How to Choose the Best Hob
There are many factors to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as little as PS100, but you'll need to shell out more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs, which are popular and offer great temperature control, but are expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones with three 'Push&Go" functions, and will help you prepare quick meals. It was also among the quickest tested 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 fiddle around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features control buttons that sit flush with the worktop for easy use.
The controls were easy to operate, and we liked the display which shows the current power level and the zone that is active. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for just a short period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to the boil quickly. Safety features like the hob light that is hot or automatic shut-off are also beneficial.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, in contrast to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, so you may have to change settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.
The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It has a dual-ring design that can function on both 'normal as well as 'boost power levels. The Boost model is great for frying, searing meat or bringing water pans to the rapid boil.
It is fully integrated with the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 unique programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set the right cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and comes with a variety 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 on your kitchen or simply looking for an alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped drastically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction tech to keep your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with dimensions of at least 9cm and then automatically will activate the appropriate zone.
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. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to reduce energy consumption by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.
Testers were impressed by this hob's user-friendly interface that has intuitive controls that move along the edge of the hob to follow the pan. The control panel's color scheme helps you quickly identify the operating status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
In addition the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you when there is a risk of a fire or burnt-on food. There are a variety of safety features such as the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off if the surface gets too hot.
It is also resistant to tough stains and features a protective coating of CleanProtect. The hob comes with nine power levels, a 'FlexiDuo feature' for accommodating large pans and is easy to put in. There are also hobs and ovens of extra features, such as locking controls and a safety fuse in case of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is set on the top. This means they can reach temperatures faster than gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that allow you to be creative in the kitchen. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans as well as a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boiling point quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook with perfection with the click of a button. Nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to track your pans.
The controls are also easy to use and have a modern, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone and boiled pasta water. However it took some time to cool off after it was turned off from the hob. Additionally, our testers found it difficult to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.
In hobs oven to having a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block and an auto shut-off feature that stops the hob working when it's too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the ceramic glass was easy to wipe clean. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room through a duct on the surface. Our experts thought this hob's duct was easy to clean, even though it required two people to take the filter out and change it.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric
Think about how the hob can work with your kitchen's layout and design, as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as an automatic shut-off or cool to the touch surface can make an induction cooker a better option. If you prefer efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a glass face that is wipe-clean is ideal. Gas hobs are a good choice for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.