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How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob to buy there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are essential is vital.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost just PS100. However you’ll have to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they’re also pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones and three ‘Push&Go” functions, and will aid in cooking quick meals. It was also one of the most efficient tests to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It’s child lock-compatible and features a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to mess around with the controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit in a flush position on the countertop.
The controls were simple to use and we appreciated the display which shows the current power level and the zone that is active. The ‘Boost’ feature creates high-powered heat for a brief duration, and is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pots of water to a boil quickly. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great security features, too.
It’s not as responsive as the other hobs we tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, in comparison to six or seven for other models. It takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, so you may need to alter settings multiple times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper 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. The dual-ring design allows it to operate at both “normal” and “boost” power levels. It is great for cooking meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boiling.
It is fully integrated with the hOn App and has 100’s of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 different programmes divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It has a multislider control panel with a “lockable interface’ that can identify the type pan you are using to set the proper cooking mode. It also works with hOn cookware from third parties and has a number of safety features such as the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are 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 sold for less that PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it is worth paying a little more.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to activate the appropriate zone without having to select it manually.
Smeg’s focus on energy saving does not mean that they don’t offer flexibility The hob is built to save power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking needs. There are other options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 2 kW.
Testers were impressed with this hob’s user-friendly interface that has intuitive controls that slide across the edge of the hob in order to follow your pan. The control panel’s color-coded layout makes it easy to identify the state of each zone. The “Flexi duo” function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.
The oven also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you when there’s a risk of a food item being burned or a fire. There are several safety features like the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off if the surface becomes too hot.
It’s also hard-wearing with the CleanProtect coating that is designed to protect it from tough stains and cooking marks. This hob has nine power levels and an ‘FlexiDuo feature’ that is perfect for accommodating large pans and is easy to install. There are some additional features such as lockable controls, and a safety fuse to prevent accidental pressing of buttons.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create a magnetic field when a pan is placed on top. This means that they can reach a temperature faster than gas hobs, and also conserve energy since the cooking zone only is heated when you turn on a pan. They’re generally cheaper to run than gas and are simpler to wipe clean too making them a popular choice.
Indesit’s induction hob is full of features to help you develop your cooking ideas. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans as well as an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to a boiling point quickly. A range of functions that are automatic like Push&Go allow you to create perfectly cooked meals with the click of the button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to select nine power modes, including a P boost setting that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are easy to operate and feature modern, minimalist designs that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan once we put it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. It took a while to cool down after turning off the hob, and the testers were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It has a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the hob from operating when it becomes too hot. Our testers appreciated the fact that there were no visible flames that were messy and messy, and the ceramic 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 via an air duct that is built into the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, however it took two people to remove the filter.
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 Gourmet Cooking style. Induction hobs are an excellent choice if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. Alternatively, for those who prefer efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a clean ceramic glass facia is the best choice. If you live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power outages may tilt the balance in favor of gas models.