How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob for your needs there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are essential is vital.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs are another popular choice, and offer great temperature control, however they are pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones, three "Push&Go" functions, and will help you prepare quick meals. It was also among the most efficient tested to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to mess around with controls.
Its design is sleek, 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 were easy to operate and we loved the display that shows the current power level and which zone is currently in use. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a brief period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to the boil quickly. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.
However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs we tested. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, in comparison to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react to changes in temperature. You may need to adjust the settings several times before you get the proper heat.
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 pans or pots. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly making water come to a quick boiling.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation styles. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface as well as a lockable control panel. In addition, it will automatically recognize the kind of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It also works with hOn cookware from third parties and has various security features, including 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 dropped dramatically in the past few years. Basic four-zone models can be found for less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it is worth the extra cost.
This sleek-looking model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the location of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to activate the appropriate zone without having to manually select it.
Smeg's focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve power based on the maximum temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to conserve more energy by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.
ovens -friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see 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 cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.
The hob also comes with an alarm system that will notify you in the event of a food item being burned or a fire. There are a variety of safety features, including a residual heat indicator as well as an auto shut-off feature if the surface gets too hot.
It also resists tough stains, and has a CleanProtect protective coating. This hob has nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature for accommodating large pans and is simple to set up. There are some additional features, such as locking controls and an emergency fuse to stop accidental pressing of buttons.
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. This means they can reach temperatures faster than gas hobs, and also conserve energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also less difficult to clean.
Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features that will allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to form an Integrated Zone for larger pans as well as an accelerated Booster zone that can bring water to boiling point quickly. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook perfectly at the touch the button. There are nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily set using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to track your pans.
The controls are easy to use and have an elegant, minimalist design that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up once we placed an oven on the Booster zone. However, it took an extended time to cool down after we shut off the hob and our testers found it difficult to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also comes with the bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and overheating block, as well as an auto switch-off system that stops the hob working when it's heated to the point of. Our testers appreciated the fact that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the glass was easy to clean. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is built into the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people in order to take the filter out.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a kitchen appliance take a look at how it fits to your kitchen's style and layout, in addition to your cooking style and life. Induction hobs are a great option if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who prefer speed and efficiency, an electric hob with a glass face that is wipe-clean is a great choice. Gas hobs are an excellent choice for those who live in areas susceptible to power outages.