How to Choose the Best Hob

There are a lot of aspects to take into consideration when selecting the best ovens hob, from price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are important is essential.

A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as little as PS100, but you'll need to spend more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs are a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're also more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this stove from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water ovens hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with an pause feature, meaning you can stop the process without having to fiddle around with the controls.

Its design is modern and sleek, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with control buttons that sit flush with the worktop to make it easy to use.

The controls are intuitive to use and we liked the clear display which tells the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a short period of time. It is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to a boil fast. The hot hob light and automatic shutdown are useful security features, too.

However, it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to attain 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 several times before the pan reaches the right heat.

The model in 60 cm has four cooking zones, including a half-flex area where two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. It features a dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal' and 'boost power levels. The Boost model is great for frying meat, searing it or bringing pans of water to a rapid boil.

It is fully integrated with the hOn App, and offers hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 different programs divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It features a simple multislider interface, hobs as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it will automatically recognize the type of pan you're using and set up the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn sets and has a range of safety features, like a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

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

This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology to make cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots that have an overall diameter of at least 9cm and automatically activates the zone that is appropriate.

Smeg's attention to energy savings does not leave out flexibility too - this hob is designed to save power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking preferences. There are other 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 4 kW.

Testers were impressed by the user-friendly interface of this hob, with intuitive sliding controls that slide along the edges of the hob to follow your pan. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the state 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.

In addition to this, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you of any danger of a burning or burning food. There are other safety features, like an indicator of residual heat and an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains and features an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. This hob has nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature to accommodate large pans and is easy to install. There are also a number of bonus features, including control locks and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when a pan is placed on the top. This means that they can reach temperatures faster than gas hobs and also save energy as the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive than gas and are easier to clean and that's why they're an extremely popular choice.

This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as an instant booster zone to quickly bring water to a boil. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook with perfection by pressing a button. The controls are easy to use and let you select nine power modes including a P boost setting which gives the highest power for each zone for five minutes.

The controls are simple to operate and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan when we put it on the Booster Zone and boiled pasta water. However it took a long time to cool down once we turned off the hob. Additionally, our testers found it difficult to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.

Alongside the Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to fit 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 working if it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the glass was easy to clean. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via an air duct on the surface. Our experts believed that the duct on this hob was easy to clean, even though it took two people to lift the filter out to change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

When selecting a hob think about how it will fit to your kitchen's design and layout, in addition to your cooking style and your lifestyle. Induction hobs are a good choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. If you prioritize efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is the best oven uk choice. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs during power cuts may tip the scales in favour of gas models.