How to Choose the Best Hob

When selecting the ideal hob for your needs, there are many factors to take into consideration. From price to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.

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

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

This Haier hob comes with four cooking zones with three "Push&Go" functions and can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the most efficient on test to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has a pause function, so you can quickly stop the process without having to fiddle around with controls.

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

The controls are intuitive to use, and we appreciated the clear display which tells you the current power settings and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a brief period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the hot hob light and automatic shutoff are useful.

It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, as opposed to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you might have to alter settings several times before the pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.

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 has dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal and boost power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat and searing it, or making water come to a quick boiling.

It's fully connected through the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface as well as a lockable control panel. In addition, it is able to automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set the right cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn sets and comes with a variety of safety features, like the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with basic four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more.

This sleek model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology that makes your cooking efficient and easy. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots that have an overall diameter of at least 9 cm and then automatically activates the zone that is appropriate.

Smeg's main focus is on energy efficiency, but it doesn't ignore flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to save energy based on the highest operating temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to save more energy by reducing power output to as low as 2.4kW.

The user-friendly interface of this hob was a hit with testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The control panel's colour scheme helps you quickly identify the operational status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones together to cater for larger pans. There are many useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.

Additionally the hob also has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you when there is a danger of a burning or burning food. There are other safety features, like an indicator of residual heat and an auto shut-off feature if the surface becomes too hot.

It also resists hard stains and comes with a protective coating of CleanProtect. The hob comes with nine power levels and an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect for accommodating large pans and is simple to set up. There are a few bonus features, such as control locks, as well as a safety fuse to prevent accidental pressing of buttons.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is set on the top. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs and they also consume less energy since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas, and they are also easier to clean.

Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to allow you to be creative when cooking. It has two separate zones that can be combined into best hob uk the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring the water to a boil. A variety of automated functions like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes with the click of the button. And nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily set using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow the pans.

The controls are simple to operate and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan when we placed it on the Booster Zone, and pasta water that was boiling. However it took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob. Our testers were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off system which prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there were no visible flames that were messy and messy, and the glass was easy to clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room by a duct located on the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people in order to remove the filter.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the stove will work with your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are an excellent choice for cooking with children or older people in mind. They come with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the ideal alternative. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.