How to Choose the best hobs Hob

When selecting the ideal hob uk to buy there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs just PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas hobs are a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, however they are pricier.

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 one of the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to fiddle around with controls.

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

The controls were simple to operate and we loved the display that displays the current power level and the zone that is currently in use. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a short period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly. The hot hob light and the automatic shutoff are helpful security features, too.

However it's not as responsive to touch as other hobs tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to respond when you alter the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings several times to achieve the correct heat.

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 pans or pots. Dual-ring design permits it to operate with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat and searing it, or making water come to a quick boil.

It is fully connected to the hOn app and includes hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 different programs divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface and a 'lockable control panel. In addition, it will automatically recognize the type of pan you're using and set the correct cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn cookware from third-party manufacturers and comes with several safety features such as the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Whether you're having work done in your kitchen or searching for a substitute to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth the extra cost.

This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, which allows you to select the correct zone without having to select it manually.

Smeg's attention to energy savings doesn't overlook flexibility either - this hob is designed to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking requirements. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to save more energy by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.

Testers were impressed with the user-friendly interface of this hob, with intuitive sliding controls that move along the edge of the hob, allowing it to follow the pan. The control panel's color scheme lets you quickly see the operational status of each zone, while the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

The oven also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you when there's a risk of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are many safety features, oven including the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off if the surface is too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist tough stains and cooking marks. The hob comes with nine power levels as well as the FlexiDuo feature for accommodating large pans and is simple to set up. There are also a number of additional features, such as locking controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when a pan is placed on the top. This means that they can reach a temperature much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and also save energy as the cooking area only heats up when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also less difficult 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 cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans and the Booster Zone is quick that can bring water to boiling point quickly. A range of automatic functions like Push&Go allow you to create perfectly cooked meals by pressing a button. The controls are easy to use and allow you to select nine power options, including the P boost option which gives the highest power in each zone for five minutes.

The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is perfect for modern kitchens. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up once we placed an oven on the Booster zone. It took a while to cool down after turning off the hob, and our testers were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.

In addition to the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also has a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven from operating when it becomes too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers were impressed by the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room via an air duct that is located on the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, however it took two people to take the filter out.

4. GE Induction Hob

When choosing a new hob think about how it will fit to your kitchen's design and layout, in addition to your cooking style and lifestyle. Induction hobs are a good choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. Alternatively, for oven those who prefer speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a glass face that is wipe-clean is the best hob choice. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs during power outages may tilt the balance in favor of gas models.