we liked the clear display which tells the current power setting and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for just a short period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also useful.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs we tested. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. You may have to adjust the settings multiple times before you get the proper temperature.
This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. It has a dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal and boost' power levels. Boost is ideal for frying and searing meat, or bringing pans of water to the rapid boiling point.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 unique programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. It features a simple multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set the correct cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with various safety features like a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work in your kitchen or seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have plummeted in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a little more.
This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the position of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9 cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without having to manually select it.
Smeg's focus on energy saving does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking preferences. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables 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 simple sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edges of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the status of each zone. The 'Flexi Duo" function lets you connect 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 super-quick results.
In addition to this the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' that warns you when there is a risk of a fire or burnt-on food. There are other safety features, such as a residual heat indicator as well as an auto shut-off feature if 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, the FlexiDuo feature for accommodating large pans and is simple to set up. There are a host of additional features, like lockable controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is set on the 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 less expensive to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features that will allow you to get creative in the cooking. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans and the Booster Zone is quick that can bring water to boil quickly. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook with perfection by pressing the button. Nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to follow your pans.
The controls are easy to operate and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan when we placed it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. However it took an extended time to cool off after it was turned off from the hob and our testers found it difficult to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.
In hobs uk to a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off feature 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 that. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through an air duct on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it required two people to take the filter out.
4. Induction Hob from General Electric
When choosing a new hob take a look at how it fits to your kitchen's style and layout, in addition to your cooking style and lifestyle. Induction hobs are an excellent choice if you cook with children or older people in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the best option. For those who live in areas prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages could tip the scales in favour of a gas model.
