10 Things That Your Family Taught You About Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob

There are a lot of aspects to take into consideration when selecting the best oven uk hob [talks about it], from the price to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.

A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as little as PS100 however, you'll have to spend more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs, Hobs And ovens also popular and offer great temperature control but are more expensive, are a different option.

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 among the quickest tested to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It comes with an child lock and pause function so you can stop the process swiftly without having to fiddle with controls.

Its design is sleek and contemporary, blending in well with modern kitchens. It is typically made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest in a flush position on the countertop.

The controls were simple to operate and we appreciated the display which shows the current power level as well as which zone is in use. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for just a short period of time. It is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to the boil quickly. The hot hob light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.

However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs we tested. We found that it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, in contrast to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer to react when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may need to alter settings several times before the pan reaches the right heat.

The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of it is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. The dual-ring design allows it to operate at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is perfect for cooking and searing meat, or bringing pans of water to a rapid boiling point.

It's fully integrated with the hOn app and comes with 100's of recipes with cooking instructions and 30 different programmes split into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a multislider controls panel that has a lockable interface' and can detect the type of pan you're using to set the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn sets and has a range of safety features, like the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Whether you're having work done on your kitchen or simply looking for an alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have slashed in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that come with induction, it's worth paying extra for the most up-to-date technology.

This slick-looking model from Smeg features the latest induction tech to keep your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots that have dimensions of at least 9 cm and automatically selects the appropriate zone.

Smeg's focus is on energy efficiency however, it doesn't overlook the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to save energy based on the highest operating temperatures of the zones. There are other options to save even more energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.

Testers were awed by the hob's user-friendly design with easy-to-use controls that slide along the edges of the hob to follow your pan. The control panel's colour scheme helps you quickly identify the operating status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.

In addition to this the hob comes with 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 a residual heat sensor and an automatic shut-off if the surface gets too hot.

It also resists hard stains and comes with a CleanProtect protective coating. This hob has nine power levels and a 'FlexiDuo feature' for accommodating large pans and is easy to put in. There are a few bonus features like control locks, as well as a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electric field when a pan is placed on the top. They heat up faster than gas hobs and they also use less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas and they are also easier to clean.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone for larger pots and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to a boiling point quickly. Push&Go, for example, lets you cook flawlessly at the touch a button. Nine power modes including a 'P-boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected with the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to track the pans.

The controls are also simple to use and have an elegant, minimalist design that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan when we placed it on the Booster Zone and boiling pasta water. However it took a long time to cool down once we shut off the hob. Our testers were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also comes with a bridge function that allows the user to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off system which stops the hob from working if it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room by an air duct that is located on the surface. Our experts believed that the duct on this hob was easy to clean, though it took two people to lift the filter to change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

When choosing a new hob, consider how it fits to your kitchen's style and layout, and also your cooking style and life. For instance, if frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off or cool to the touch surface could make an induction stove a better choice. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the best hob alternative. For those living in regions prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs during power outages could make the difference in favor of a gas model.