10 Facts About Best Hob That Will Instantly Put You In An Optimistic Mood
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the best hob, from price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are essential is vital.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However, hob and oven will need to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs, which are also popular and offer great temperature control but are more expensive, are another alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob comes with four cooking zones, three "Push&Go" functions and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with a child lock and pause function so you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features touch controls that sit flush with the worktop to make it easy to use.
The controls are intuitive to operate and we loved the clear display that informs the current power setting and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a short time. It's ideal for stir-frying and rapidly heating up pans. The hob's light that is hot and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs we tested in this test. We found it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to respond when you alter the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings a few times to achieve the correct heat.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. The dual-ring design allows it to operate with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is great for cooking meat, searing it or quickly making water come to a quick boiling.
It's fully connected through the hOn app and comes with 100's of recipes, with cooking instructions and 30 different programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. It comes with a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' that detects the type pan you are using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a variety of safety features, like a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Whether you're having work done in your kitchen, or searching for a substitute to gas, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have slashed dramatically over the last few years. Basic four-zone models are now available for less that PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with dimensions of at least 9cm and automatically will activate the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's focus on energy saving does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to conserve power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking needs. There are other options to save energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded design allows you to easily identify the status of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" feature lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, melting slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.
The oven also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you in the event of a food item being burned or a fire. There are many safety features such as a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface gets too hot.
It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist tough stains and cooking marks. This hob is easy to set up and has nine power levels as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature that allows catering for large pans. There are also a variety of bonus features, including locking controls and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electric field when a pan is placed on top. They heat up faster than gas hobs, and they use less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
This induction hob by Indesit is packed with features that allow you to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two separate zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a rapid booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook perfectly by pressing a button. Nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the cooktop to follow the pans.
The controls are simple to operate and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan after we placed 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 and our test participants were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
As well as having a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block and an auto shut-off feature that stops the hob working when it's heated to the point of. Our test participants were impressed that there were no visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass was easy to clean. Ventilated hob s unlike traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room via an air duct that is located on the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, but it required two people to take the filter out.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE
When selecting a hob think about how it will fit into your kitchen's design and layout, and also your cooking style and life. Induction hobs are a great choice if you cook with children or the elderly in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. If you prioritize efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a glass face that is wipe-clean is the best choice. For those who live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may make the difference in favor of gas models.