12 Stats About Best Hob To Make You Look Smart Around The Cooler. Cooler
How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob there are a lot of aspects to consider. From price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are essential is vital.
A basic electric ceramic stove could cost as low as PS100, but you'll need to pay more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're also more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this stove from Haier can assist you in making 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 option to pause the process, so you can stop the process without having to mess around using controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary, and works well with modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with controls that are on top of the worktop to allow for easy use.
The controls were easy to operate and we loved the display that displays the current power level and the zone that is active. The 'Boost" feature produces powerful heat in a short time. It is perfect to stir fry and speedily boiling pans. Safety features like the hot hob light and automatic shutoff are beneficial.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs we tested. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, as opposed to seven or six for other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may have to change settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.
This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. Dual-ring design permits it to operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. hobs oven is ideal for frying, searing meat or bringing pans of water to the rapid boil.
It's fully connected via the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes, with cooking instructions and 30 different programs that are divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It has a multislider control panel with a "lockable interface' and can detect the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn cookware from third-party manufacturers and comes with a number of security features, including the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth paying more for the latest innovations.
This sleek-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction tech to keep your cooking efficient and easy. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots with a diameter of at least 9cm and automatically will activate the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's focus is on energy savings however, it doesn't overlook flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to save energy based on the highest temperatures that the zones can operate at. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to reduce energy consumption by reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.
Testers were awed by the hob's user-friendly design that has intuitive controls that move along the edge of the hob to follow the pan. The control panel's color-coded layout allows you to easily identify the status of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" function allows the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.
Additionally, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you when there is a risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are also several safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.
It also resists tough stains and features a protective coating of CleanProtect. The hob comes with nine power levels and the FlexiDuo feature to allow for large pans, and is easy to install. There are several bonus features like locking controls and a safety fuse to prevent accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They use copper plates to create magnetic force when a pot or pan is placed on them. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs, and they also use less energy since the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to be creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones which can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring water to a boil. A variety of automated functions like Push&Go allow you to create perfectly cooked meals with the click of the button. The controls are simple to operate and allow you to select nine power modes including a P boost setting that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are simple to use and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up once we placed an oven on the Booster zone. It took a while to cool down after turning off the hob, and the testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also features a bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones for larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and overheating block as well as an auto shut-off feature that stops the appliance from working when it's too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room via a duct on the surface. Our experts thought this hob's duct was easy to clean, even though it required two people to lift the filter out to change it.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE
When selecting a kitchen appliance think about how it will fit into your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and life. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off feature and an icy to the touch surface may make an induction stove a better option. Alternatively, for those who value speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a clean ceramic glass facia is ideal. If you live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages may tip the scales in favour of gas models.