How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob, there are many factors to take into account. From best ovens and hobs to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is crucial.
A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to shell out more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs, also popular and provide excellent temperature control, but are more expensive, are another alternative.
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 quickest tests to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to fiddle around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit flush on the worktop.
The controls are intuitive to use, and we appreciated the clear display which tells you the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. The hot hob light and the automatic shutoff are helpful security features, too.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs in this test. We found it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. It is possible 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 that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It features a dual-ring design that is able to operate on both normal as well as 'boost power levels. The Boost model is great for frying and searing meat, or bringing pans of water to a rapid boiling point.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app, and offers hundreds of recipes that include cooking instructions and 30 different programs that are divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It features a simple multislider interface and a 'lockable' control panel, plus it can automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn cookware from third party companies and has a number of security features, including the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Whether you're having work done in your kitchen, or searching for a substitute to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have slashed dramatically over the last few years. Basic four-zone models are now available at 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 model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to select the correct zone without having to manually select it.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy efficiency, but it doesn't ignore flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the highest temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are other options to save energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 2 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The control panel's colour scheme lets you quickly see the status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful functions, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.
The hob also has an alarm system that will notify you when there's a risk of a food item being burned or a fire. There are several safety features, including a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off if the surface is too hot.
It also resists hard stains and comes with a protective coating of CleanProtect. The stove is simple to set up and features nine power levels as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering for large pans. There are a few bonus features like lockable controls, and an emergency fuse to stop accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is placed on top. They heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they also consume less energy since the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on your 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 full of features that make it easy to be creative in the kitchen. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook perfectly at the touch the button. The controls are easy to use and let you select nine power options, including the P boost option that gives maximum power in each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also easy to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan when we placed it on the Booster Zone, and boiling pasta water. It took a while to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our testers 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 for larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and overheating block as well as an auto switch-off system that shuts down the hob when it's too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers liked that. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room by an air duct that is located on the surface. Our experts thought that the duct of this hob was simple to clean, though it took two people to take the filter out to change it.
4. Induction Hob by GE
Consider how the hob will fit into your kitchen's layout and design, as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For instance, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features such as automatic shut-off and a cool to the touch surface could make an induction hob a better option. Alternatively, for those who prioritize speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is ideal. If you live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power cuts may make the difference in favor of a gas model.