How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob, there are many factors to take into consideration. From price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is essential.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs as little as PS100. However you'll have to pay more for one with many features. Gas hobs are another popular choice, and offer great temperature control, but they're more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob comes with four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go" functions and can assist you in making quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an pause feature, meaning you can stop the process without having to mess around using controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit directly on the worktop.
The controls were easy to operate and we loved the display that shows the current power level and the zone that is active. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a short period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to a boil fast. The hob's hot light and automatic shutdown are useful security features, too.
However it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs we tested. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react to changes in temperature. hobs and ovens is possible to adjust the settings multiple times to get the right heat.
The model in 60 cm has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. Dual-ring design permits it to be operated at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying and searing meat, or bringing pans of water to the rapid boil.
It is fully integrated with the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 unique programs divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface and a 'lockable control panel. Additionally, it is able to automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn sets and has a range of safety features, such as an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work on your kitchen or simply seeking a better alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that include induction, it's worth paying extra for the latest innovations.
This slick-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction tech to keep your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to activate the appropriate zone without having to select it manually.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget 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 reduce energy consumption by reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker was a hit with testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded layout makes it easy to determine the state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" function allows you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful features, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.
The oven also comes with an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a meal that's been burned or an igniting fire. There are many safety features such as a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off if the surface becomes too hot.
It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist tough marks and stains from cooking. This hob has nine power levels as well as an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to allow for large pans, and is easy to install. There are a few bonus features like lockable controls, and an emergency fuse to stop accidental pressing of buttons.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They make use of copper plates to generate an electric force when a pot or pan is placed on them. This means they can reach a temperature faster than gas hobs and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to be creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones which can be combined into the 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 with perfection with the click of one button. The controls are easy to operate and let you select nine power modes, including the P boost option that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are simple to use and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up after placing an oven in the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our test subjects had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also comes with the bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also comes with an overheating and child lock block as well as an auto shut-off feature that stops the appliance from working when it's too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no visible flames. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room through a duct located 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 and change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a kitchen appliance, consider how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and lifestyle. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off or cool to the touch surface could make an induction stove an ideal option. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the best choice. Gas hobs are a good option for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.