How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is essential.
A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as little as PS100 However, you'll need to spend more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs, which are also well-known and offer excellent temperature control but are more expensive, are a different option.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this hob from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was one of the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It has an child lock and pause function so you can stop the process quickly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with control buttons that sit on top of the worktop to allow for ease of use.
The controls are intuitive to operate and we loved the clear display which tells you the current power settings, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a short period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. The hob's hot light and the automatic shutoff are helpful safety features, too.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to achieve the highest temperature, in contrast to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you change the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings a few times before you get the proper temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has 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 comes with dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal' and 'boost power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly bringing water to a rapid boil.
It is fully connected to the hOn App and has hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 unique programs that are divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a multislider controls panel with a "lockable interface' that can identify the type pan you are using to set the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans made by third party companies and has various safety features like a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free option. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the location of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy efficiency but it doesn't forget the possibility of flexibility. The hob can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum temperatures of the zones. There are options to save energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's colour scheme allows you to quickly determine the operating status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
Additionally, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you when there is a danger of a fire or burnt-on food. There are a variety of safety features, like a residual heat indicator and an auto switch-off if the surface is too hot.
It's also hard-wearing with a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard staining and cooking marks. The stove is simple to install and features nine power levels and an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are also a number of extra features, including locking controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They use copper plates to generate magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. hobs oven can heat up much faster than gas hobs, and they use less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas, and they're easier to clean, which makes them a popular choice.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring water to a boil. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook perfectly by pressing the button. The controls are simple to operate and let you select nine power modes, including a P boost setting which gives the highest power in each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also simple to use and have a modern, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up after placing an oven on the Booster zone. However, it took some time to cool off after we turned off the hob. Our testers were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
As well as a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off system which prevents the oven from working if it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room through a duct on the surface. Our experts thought the duct of this hob was simple to clean, though it required two people to lift the filter out to change it.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric
When selecting a kitchen appliance, consider how it fits into your kitchen's design and layout, in addition to your cooking style and life. Induction hobs are a great option if you cook with children or the elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. Alternatively, for those who prioritize speed and efficiency, an electric hob with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is the best choice. Gas hobs are a great choice for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.