10 Tell-Tale Signals You Should Know To Find A New Best Hob
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from the price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are essential is vital.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs just PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs, also well-known and offer excellent temperature control, but are expensive, are another option.
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 also among the quickest tested to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It has a child lock and pause function so you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is sleek, modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit in a flush position on the countertop.
The controls were simple to use and we appreciated the display that displays the current power level as well as which zone is in use. The 'Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a short time. It is ideal 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 responsive to touch as some other hobs in this test. We found it took nine presses on the control to achieve the highest temperature, compared with six or seven on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react to changes in temperature. You may have to adjust the settings multiple times to achieve the correct temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has 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 operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing pots of water to a rapid boiling point.
It is fully integrated with the hOn App and has hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 special programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a simple multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set the correct cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn pan sets and comes with a variety of safety features, such as a lockable control panel 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, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped in the last few years, with basic four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a little more.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with dimensions of at least 9 cm and then automatically selects the appropriate zone.
Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency doesn't overlook flexibility either The hob is built to reduce power consumption by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking preferences. There are also options to save energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see the operational status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful functions, including four automated cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
Additionally the hob also has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you when there is a risk of burning or burning food. There are a variety of safety features, including an indicator of residual heat and an auto shut-off feature if the surface becomes too hot.
It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to protect it from tough stains and cooking marks. This hob has nine power levels, a 'FlexiDuo feature' to accommodate large pans and is simple to set up. There are also a variety of extra features, like lockable controls and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button pushing.
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. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs, and they also consume less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are easier to wipe clean too making them an extremely popular choice.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to allow you to be creative when cooking. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring boiling water to. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go lets you cook your food perfectly by pressing one button. The controls are simple to operate and let you select nine power options, including the P boost option that gives maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also simple to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up after placing a pan on the Booster zone. It took a while for it to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
Alongside having a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with that. Unlike ovens hobs vented hobs draw heat and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through a duct in the surface. Our experts thought the duct on this hob was easy to keep clean, although it required two people to lift the filter out and change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the stove can work with the layout and design of your kitchen as well as what your cooking style is. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off or a cool to the touch surface can make an induction stove an ideal option. If you're looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the ideal alternative. Gas hobs are a great choice for those who live in areas susceptible to power outages.