How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are important is essential.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost just PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with numerous features. Gas hobs, also popular and provide excellent temperature control, but are expensive, are a different option.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones, three 'Push&Go" functions, and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was also one of the quickest tested to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It comes with an child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process in a snap without having to mess with controls.
Its design is modern and sleek, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with control buttons that sit on top of the worktop to allow for ease of use.
The controls are intuitive to use and we liked the clear display which tells the current power setting, and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a short period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pots of water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the hot hob light and automatic shutoff are useful.
However it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs tested in this test. We observed 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 respond to changes in temperature. You may need to adjust the settings multiple times before you get the proper heat.
This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It features dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal as well as 'boost power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat and searing it, or bring water to a fast boil.
It is fully connected through the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 unique programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface and a 'lockable' control panel, plus it is able to automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and has a range of security features, including the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free option. Prices have plummeted in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.
This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically recognises the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to activate the appropriate zone without having to select it manually.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings however, it doesn't overlook the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to save power based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are other options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to determine the status of each zone. The 'Flexi Duo" function lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
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 other safety features, including a residual heat indicator and an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It also resists tough stains, and has a protective coating of CleanProtect. This hob has nine power levels and a 'FlexiDuo feature' for accommodating large pans and is easy to install. There are a host of extra features, like 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 hob s make use of copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is placed on the top. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs and they use less energy since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are easier to wipe clean too making them an extremely popular choice.
This induction hob from Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form an Integrated Zone for larger pans as well as a rapid Booster zone to bring water to the boiling point quickly. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook perfectly with the click of the button. There are nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to follow the pans.
The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up when we put an oven on the Booster zone. However it took some time to cool off after it was turned off from the hob and our testers were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also features a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It comes with a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the hob from working if it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there were no visible flames or flammable substances and the glass was easy to clean. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room via an air duct that is located on the surface. Our experts thought the duct on this hob was easy to clean, even though it required two people to take the filter to change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
Think about how the hob will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design 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 like automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the ideal option. Gas hobs are a great option for those who live in areas susceptible to power outages.