How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob for your needs there are a lot of aspects to consider. From price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is essential.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost as little as PS100. However you'll have to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs, which are popular and provide excellent temperature control, but are more expensive, are a different option.
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 also among the quickest tested to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It has an child lock and an pause feature, so you can stop the process swiftly without having to fiddle with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest in a flush position on the countertop.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display that informs you the current power setting and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and rapidly bringing pans to boil. 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. best hob uk found it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, as opposed to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer to react when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may have to change settings several times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
This 60 cm model comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex zone where two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pans and pots. It comes with a dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal and boost power levels. The Boost model is great for frying and searing meat, or bringing pots of water to a rapid boil.
It is fully connected through the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 special programs divided into various food categories and types of cooking. It features a multislider controls panel with a 'lockable interface' that can identify the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans made by third-party manufacturers and comes with a number of safety features such as the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work on your kitchen or simply seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that come with induction it's worth the extra cost for the latest innovations.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots with a diameter of at least 9 cm and then automatically selects the appropriate zone.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy efficiency, but it doesn't ignore flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to conserve power based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to save more energy, reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.
Testers were awed by the user-friendly interface of this hob, with intuitive sliding controls that slide along the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The color scheme of the control panel allows you to quickly determine the operating status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to cater for larger pans. There are many useful features, such as four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, melting slow cooking, and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.
The hob also comes with an alarm system that will notify you when there's a risk of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features, including a residual heat indicator as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It is also resistant to hard stains and comes with a CleanProtect protective coating. The hob is simple to set up and comes with nine power levels, as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are also a variety of bonus 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, not gas. They utilize copper plates to generate an electric force when a pot or pan is placed on them. This means they can reach a temperature faster than gas hobs and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only is heated when you turn on the pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas and are easier to clean making them an extremely popular choice.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pots and an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to a boiling point quickly. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go lets you create perfectly cooked meals by pressing one button. There are nine power modes including a 'P-boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which move across the bottom of the cooktop to follow the pans.
The controls are easy to use, and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan when we put it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. It took a while for it to cool down after turning off the hob, and our testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
In addition to 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 an overheating and child lock block, as well as an auto switch-off system that stops the hob working when it's overheated. Our testers appreciated the fact that there were no messy, visible flames and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Unlike a traditional extractor hood, 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. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, but it took two people to take the filter out.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a hob think about how it will fit to your kitchen's style and layout, and also your cooking style and lifestyle. Induction hobs are a great choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. For those who prioritize efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is a great choice. Gas hobs are a great choice for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.