The Worst Advice We've Ever Received On Best Hob
How to Choose the Best Hob There are a lot of aspects to take into consideration when selecting the ideal hob, ranging from price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is crucial. A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as low as PS100, but you'll need to shell out more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs are another popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're pricier. 1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this hob from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also one of the quickest on test to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an option to pause the process, so you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around with controls. Its style is modern and sleek it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit flush on the worktop. The controls are easy to use and we liked the clear display that tells the current power setting and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for just a short duration, and is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly. Safety features like the light on the hot hob or automatic shut-off are also beneficial. It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. hobs uk took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to seven or six for other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react to changes in temperature. You may have to adjust the settings multiple times to achieve the correct heat. This 60 cm model has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two areas can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. It has a dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal' and 'boost' power levels. The Boost model is great for frying, searing meat or bringing pots of water to the rapid boiling point. It is fully connected through the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 special programs divided into various food categories and types of cooking. It features a simple multislider interface as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it is able to automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set the proper cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with several safety features like a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention. 2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free option. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past few years. Basic four-zone models are now sold 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 features the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the position of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9cm, which allows you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually. Smeg's focus on energy saving does not mean that they don't offer flexibility – this hob is designed to save power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking preferences. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to save more energy by reducing power output to as low as 2.4kW. The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, with its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the status of each zone. The “Flexi duo” function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm. In addition to this, the hob has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you of any danger of a fire or food that has been burned. There are several safety features such as a residual heat sensor and an automatic switch-off when the surface becomes too hot. It also resists hard stains and comes with an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. This hob is easy to install and features nine power levels as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are also a number of additional features, like control locks and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing. 3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They utilize copper plates to create a magnetic force when a pot or pan is placed on them. They are able to heat up 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 less expensive to operate than gas, and they are also simpler to clean. Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features to allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form an Integrated Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go let you cook your food perfectly by pressing the button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to select nine power options, including the P boost option that provides maximum power to each zone for five minutes. The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is perfect for modern kitchens. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan when we placed it on the Booster Zone, and boiled pasta water. However, it took some time to cool down once we turned off the hob and our testers were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel. This Indesit hob also has the bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has a child lock and overheating block and an auto switch-off system that shuts down the hob when it's overheated. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and has no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with that. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, but it took two people in order to remove the filter. 4. Induction Hob from GE Consider how the stove will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features like an automatic shut-off feature and a cool to the touch surface could make an induction stove a better option. For those who prioritize speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is a great choice. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tilt the balance in favor of a gas model.