13 Things You Should Know About Best Hob That You Might Not Have Known
How to Choose the Best Hob
When deciding on the best hob to buy, there are many factors to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are essential is vital.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to shell out more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs, also popular and offer great temperature control but are more expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones with three "Push&Go" functions, and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with the child lock as well as a an pause feature, so you can stop the process quickly without having to mess with controls.
Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features controls that are flush with the worktop to make it easy to 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 active. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a brief period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. 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 tested in this test. We found it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to six or seven on other models. Best place to buy oven and hob takes longer to react when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may need to alter settings several times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
This model is 60cm long and includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. The dual-ring design allows it to operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is perfect for cooking and searing meat, or bringing water pans to a rapid boil.
It's fully connected via the hOn app, and offers hundreds of recipes that include cooking instructions and 30 different programs divided into different food categories and preparation styles. It comes with a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and has a range of security features, including an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a non-gas option. Prices have slashed in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that come with induction it's worth paying more for the latest innovations.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the location of pots that have minimum diameters of 9 cm, allowing you to switch on 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 operating temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to save more energy by reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this hob was a hit with testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. ovens lets you quickly see the status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are plenty of useful features, such as four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.
The hob also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you in the event of a food item being burned or the possibility of a fire. There are other safety features, like a residual heat indicator and an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It also resists hard stains and comes with an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. This hob has nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature for accommodating large pans and is easy to install. There are a few bonus features such as control locks, as well as a safety fuse to prevent accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is placed on top. They are able to heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they use less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas and they are also simpler to clean.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to get creative in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring water to a boil. Push&Go, for example, lets you cook flawlessly by pressing one button. There are nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily set using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to follow your pans.
The controls are simple to operate, and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan when we put it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. However it took a long time to cool down once it was turned off from the hob and our test participants were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also comes with a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven from operating when it becomes too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the glass is easy to clean. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via an air duct that is built into 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 out and change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the hob will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design and the style of cooking you prefer. For example, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off or cool to the touch surface could make an induction stove the best option. Alternatively, for those who value efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is a great choice. Gas hobs are an excellent choice for those who live in areas susceptible to power outages.