Don't Buy Into These "Trends" Concerning Best Hob
How to Choose the Best HobThere are lots of factors to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs less than PS100. However you'll need to pay more for one with many features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're also pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this cooker from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with an child lock and pause function so you can stop the process quickly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is modern and sleek it blends seamlessly with modern kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit directly on the worktop.
The controls were easy to use and we appreciated the display which shows the current power level and which zone is in use. The "Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a short time. It is perfect for stir-frying and rapidly boiling pans. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.
However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to achieve the highest temperature, compared with six or seven on other models. It takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may need to alter settings several times before your pan reaches the right heat.
The model in 60 cm comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex zone that 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 and boost' power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing pans of water to a rapid boiling point.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes with cooking instructions and 30 different programmes split into different food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a multislider control panel with a "lockable interface' and can detect the type pan you are using to set the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a variety of safety features, like the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make your cooking efficient and easy. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots that have a diameter of at least 9 cm and then automatically will activate the appropriate zone.
Smeg's focus is on energy efficiency but it doesn't forget the possibility of flexibility. The hob can be adjusted to save energy based on the highest operating temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to save more energy by reducing power output to as low as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its simple sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded design makes it easy to determine the state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are plenty of useful features, such as four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.
The hob also has a FlameSensor which will alert you in the event of a burnt-on meal or the possibility of a fire. There are a variety of safety features such as a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.
It also resists tough stains, and has a protective coating of CleanProtect. The stove is simple to install and comes with nine power levels and the handy FlexiDuo feature that allows catering for large pans. There are a few bonus features like lockable controls, and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is placed on the top. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs, and they use less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas, and they are also simpler to clean.
Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features to help you be creative when cooking. It comes with two distinct zones get more info that can be combined to form the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as an instant booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go lets you create perfectly cooked meals at the touch of one button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to choose nine power options, including the P boost option which gives the highest power to each zone for five minutes.
The controls are easy to operate, and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan once 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 test subjects could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also has an overheating and child lock block and an auto shut-off feature that stops the appliance from working when it's too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no flames visible. 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 through an air duct that is located on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people to take the filter out.
4. Induction Hob from General Electric
When choosing a new hob think about how it will fit to your kitchen's design and layout, in addition to your cooking style and life. For instance, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features like automatic shut-off and cool to the touch surface can make an induction cooker a better choice. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the ideal option. Gas hobs are a great alternative for those living in areas that are susceptible to power outages.