How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob to buy there are a variety of factors to consider. From price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs less than PS100. However you'll have to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs, which are popular and offer great temperature control but are more expensive, are another option.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go" functions, and can help you prepare quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an pause feature, meaning you can stop the process without having to faff around using controls.
Its design is modern and sleek, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has touch controls that sit flush with the worktop for easy use.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display which tells you the current power setting and which of the five zones is active. The "Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a brief time. hobs uk is perfect for stir-frying and quickly boiling pans. 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. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings several times to achieve the correct heat.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It features a dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal and boost power levels. It is great for cooking meat while searing it or bringing water to a rapid boiling.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app and boasts hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. It has an intuitive multislider interface and a 'lockable control panel. In addition, it will automatically recognize the type of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and has a range of safety features, such as a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free alternative. Prices have slashed dramatically over the last few years. The basic four-zone models can be found for less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that come with induction it's worth the extra cost for the most up-to-date technology.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction technology to make your cooking efficient and easy. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots with minimum diameters of 9 cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without having to manually select it.
best hobs uk is on energy savings, but it doesn't ignore the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to save energy based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are other options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.
Testers were impressed with the hob's user-friendly design, with intuitive sliding controls that move across the edge of the hob, allowing it to follow the pan. The control panel's color-coded design allows you to easily identify the state of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" feature lets the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, such as four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.
The hob also has a FlameSensor which will alert you in the event of a meal that's been burned or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features such as a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface gets too hot.
It also resists tough stains, and has an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. This hob is easy to install and features nine power levels, as well as a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are also a variety of extra features, including lockable controls and a safety fuse in case of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when a pan is placed on top. They heat up faster than gas hobs and they also use less energy because the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also less difficult to clean.
This induction hob from Indesit is packed with features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. The Push&Go feature, for instance, lets you cook flawlessly by pressing the button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to select nine power modes, including the P boost option that gives maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also easy to use and have modern, minimalist designs that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up when we put an oven on the Booster zone. However, it took an extended time to cool down once we turned off the hob. Our test participants were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also has the bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has an overheating and child lock block, as well as an auto switch-off system that stops the appliance from working when it's overheated. 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 in contrast to traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room by an air duct that is located on the surface. hob uk thought the duct on this hob was easy to clean, though it required two people to take the filter to change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the hob will be able to fit into the layout and design of your kitchen as well as what your cooking style. Induction hobs are a good choice if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the ideal choice. For those who live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages could make the difference in favor of gas models.