How to Choose the Best Hob
There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are essential is vital.
A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to pay more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs are another popular option and offer excellent temperature control, however they are more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob comes with four cooking zones with three "Push&Go" functions, and will assist you in making quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with a pause function, so you can quickly stop the process without having to fiddle around with controls.
Its style is sleek and contemporary, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features touch controls that sit on top of the worktop to allow for ease of use.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display that informs you the current power settings and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a brief duration, and is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pots of water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the hot hob light and automatic shutoff are useful.
However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to achieve the highest temperature, as opposed to six or seven on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to respond when you change the temperature. You may have to adjust the settings a few times to get the right heat.
The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat while searing it or bring water to a fast boil.
It is fully connected through the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 unique programmes divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It has an intuitive multislider interface and a 'lockable control panel. Additionally, it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set the proper cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn pan sets and comes with a variety of security features, including a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Whether you're having work done on your kitchen or simply searching for a substitute to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models can be found for less that PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that come with induction it's worth the extra cost to get the latest technology.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with a diameter of at least 9 cm and automatically selects the appropriate zone.
Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not mean that they don't offer flexibility - this hob is designed to conserve power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking preferences. There are options to save energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 4 kW.
Testers were impressed with the hob's user-friendly design, with intuitive sliding controls that slide along the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the state of each zone. The 'Flexi Duo" function lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are plenty of useful functions, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting, boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
The hob also has an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a meal that's been burned or the possibility of a fire. There are other safety features, such as a residual heat indicator and an auto switch-off if the surface gets too hot.
It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist hard stains and cooking marks. This hob has nine power levels and the FlexiDuo feature to allow for large pans, and is easy to put in. There are some additional features, such as lockable controls, and a safety fuse to prevent accidental pressing of buttons.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is placed on top. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs, and they use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas, and they are also simpler to clean.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form an Integrated Zone for larger pans and the Booster Zone is quick that can bring water to boil quickly. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go let you cook your food perfectly at the touch of the button. And nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to track the pans.
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 placed it on the Booster Zone and boiling pasta water. It took a while to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also has the bridge function, which allows the user to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It comes with a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off system which prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. In Best place to buy oven and hob 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. Our experts thought this hob's duct was easy to clean, even though it took two people to take the filter out and change it.
4. Induction Hob by GE
When selecting a kitchen appliance, consider how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, and also your cooking style and life. Induction hobs are an excellent choice if you cook with children or older people in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. If you prioritize efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a glass face that is wipe-clean is a great choice. Gas hobs are a great alternative for those living in areas susceptible to power outages.