The 10 Worst Best Hob FAILURES Of All Time Could Have Been Prevented
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to spend more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs, which are popular and provide excellent temperature control, but are expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this cooker from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was one of the fastest ways to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an pause feature, meaning you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit directly on the worktop.
The controls are simple to use, and we appreciated the clear display that tells the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for just a short period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pans of water to a boil quickly. The hot hob light and the automatic shutoff are helpful 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 achieve the highest temperature, compared with six or seven on other models. It also takes longer to react when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may have to change settings several times before the pan is at the right temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It comes with dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal' and 'boost power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boil.
It's fully connected via the hOn app and comes with 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 unique programs divided into different food categories and preparation types. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. In addition, it is able to automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and has a range of security features, including a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work on your kitchen or simply seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth the extra cost for the most up-to-date technology.
Best ovens UK from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology to make cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots that have an overall diameter of at least 9cm and then automatically will activate the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy efficiency however, it doesn't overlook the possibility of flexibility. The hob can be adjusted to save energy based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are options to save even more energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 2 kW.
Testers were impressed with the user-friendly interface of this hob with easy-to-use controls that slide along the edges of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the status 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 automated cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
The hob also has a FlameSensor which will alert you when there's a risk of a meal that's been burned or an igniting fire. There are other safety features, including a residual heat indicator as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It also resists hard stains and comes with a CleanProtect protective coating. This model has nine power levels and the FlexiDuo feature to accommodate large pans and is easy to put in. There are some additional features such as control locks, as well as a safety fuse to prevent accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when the pan is set on top. This means that they can heat up much quicker than conventional gas hobs and also conserve energy since the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on a pan. They are generally cheaper to run than gas, and they are also simpler to clean.
This induction hob from Indesit is packed with features that allow you to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two separate zones that can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a rapid booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. A variety of automated functions such as Push&Go let you create perfectly cooked meals with the click of one button. The controls are simple to use and allow you to choose nine power options, including a P boost setting that provides maximum power to each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also simple to operate and feature a modern, minimalist design that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up when we put an oven on the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our testers were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to connect two cooking zones to make larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off system which stops the hob from operating when it becomes too hot. Our test participants were impressed 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 out of the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, but it required two people in order to take the filter out.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a hob take a look at how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, and also your cooking style and your lifestyle. Induction hobs are a great choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. If you prioritize speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. For those who live in areas prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tilt the balance in favor of gas models.