How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob for your needs, there are many factors to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are essential is vital.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs just PS100. However, you will need to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice, and offer great temperature control, however they are more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this hob from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also among the most efficient on test to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It comes with the child lock as well as a the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process in a snap without having to mess with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit in a flush position on the countertop.
The controls were simple to operate and we loved the display which shows the current power level and which zone is active. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a brief period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pans of water to the boil quickly. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shut-off are also useful.
It's not as responsive as other hobs in this test. We found it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, in contrast to seven or six on other models. It takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, so you may need to alter settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. It features dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal and boost' power levels. Boost is ideal for frying and searing meat, or bringing pans of water to the rapid boiling point.
It's fully connected via the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 special programmes split into different food categories and types of preparation. It has a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' and can detect the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and comes with a variety of safety features, such as an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work on your kitchen or simply looking for an alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have slashed dramatically over the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now available for less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that include induction, it's worth paying extra for the latest innovations.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically recognises the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.
best hobs on energy saving does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to save power by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking needs. There are also best hobs to save even more energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, with its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan along the edges of it. The control panel's colour scheme lets you quickly see the status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are numerous useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
In addition to this the hob also has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you if there is any danger of a fire or burnt-on food. There are many safety features, including a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface is too hot.
It also resists tough stains and features a protective coating of CleanProtect. The hob is simple to install and has nine power levels and an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are several bonus features, such as control locks, as well as an emergency fuse to stop accidental pressing of buttons.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is placed on the top. This means that they can reach temperatures much quicker than conventional gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only is heated when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to run 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 be creative in the kitchen. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boiling point quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook with perfection by pressing the button. The controls are simple to operate and allow you to choose nine power modes including a P boost setting that provides maximum power to each zone for five minutes.
The controls are simple to use, and the minimalist design is perfect for modern kitchens. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone and boiling pasta water. It took a while for it to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. oven uk has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven from operating when it becomes too hot. Our testers appreciated the fact that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. In contrast 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. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, but it took two people in order to remove the filter.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric
When selecting a kitchen appliance think about how it will fit to your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and your lifestyle. Induction hobs are a good choice if you cook with children or older people in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. Alternatively, for those who prefer speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is a great choice. For those living in regions that are prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tip the scales in favour of gas models.