10 Meetups About Best Hob You Should Attend

How to Choose the Best Hob

There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from the price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is crucial.

A basic electric ceramic hob could cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to spend more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice, and offer great temperature control, however they are pricier.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this cooker from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features a pause function, so you can quickly stop the process without having to mess around using controls.

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

The controls are simple to use, and we appreciated the clear display that tells you the current power settings, and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a brief period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to the boil quickly. The hob's hot light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.

It's not as responsive as the other hobs oven we tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, compared to seven or six for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, meaning you might have to alter settings multiple times before your pan reaches the right heat.

This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of it is a half-flex zone, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. It comes with a dual-ring design that can function on both 'normal' and 'boost' power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat, searing it or quickly making water come to a quick boiling.

It is fully connected through the hOn App and has hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 different programs divided into various food categories and types of cooking. It has an intuitive multislider interface and a 'lockable control panel. In addition, it can automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and has a range of security features, including a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free option. Prices have dropped drastically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it is worth the extra cost.

This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots that have a diameter of at least 9cm and then automatically will activate the appropriate zone.

Smeg's focus on energy saving does not mean that they don't offer flexibility - this hob is designed to conserve power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking requirements. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to reduce energy consumption by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.

The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edge of it. The color scheme of the control panel helps you quickly identify the operational status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are many useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

The oven also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you in the event of a burnt-on meal or the possibility of a fire. There are other safety features, like an indicator of residual heat and an auto shut-off feature if the surface gets too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains and features a protective coating of CleanProtect. This hob is easy to install and comes with nine power levels, as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering for large pans. There are some additional features such as control locks, as well as a safety fuse to protect against accidental pressing of buttons.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They make use of copper plates to generate a magnetic force when a pot or pan is placed on them. This means they can reach temperatures faster than gas hobs and also save energy as the cooking zone only is heated when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas, and they are also easier to clean.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to be creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones that can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go let you cook your food perfectly with the click of one button. The controls are simple to operate and allow you to select nine power options, including the P boost option that gives maximum power to each zone for five minutes.

The controls are simple to use and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up once we placed an oven and hob on the Booster zone. However, it took an extended time to cool down after we shut off the hob and our testers found it difficult to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also features the bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there were no visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass was easy to clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room through an air duct that is located on the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, ovens but it took two people to remove the filter.

4. Induction Hob from General Electric

When selecting a hob, consider how it fits into your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and lifestyle. Induction hobs are a great choice if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the best ovens uk choice. Gas hobs are a great option for those who live in areas prone to power outages.