How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob to buy there are a variety of factors to take into consideration. From price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is crucial.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs just PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs, which are popular and offer great temperature control but are more expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones and three "Push&Go" functions, and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It has an child lock and an pause feature, so you can stop the process in a snap without having to fiddle with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has touch controls that sit on top of the worktop to allow for ease of use.
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 active. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a brief period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also useful.
However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to reach the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the cooking temperature, so you might have to alter settings several times before the pan reaches the right heat.
The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It comes with dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal' and 'boost' power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat and searing it, or making water come to a quick boiling.
It is fully connected to the hOn App, and offers hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 different programs that are divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a simple multislider interface as well as a lockable' control panel, plus it is able to automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the proper cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn pan sets and has a range of safety features, such as an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or searching for a non-gas option. Prices have slashed dramatically over the past few years. The basic four-zone models can be found at less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a little more.
This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots that have minimum diameters of 9 cm, allowing you to switch on the appropriate zone without having to select it manually.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget the possibility of flexibility. The hob can be adjusted to conserve power based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. There are options to save even more energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.
Testers were awed by this hob's user-friendly interface that has intuitive controls that move along the edge of the hob in order to follow your pan. The control panel's color-coded layout makes it easy to identify the state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" feature lets you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful functions including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The hob also has a FlameSensor that can alert you when there's a risk of a food item being burned or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features, like an indicator of residual heat and an auto switch-off if the surface becomes too hot.
It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist hard stains and cooking marks. The hob comes with nine power levels as well as a 'FlexiDuo feature' for accommodating large pans and is easy to put in. There are also a variety of bonus features, like locking controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They use copper plates to generate magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They can heat up much quicker than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to be creative in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone ovens and hobs to quickly bring the water to a boil. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook with perfection at the touch one button. The controls are simple to use 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 operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan when we put it on the Booster Zone and boiling pasta water. It took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our test subjects could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
In addition to a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off system which stops the hob from working if it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the glass was easy to wipe clean. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is built into the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it required two people in order to remove the filter.
4. GE Induction Hob
Think about how the hob can fit into the layout and design of your kitchen, as well as what your cooking style. Induction hobs are an excellent choice if you cook with children or the elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. If you value speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. For those who live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tilt the balance in favor of gas models.