How to Choose the best oven uk Hob

When selecting the ideal hob to buy there are a variety of factors to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is crucial.

A basic ceramic electric hob 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 expensive, are a different option.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

This Haier stove has four cooking zones, three "Push&Go" functions, and can help you prepare quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has a pause function, so you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around with controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit directly on the worktop.

The controls were simple to use, and we liked the display which shows the current power level and which zone is currently in use. The "Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. Safety features like the light on the hot hob or automatic shut-off are also beneficial.

It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature compared with six or seven on other models. It takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may have to change 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 that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. It has dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal as well as 'boost power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly bring water to a fast boil.

It's fully integrated with the hOn app and comes with hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and Kitchen Essentials preparation styles. It features a multislider controls panel with a "lockable interface' that detects the type pan you are using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans made by 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

If you're working in your kitchen, or looking for an alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have plummeted in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a little more.

This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9 cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.

Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not mean that they don't offer flexibility - this hob is designed to save power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking preferences. There are also options to save energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 kW.

The user-friendly interface of this stove was a hit with testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edges of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to determine the status of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" function allows you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful functions, including four automated cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.

The hob also comes with an alarm system that will notify you when there's a risk of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features, like a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface becomes too hot.

It is also resistant to hard stains and comes with a CleanProtect protective coating. This hob is easy to install and features nine power levels, as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are a host of extra 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 generate an electric force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means they can reach temperatures much quicker than conventional gas hobs and also save energy as the cooking area only heats up when you turn on the pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas, and they're easier to wipe clean too making them a popular choice.

This induction hob from Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to get creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create the Dual Zone for larger pots and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to a boil quickly. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook perfectly with the click of the button. Nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the hob to track the pans.

The controls are also simple to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary Kitchen essentials. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up when we put a pan on the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, ovens and hobs uk our test subjects had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also comes with the bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven uk from working if it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and has no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that there was no visible flame. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through a duct in the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, however it required two people to remove the filter.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the hob can work with your kitchen's layout and design as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off feature and cool to the touch surface may make an induction stove the best hobs uk choice. For those who value speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the ideal alternative. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tilt the balance in favor of a gas model.