24 Hours For Improving Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob

When selecting the ideal hob to buy, there are many factors to consider. From price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are essential is vital.

A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice and best hob provide great temperature control, but they're also more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

This Haier stove has four cooking zones, three 'Push&Go" functions and can help you prepare quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with an pause feature, meaning you can stop the process without having to mess around using controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest directly on the worktop.

The controls were simple to operate, and we liked the display which shows the current power level as well as which zone is currently in use. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a brief period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the hot hob light or automatic shut-off are also useful.

However, it's not as responsive to touch as other hobs tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, in contrast to seven or six on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react to changes in temperature. You may need to adjust the settings several times before you get the proper 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 a dual-ring design that can function on both 'normal and boost' power levels. The Boost model is great for frying, searing meat or bringing pots of water to a rapid boil.

It's fully connected through the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 unique programmes split into different food categories ovens and hobs types of preparation. It features a multislider controls panel that has a lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to set the proper 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

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 over the past few years, with basic four-zone models costing 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 that makes your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with an overall diameter of at least 9cm and then automatically selects the appropriate zone.

Smeg's attention to energy savings does not mean that they don't offer flexibility This hob is designed to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking needs. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to save more energy by reducing power output to as low as 2.4kW.

Testers were impressed with this hob's user-friendly interface, with intuitive sliding controls that move along the edges of the hob in order to follow the pan. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see the operating status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are a variety of useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

In addition to this the hob also has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you if there is any risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are also several safety features, including a residual heat indicator as well as an auto switch-off if the surface gets too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains, and has an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. The hob is simple to set up and features nine power levels and the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering for large pans. There are also a number of bonus 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 hobs use copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when a pan is placed on top. This means they can reach temperatures more quickly than gas hobs, and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also less difficult to clean.

This induction hob by Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create the Dual Zone for larger pots and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to the boil quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, lets you cook flawlessly at the touch a button. The controls are simple to use and allow you to select nine power options, including a P boost setting that gives maximum power in each zone for five minutes.

The controls are also easy to use and have an elegant, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up after placing a pan on the Booster zone. However, it took a long time to cool off after we turned off the hob and our testers found it difficult to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also has a bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off system which prevents the hob from operating when it becomes too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and has no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with that. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room via an air duct on the surface. Our experts thought that the duct on this hob was easy to keep clean, although it took two people to take the filter out to change it.

4. Induction Hob from GE

Think about how the hob can be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as the style of cooking you prefer. Induction hobs are an excellent choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. Alternatively, for those who prioritize speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a clean ceramic glass facia is ideal. For those who live in areas prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs in power outages could tip the scales in favour of gas models.