How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob for your needs there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are important is crucial.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost just PS100. However you'll have to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs are a popular choice, and offer great temperature control, but they're more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this cooker from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It comes with the child lock as well as a the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is modern and sleek it blends seamlessly with modern kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has control buttons that sit flush with the worktop for ease of use.
The controls were simple to use and we loved the display which shows the current power level and the zone that is in use. The 'Boost" feature creates powerful heat in a short time. It is perfect for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. The hob's light that is hot and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.
However it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature compared with six or seven on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you change the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings several times before you get the proper heat.
This model is 60cm long and includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two areas can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. It comes with a dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal and boost' power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat and searing it, or making water come to a quick boiling.
It's fully connected via the hOn app and boasts hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and preparation types. It comes with a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' and can detect the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a variety of security features, including the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
If you're working in your kitchen, or looking for an alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with basic four-zone models available for less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth the extra cost to get the latest technology.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots with dimensions of at least 9 cm and then automatically selects the appropriate zone.
Smeg's attention to energy savings does not mean that they don't offer flexibility The hob is built to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking requirements. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to reduce energy consumption by reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.
Testers were awed by the hob's user-friendly design that has intuitive controls that move across the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's color scheme lets you quickly see the status of each zone, while the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are plenty of 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 also has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you if there is any risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are other safety features, including a residual heat indicator as well as an auto shut-off feature if the surface is too hot.
It's also hard-wearing with an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard marks and stains from cooking. This model has nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature to allow for large pans, and is easy to install. There are also a number of extra features, like control locks and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create an electric field when a pan is placed on the top. They heat up faster than gas hobs, and they also consume less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas and are easier to wipe clean too making them an extremely popular option.
Indesit's best hob uk induction stove is packed full of features that will allow you to get creative in the cooking. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone that can bring water to boiling point quickly. A variety of automated functions such as Push&Go let you achieve perfectly cooked dishes at the touch of one button. The controls are simple to operate and allow you to select nine power options, including a P boost setting that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are simple to use, and the minimalist design is perfect for modern kitchens. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan once we put it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. However, it took some time to cool down after we shut off the hob. Additionally, our testers were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
As well as having a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off feature that stops the hob from working when it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there were no messy, visible flames and the glass was easy to clean. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. Our experts thought that the duct on this hob was easy to clean, even though it took two people to lift the filter to change it.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE
When choosing a new hob, consider how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and life. Induction hobs are a great choice for cooking with children or older people in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. For those who prefer efficiency and speed, an electric hob with a clean ceramic glass facia is the best choice. For those who live in areas prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs during power cuts may tilt the balance in favor of a gas model.