10 Undeniable Reasons People Hate Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob

There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from price to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.

A basic electric ceramic hob could cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to pay more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs, which are well-known and offer excellent temperature control, but are expensive, are another option.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this hob from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was among the fastest ways to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It comes with a child lock and pause function so you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle with controls.

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

The controls were easy to operate and we loved the display that displays the current power level and which zone is in use. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a short period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to the boil quickly. Safety features such as the hot hob light or automatic shut-off are also beneficial.

However it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you might have to alter settings several times before the pan is at the right temperature.

This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of it is a half-flex zone, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. Dual-ring design permits it to be operated with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly bringing water to a rapid boiling.

It is fully connected to the hOn app and includes hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 different programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a multislider controls panel with a 'lockable interface' and can detect the type pan you are using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and has a range of safety features, like a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped drastically in the last few years. The basic four-zone models can be found at less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that include induction, it's worth paying extra for the most up-to-date technology.

This sleek-looking model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to select the correct zone without having to manually select it.

Smeg's main focus is on energy efficiency, but it doesn't ignore the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to save power based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to conserve more energy by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.

Testers were impressed by this hob's user-friendly interface that has intuitive controls that slide along the edges of the hob to follow the pan. The control panel's color scheme helps you quickly identify the operating status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are numerous useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

Additionally, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you if there is any risk of fire or food that has been burned. There are other safety features, including a residual heat indicator and an auto switch-off if the surface gets too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist tough staining and cooking marks. The hob is simple to install and has nine power levels and an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are a host of bonus features, like control locks and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

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

This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to get creative in the kitchen. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create the Dual Zone for larger pans as well as the Booster Zone is quick that can bring water to boiling point quickly. Push&Go, for example, lets you cook flawlessly at the touch one 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 an elegant, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan when we placed it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. However it took a long time to cool down after we shut off the hob. Our testers were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.

As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off system which prevents the hob from working when it gets too hot. Our testers appreciated the fact that there were no visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass was easy to wipe clean. Unlike a traditional extractor hood vented hobs draw heat and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through an air duct on the surface. Our experts thought that this hob's duct was easy to clean, even though it required two people to lift the filter out and change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the hob can be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as what your cooking style. For example, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features like an automatic shut-off feature and cool to the touch surface could make an induction cooker a better option. If you're looking for speed oven hob and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the ideal choice. Gas hobs are a great choice for those who live in areas susceptible to power outages.