How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob for your needs there are a variety of factors to consider. From cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as little as PS100, but you'll need to pay more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs are another popular choice, and offer great temperature control, but they're also more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this cooker from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the most efficient on test to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It has the child lock as well as a the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle with controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features control buttons that sit in the same place as the worktop for ease of use.
The controls are intuitive to use and we liked the clear display that tells you the current power settings, and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. The hob's hot light and the automatic shutoff are helpful security features, too.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to achieve the highest temperature, in contrast to seven or six on other models. It takes longer to respond 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 model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. It features a dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal and boost' power levels. It is perfect for cooking meat, searing it or bringing water pans to the rapid boiling point.
It is fully integrated with the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 special programs that are divided into different 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 correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans made by third parties and has several security features, including a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or are looking for a non-gas option. Prices have dropped in the last few years, with basic four-zone models costing less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system, it's worth paying extra to get the latest technology.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the position of pots that have minimum diameters of 9 cm, allowing you to switch on the appropriate 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 save power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking preferences. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to reduce energy consumption by reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.
Testers were awed by this hob's user-friendly interface, with intuitive sliding controls that move along the edges of the hob in order to follow the pan. The color scheme of the control panel allows you to quickly determine the operating status of each zone, while the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are many useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
In addition the hob also has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you if there is any danger of a fire or food that has been burned. There are a variety of safety features like the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist hard marks and stains from cooking. The stove is simple to set up and comes with nine power levels, as well as a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are a host of additional features, like lockable controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when the pan is placed on top. They can heat up much quicker than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are easier to clean making them click here a popular option.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to help you get creative in the cooking. It comes with two distinct zones which can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring the water to a boil. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook perfectly by pressing a button. There are nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected with the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to follow your pans.
The controls are easy to use and have modern, minimalist designs that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan after we put it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. However, it took an extended 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 the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block and an auto switch-off system that stops the appliance from working when it's overheated. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers liked the fact that it's. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room via a duct on the surface. Our experts thought that this hob's duct was easy to clean, though it required two people to take the filter out to change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
Think about how the hob will be able to fit into the layout and design of your kitchen as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For instance, if frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as an automatic shut-off or a cool to the touch surface could make an induction cooker an ideal option. Alternatively, for those who prioritize speed and efficiency, an electric hob with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is ideal. If you live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs during power outages may make the difference in favor of a gas model.