How to Choose the best ovens uk Hob

When deciding on the best oven hob there are a lot of aspects to consider. From price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are important is essential.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs less than PS100. However you'll need to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs, also popular and offer great 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 hob from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was also one of the fastest tests to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to fiddle around with the controls.

Its style is modern and sleek and blends well with modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features touch controls that sit in the same place as the worktop for easy use.

The controls are intuitive to use, and we appreciated the clear display which tells you the current power setting, and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a brief duration, and is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also beneficial.

It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to reach the highest temperature, as opposed to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, meaning you may need to alter settings multiple times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.

The model in 60 cm includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. The dual-ring design allows it to operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is perfect for cooking meat, searing it or bringing pots of water to a rapid boil.

It is fully integrated with the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 unique programs divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it will automatically recognize the kind of pan you're using and set the correct cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn cookware from third parties and has several security features, including 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 dropped in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth paying more to get the latest technology.

This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots that have dimensions of at least 9 cm and automatically will activate the appropriate zone.

Smeg's primary focus is on energy efficiency but it doesn't forget flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the highest temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are other options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 2 kW.

The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan along the edges of it. The control panel's colour scheme allows you to quickly determine the status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are many useful functions, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting, boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.

The oven also comes with an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features, like a residual heat indicator best ovens and hobs uk an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.

It also resists tough stains, and has a protective coating of CleanProtect. The hob is simple to set up and has nine power levels as well as a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are also a variety of additional features, like locking controls and a safety fuse in case of accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create an electric field when a pan is placed on top. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas and they are also less difficult to clean.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form an Integrated Zone for larger pans as well as a rapid Booster zone that can bring water to boiling point quickly. Push&Go, for example, lets you cook flawlessly with the click of one button. And nine power modes, including a 'P boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for oven 5 minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to track the pans.

The controls are also simple to operate and feature a modern, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up when we put an oven on the Booster zone. However it took some time to cool down after we shut off the hob. Our test participants were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also features a bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no visible flames. Our testers were impressed by that. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room through a duct on the surface. Our experts thought this hob's duct was easy to clean, Hobs (www.youtube.com) though it took two people to take the filter out and change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the stove will be able to fit into the layout and design of your kitchen and what your cooking style. Induction hobs are a great choice if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. Alternatively, for those who value efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a glass face that is wipe-clean is ideal. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tip the scales in favour of gas models.