Nine Things That Your Parent Taught You About Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.

A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you’ll need to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs are another popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they’re pricier.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three functions called ‘Push&Go’, this hob from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with a child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls.

Its style is modern and sleek, blending in well with modern kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit directly on the worktop.

The controls were easy to operate, and we liked the display which shows the current power level and which zone is in use. The ‘Boost’ feature generates high-powered heat for a short duration, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pots of water to a boil quickly. The hot hob light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.

It’s not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, so you might have to alter settings several times before your pan reaches the right heat.

The model measures 60 cm and comes with 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 has a dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal as well as ‘boost power levels. Boost is ideal for frying, searing meat or bringing pots of water to a rapid boiling point.

It’s fully connected through the hOn app, and offers hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface and a ‘lockable’ control panel, plus it is able to automatically detect the type of pan you’re using and set up the correct cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third party companies and has a number of safety features like the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you’re renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free option. Prices have slashed dramatically over the past few years. Basic four-zone models can be found for less than PS100. If you’re looking for the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a little more.

This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology to make cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with an overall diameter of at least 9 cm and then automatically selects the zone that is appropriate.

Smeg’s focus is on energy savings but it doesn’t forget the possibility of flexibility. The hob can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum temperatures of the zones. There are also options to save even more energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.

Testers were impressed by this hob’s user-friendly interface with easy-to-use controls that move along the edge of the hob in order to follow your pan. The control panel’s color scheme helps you quickly identify the status of each zone, and the ‘Flexi Duo’ feature allows you to connect 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.

In addition the hob comes with a ‘FlameSensor’ which alerts you if there is any risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are a variety of safety features, including a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface gets too hot.

It’s also hard-wearing with a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough staining and cooking marks. This model has nine power levels as well as an ‘FlexiDuo feature’ that is perfect for accommodating large pans and is easy to put in. There are also a number of bonus features, including lockable controls and a safety fuse in case of 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 top. This means they can heat up faster than gas hobs and also conserve energy since the cooking area only is heated when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.

Indesit’s induction hob is full of features to help you get creative in the cooking. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans as well as the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to the boil quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, lets you cook flawlessly with the click of a button. There are nine power modes including a ‘P-boost’ setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to follow the pans.

The controls are also easy to use and have a modern, minimalist design that’s perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up when we put a pan on the Booster zone. However, it took an extended time to cool off after we shut off the hob and our test participants were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

In addition to a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It comes with a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off feature that stops the hob from operating when it becomes too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there were no visible flames or flammable substances and the glass is easy to clean. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct on the surface. Our experts thought this hob’s duct was easy to clean, though it required two people to take the filter to change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the hob can work with your kitchen’s layout and design as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features like automatic shut-off and cool to the touch surface could make an induction hob a better option. If you’re looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the best choice. If you live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power outages may tip the scales in favour of gas models.