The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob

There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the best ovens and hobs hob, from price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are essential is vital.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs less than PS100. However you'll have to pay more for a model with numerous features. Gas hobs, also well-known and offer excellent temperature control, but are more expensive, are a different alternative.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this stove from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an pause feature, meaning you can quickly stop the process without having to fiddle around with the controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary it blends seamlessly with modern kitchens. It is typically made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit in a flush position on the countertop.

The controls are intuitive to use and hobs and ovens we liked the clear display that tells the current power setting and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a short time. It's ideal to stir fry and speedily boiling pans. Safety features like the hot hob light and automatic shutoff are beneficial.

It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, in comparison to seven or six for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you change the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings a few times to get the right heat.

This 60 cm model includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. It comes with a dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal' and 'boost power levels. Boost is ideal for frying, searing meat or bringing pots of water to a rapid boil.

It is fully integrated with the hOn App, and offers hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 unique programs divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it will automatically recognize the type of pan you're using and set the right cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans made by third party companies and has a number of safety features such as a lockable panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free option. Prices have slashed dramatically over the past few years. Basic four-zone models are now available at less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth the extra cost.

This slick-looking model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction technology to make your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots that have an overall diameter of at least 9cm and automatically selects the appropriate zone.

Smeg's main focus is on energy efficiency however, it doesn't overlook the possibility of flexibility. The hob and oven can be adjusted to save energy based on the highest operating temperatures of the zones. There are other options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 kW.

Testers were impressed by this hob's user-friendly interface that has intuitive controls that move across the edge of the hob, allowing it to follow your pan. The control panel's colour scheme allows you to quickly determine the status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones together to cater for larger pans. There are many useful features, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.

In addition the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you of any risk of a burning or burning food. There are many safety features such as a residual heat sensor and an automatic switch-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains and features a CleanProtect protective coating. This hob has nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature to allow for large pans, and is simple to set up. There are a few bonus features, such as lockable controls, and a safety fuse to prevent accidental button pressing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They make use of copper plates to create a magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means that they can heat up more quickly than gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only is heated when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.

This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. A range of functions that are automatic like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes with the click of one button. Nine power modes that include a 'P boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow the pans.

The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is perfect for modern kitchens. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up once we placed a pan on the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob and oven also comes with the bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones for larger pans. It comes with a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven from operating when it becomes too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room by a duct on the surface. Our experts thought this hob's duct was easy to keep clean, although it required two people to take the filter out to change it.

4. Induction Hob by GE

Consider how the hob will work with the layout and design of your kitchen and the style of cooking you prefer. For instance, if frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features like an automatic shut-off feature and cool to the touch surface can make an induction stove an ideal choice. For those who prioritize speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a glass face that is wipe-clean is a great choice. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tilt the balance in favor of gas models.