11 Ways To Completely Sabotage Your Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob

There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric hob can cost less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas hobs, also popular and provide excellent temperature control but are more expensive, are a different option.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

This Haier hob comes with four cooking zones, three 'Push&Go" functions, and will aid in cooking quick meals. It was also one of the quickest tested to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to faff around with controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It is typically 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 that informs you the current power settings and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a short period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. The hob's light that is hot and auto shut-off are great security features, too.

It's not as responsive as the other hobs in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature compared with six or seven on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to respond when you change the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings several times to get the right temperature.

This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It has a dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal' and 'boost power levels. It is perfect for cooking and searing meat, or bringing water pans to a rapid boil.

It's fully connected through the hOn app and comes with hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programs that are divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' and can detect the type pan you are using to set the correct cooking mode. It also works with hOn cookware from third-party manufacturers and comes with several security features, including the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free option. Prices have dropped drastically in the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now available at less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it's worth paying a little more.

This sleek-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction tech to keep your cooking efficient and easy. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots that have an overall diameter of at least 9cm and then automatically will activate the appropriate zone.

Smeg's primary focus is on energy efficiency but it doesn't forget the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve power based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to save more energy, reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.

Testers were impressed by the hob's user-friendly design that has intuitive controls that slide across the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's color-coded design makes it easy to determine the status of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" function allows the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, including four automatic cooking presets (melting, boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.

The hob also comes with an alarm system that will notify you when there's a risk of a meal that's been burned or the possibility of a fire. There are also several safety features, like an indicator of residual heat and an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains, and has an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. The hob 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 also a number of bonus features, including control locks and a safety fuse in case of accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They use copper plates to generate an electric force when a pot or pan is placed on them. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs and they also consume less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas, and they're easier to wipe clean too making them a popular choice.

Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to allow you to get creative in the cooking.  ovensandhobs  comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create the Dual Zone for larger pots and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to a boiling point quickly. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go let you create perfectly cooked meals by pressing one 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 along the bottom edge of the hob to follow the pans.

The controls are easy to use and have an elegant, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan after we placed it on the Booster Zone, and boiled pasta water. However, it took some time to cool down after we shut off the hob. Additionally, our testers found it difficult to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.

As well as having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also has a child lock and overheating block and an auto shut-off feature that stops the appliance from working when it's overheated. Our test participants were impressed that there were no visible flames that were messy and messy, and the ceramic glass was easy to wipe clean. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room via a duct on the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, but it required two people to take the filter out.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the stove will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are a good choice if you cook with children or the elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. Alternatively, for those who prioritize speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a glass face that is wipe-clean is ideal. If you live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages could make the difference in favor of gas models.