The Ultimate Guide To Best Hob
How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob to buy there are a lot of aspects to consider. From cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for one with many features. Gas hobs, which are also popular and provide excellent temperature control, but are expensive, are another alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones with three "Push&Go" functions, and can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the quickest on test to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It comes with an child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process swiftly without having to fiddle with controls.
Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has touch controls that sit in the same place as the worktop for ease of use.
The controls were easy to use and we appreciated the display that shows the current power level as well as which zone is in use. The 'Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a brief time. It is perfect for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. Safety features like the light on the hot hob and automatic shutoff are useful.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as other hobs we tested. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, meaning you may have to change settings several times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
This 60 cm model comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex area where two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. The dual-ring design allows it to operate at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is great for cooking meat, searing it or quickly making water come to a quick boiling.
It is fully connected through the hOn app and includes hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 unique programs divided into various food categories and types of cooking. It has a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to set the correct cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans made by third party companies and has a number of safety features such as the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with basic four-zone models costing less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth paying more for the most up-to-date technology.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's attention to energy savings does not mean that they don't offer flexibility The hob is built to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking requirements. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to save more energy, reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded layout allows you to easily identify the status of each zone. The "Flexi duo" feature lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful features, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.
Additionally, the hob has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you when there is a risk of a burning or burning food. There are a variety of safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an auto switch-off if the surface becomes too hot.
It is also resistant to hard stains and comes with a protective coating of CleanProtect. This model has nine power levels as well as the FlexiDuo feature to accommodate large pans and is easy to install. There are a few bonus features, such as 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 utilize copper plates to create an electric force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means that they can reach temperatures faster than gas hobs and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only is heated when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also simpler to clean.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to get creative in the kitchen. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans as well as a rapid Booster zone to bring water to the boil quickly. Push&Go, for example, lets you cook flawlessly with the click of one button. The controls are easy to use and let you select nine power options, including the P boost option that gives maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are easy to operate and feature modern, minimalist designs that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone, and boiled pasta water. However it took a long time to cool down after we turned off the hob. Additionally, our testers were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
In addition to having a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also has a child lock and overheating block as well as an auto shut-off feature that shuts down the hob when it's too hot. hobs and ovens is simple to clean and there are no flames visible. Our test subjects were pleased with that. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room via an air duct that is built into the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, but it took two people to remove the filter.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the stove can fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For example, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features such as automatic shut-off and cool to the touch surface can make an induction cooker the best choice. For those who prioritize efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a glass face that is wipe-clean is ideal. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power outages could tip the scales in favour of gas models.