How to Choose the Best Hob
When deciding on the best hob to buy there are a variety of factors to take into consideration. From cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this hob from Haier can assist you in making 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 quickly stop the process without having to mess around using controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit in a flush position on the countertop.
The controls are easy to operate and we loved the clear display which tells you the current power settings, and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a brief time. It is ideal for stir-frying and rapidly bringing pans to boil. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may need to alter settings several times before your pan reaches the right heat.
This 60 cm model has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. It comes with a dual-ring design that is able to operate on both normal' and 'boost power levels. It is perfect for cooking and searing meat, or bringing pots of water to the rapid boil.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app and comes with hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and preparation types. It features a simple multislider interface and a 'lockable control panel. Additionally, it will automatically recognize the kind of pan you're using and set the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn cookware from third party companies and has a number of safety features like a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped over the past few years, with basic four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth the extra cost.
This sleek-looking model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. my sources -pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not mean that they don't offer flexibility The hob is built to save power by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking preferences. There are also options to save energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edges of it. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are numerous useful functions including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
The hob also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you in the event of a meal that's been burned or the possibility of a fire. There are many safety features such as a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off if the surface becomes too hot.
It also has a protective CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough staining and cooking marks. The hob is simple to set up and comes with nine power levels as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are some additional features, such as locking controls and a safety fuse to prevent 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 the pan is set on top. This means they can reach a temperature much quicker than conventional gas hobs. They also save energy as the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are simpler to clean and that's why they're a popular option.
This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form an Integrated Zone for larger pans and an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to a boiling point quickly. A range of functions that are automatic like Push&Go allow you to create perfectly cooked meals with the click of a button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to choose nine power modes, including the P boost option that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also simple to operate and feature modern, minimalist designs that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up when we put an oven in the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, and our test subjects were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also has a bridge function, which allows the user to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through an air duct on the surface. Our experts believed that the duct on this hob was easy to clean, even though it took two people to take the filter to change it.
4. Induction Hob by General Electric
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 a good choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a glass face that is wipe-clean is ideal. For those living in regions susceptible to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs during power outages could tilt the balance in favor of gas models.