How to Choose the Best Hob

There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric hob can cost less than PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas hobs, which are also popular and provide excellent 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 cooker from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an pause feature, meaning you can quickly stop the process without having to mess around with controls.

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

The controls were simple to use and we appreciated the display which shows the current power level as well as which zone is currently in use. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a brief period of time. It is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to a boil quickly. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.

However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs we tested. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to seven or six for other models. It also takes longer for best hob the pan to react when you change the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings several times before you get the proper heat.

This 60 cm model includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. The dual-ring design allows it to operate with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is great for cooking meat while searing it or bring water to a fast boiling.

It's fully connected via the hOn app, and offers hundreds of recipes that include cooking instructions and 30 different programs divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it is able to automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans made by third party companies and has various safety features like the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or looking for a non-gas option. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with basic four-zone models costing less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that come with induction it's worth paying more for the latest innovations.

This slick-looking model from Smeg features the latest induction tech to keep your cooking efficient and easy. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots that have minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.

Smeg's main focus is on energy efficiency however, it doesn't overlook flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to save energy based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to reduce energy consumption by reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.

The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edge of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the state 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 cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling slow cooking, and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.

The hob also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you if there's a danger of a food item being burned or the possibility of a fire. There are a variety of safety features, like a residual heat indicator as well as an auto shut-off feature if the surface is too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains and features a protective coating of CleanProtect. This model has nine power levels as well as an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to allow for large pans, and is easy to install. There are several bonus features, such as lockable controls, and an emergency fuse to stop accidental pressing of buttons.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity and Ovens Hobs not gas. They utilize copper plates to create a magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They are able to heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they also use less energy since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.

Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features that will allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go lets you achieve perfectly cooked dishes at the touch of the button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to choose nine power modes, 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 was able to boil pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up after placing an oven on the Booster zone. However it took an extended time to cool down once we shut off the hob. Additionally, our test participants were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows the user to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off feature that stops the hob from working when it gets too hot. Our testers appreciated the fact that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs uk in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is located on the surface. Our experts thought this hob's duct was easy to clean, even though it required two people to take the filter out to change it.

4. Induction Hob by GE

Think about how the hob can work with the layout and design of your kitchen as well as what your cooking style is. For instance, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features like an automatic shut-off or an icy to the touch surface may make an induction hob an ideal option. Alternatively, for those who value efficiency and speed, an electric hob with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is the best hob choice. If you live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tilt the balance in favor of a gas model.