How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are essential is vital.
A basic electric ceramic stove could cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to shell out more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs, also well-known and offer excellent temperature control but are more expensive, are another alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go" functions, and can help you prepare quick meals. It was one of the fastest ways to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It comes with a child lock and an pause feature, 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 is typically made of glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit in a flush position on the countertop.
The controls are intuitive to operate and we loved the clear display which tells you the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a brief period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil fast. Safety features like the light on the hot hob and automatic shutoff are beneficial.
It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, compared to seven or six for other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you might have to alter settings multiple times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is perfect for cooking and searing meat, or bringing water pans to the rapid boiling point.
It's fully connected via the hOn app, and offers hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It comes with 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 also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and has a range of safety features, such as the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work in your kitchen, or searching for a substitute to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have slashed in the last few years, with basic four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.
This slick-looking model from Smeg boasts the more info latest induction technology to make your cooking efficient and easy. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with dimensions of at least 9 centimetres and automatically activates the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to save power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking requirements. There are options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.
Testers were impressed with the hob's user-friendly design that has intuitive controls that slide along the edge of the hob to follow the pan. The control panel's color scheme allows you to quickly determine the operational status of each zone, while the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are plenty of useful functions, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
The oven also comes with an alarm system that will notify you when there's a risk of a meal that's been burned or an igniting fire. There are other safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an automatic shut-off when the surface gets too hot.
It also has an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard staining and cooking marks. The hob comes with nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature to accommodate large pans and is simple to set up. There are a host of extra features, including 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 pan or pot is placed on them. This means they can heat up much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only is heated when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are easier to wipe clean too making them a popular choice.
This induction hob 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 the Dual Zone for larger pots and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to a boil quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, lets you cook flawlessly by pressing one button. Nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to track the pans.
The controls are easy to use and have an elegant, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up once we placed an oven in the Booster zone. However it took some time to cool down once we shut off the hob and our testers were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also features the bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has a child lock and overheating block and an auto shut-off feature that stops the hob working when it's too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no visible flames. Our testers were impressed by the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room by an air duct that is located on the surface. Our experts believed that this hob's duct was easy to keep clean, although it took two people to take the filter out to change it.
4. Induction Hob from General Electric
When selecting a kitchen appliance take a look at how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and your lifestyle. Induction hobs are a good choice for cooking with children or the elderly in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who value efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a clean ceramic glass facia is the best choice. Gas hobs are a great alternative for those living in areas that are susceptible to power outages.