How to Choose the Best Hob
When deciding on the best hob , there are many factors to take into consideration. From price to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this hob from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the quickest tests to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to mess around using controls.
Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It's usually made from 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 were simple to operate and we appreciated the display that displays the current power level and the zone that is in use. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a short period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pots of water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also useful.
However, it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs we tested. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you change the temperature. You may have to adjust the settings multiple times to get the right temperature.
This 60 cm model comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex area where two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. It has a dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal as well as 'boost' power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing pans of water to a rapid boil.
It is fully connected to the hOn app and includes hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 special programs divided into various food categories and types of preparation. read full article comes with a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to set the correct cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn pan sets and has a range of safety features, like a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or looking for a non-gas option. Prices have dropped dramatically in the last few years. Basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth paying more for the most up-to-date technology.
This slick-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's focus on energy saving does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to save power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking requirements. There are also options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, with its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's colour scheme allows you to quickly determine the operational status of each zone, while the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are many useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The hob also has a FlameSensor that can alert you when there's a risk of a food item being burned or the possibility of a fire. There are other safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an auto shut-off feature if the surface is too hot.
It also has an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard marks and stains from cooking. The hob is simple to install and features nine power levels as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are some additional features like lockable controls, and a safety fuse to protect against 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 heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas, and they are also less difficult to clean.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to help you be creative when cooking. It has two separate zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a rapid booster zone to quickly bring water to a boil. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook perfectly by pressing the button. The controls are easy to use and let you select nine power modes including a P boost setting that provides maximum power in each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also simple to use and have a modern, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up once we placed an oven in the Booster zone. However it took a long time to cool off after we shut off the hob and our testers found it difficult to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.
Alongside the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the hob from operating when it becomes too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers liked the fact that it's. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room by a duct located on the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people to take the filter out.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the stove will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design and the style of cooking you prefer. Induction hobs are a great choice if you cook with children or the elderly in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the ideal option. Gas hobs are a great option for those who live in areas prone to power outages.