The Worst Advice We've Heard About 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. Decide what features are most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob could cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to pay more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs are a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this hob from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also one of the most efficient on test to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It has the child lock as well as a pause function so you can stop the process quickly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary, and works well with contemporary kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features touch controls that sit in the same place as the worktop for ease of use.
The controls are simple to use and we liked the clear display that tells you the current power setting and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a brief period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to the boil quickly. The hot hob light and automatic shutdown are useful security features, too.
However, it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature in contrast to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings multiple times before you get the proper temperature.
This 60 cm model includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pans and pots. It has a dual-ring design that can function on both 'normal' and 'boost' power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boiling.
It is fully integrated with the hOn app and includes hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 unique programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' and can detect the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with various safety features like 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 slashed in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it is worth the extra cost.
This slick-looking model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction technology to make your cooking efficient and easy. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without having to manually select it.
Smeg's focus is on energy efficiency however, it doesn't overlook the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve power based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. There are also options to save even more energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 kW.
Best ovens UK were impressed by the hob's user-friendly design that has intuitive controls that slide across the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the status of each zone. The 'Flexi Duo" function lets you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions, including four automated cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
The oven also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you if there's a danger of a food item being burned or the possibility of a fire. There are several safety features like a residual heat sensor and an automatic switch-off when the surface is too hot.
It is also resistant to hard stains and comes with a CleanProtect protective coating. This hob is easy to set up and features nine power levels and a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are several bonus features such as lockable controls, and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create a magnetic field when a pan is placed on the top. They can heat up much quicker than gas hobs, and they use less energy because the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas, and they're easier to wipe clean too and that's why they're an extremely popular choice.
Indesit's induction hob is full of features to help you develop your cooking ideas. It comes with two distinct zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. Push&Go, for example, lets you cook flawlessly with the click of a button. And nine power modes that include a 'P boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to follow the pans.
The controls are also simple to use and have a modern, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up after placing an oven on the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, and our test subjects could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It comes with a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the hob from operating when it becomes too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and has no flames visible. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room via an air duct that is located on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it required two people in order to remove the filter.
4. Induction Hob from General Electric
When selecting a kitchen appliance think about how it will fit into your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and lifestyle. Induction hobs are a good option if you cook with children or older people in mind. They are equipped with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. For those who prefer efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a clean ceramic glass facia is the best choice. For those living in regions susceptible to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs during power outages may make the difference in favor of gas models.