9 . What Your Parents Teach You About Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob

There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.

A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to pay more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs are a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones ovens and hobs uk three functions called 'Push&Go', this stove from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the fastest tested to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an pause feature, meaning you can quickly stop the process without having to fiddle around with controls.

Its style is modern and ovens hobs sleek it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or Best Oven ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit flush on the worktop.

The controls are intuitive to operate and we loved the clear display that tells you the current power setting, and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a short time. It's ideal for stir-frying and rapidly bringing pans to boil. The hob's light that is hot and the automatic shutoff are helpful security features, too.

However, it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, as opposed to six or seven for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings a few times to achieve the correct temperature.

The model in 60 cm comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. It has dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal and boost' power levels. It is perfect for cooking, searing meat or bringing water pans to a rapid boiling point.

It is fully connected through the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 different programmes divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It has a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans made by third parties and has a number of security features, including a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system, it's worth paying extra for the latest innovations.

This slick-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology to make your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots that have dimensions of at least 9 centimetres and automatically selects the appropriate zone.

Smeg's main focus is on energy savings however, it doesn't overlook the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. There are other options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 4 kW.

Testers were awed by the hob's user-friendly design with easy-to-use controls that move across the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's color-coded layout makes it easy to determine the state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" feature lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions, including four automatic cooking presets (melting, boiling slow cooking, and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.

The hob also has an alarm system that will notify you in the event of a meal that's been burned or a fire. There are a variety of safety features, including a residual heat indicator as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains, and has a protective coating of CleanProtect. This hob is easy to set up and features nine power levels, as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are a few bonus features, such as locking controls and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is set on the top. They heat up faster than gas hobs and they also consume less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas, and they are also easier to clean.

Indesit's induction hob is full of features to help you get creative in the cooking. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone for larger pans and an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook with perfection with the click of the button. There are nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to track the pans.

The controls are also easy to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan once we put it on the Booster Zone and boiled pasta water. It took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, and the testers had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.

In addition to the Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off system which prevents the hob from operating when it becomes too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with that. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via an air duct on the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, however it required two people in order to remove the filter.

4. GE Induction Hob

Think about how the hob can work with your kitchen's layout and design and what your cooking style is. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off feature and an icy to the touch surface may make an induction stove an ideal option. If you prioritize speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. Gas hobs are a good option for those who live in areas susceptible to power outages.