How to Choose the Best Hob When selecting the ideal hob, there are many factors to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important. A basic electric ceramic hob could cost as low as PS100, but you'll need to pay more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice, and offer great temperature control, however they are more expensive. 1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob This Haier stove has four cooking zones, three 'Push&Go functions, and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was also among the most efficient on test to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It comes with a child lock and an pause feature, so you can stop the process in a snap without having to fiddle with controls. Its style is sleek and contemporary, and works well with contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with controls that are on top of the worktop to allow for ease of use. The controls were easy to use and we appreciated the display which shows the current power level and which zone is currently in use. The Boost feature produces high-powered heat in a brief time. It's ideal for stir-frying and rapidly bringing pans to boil. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also beneficial. It's not as responsive as other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer for the pan to respond when you alter the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings several times before you get the proper temperature. This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. The dual-ring design allows it to operate on both normal and boost power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boil. It is fully connected to the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 special programs that are divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. In Best place to buy oven and hob , it will automatically recognize the type of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third parties and has various safety features like a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention. 2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob Whether you're having work done in your kitchen or looking for an alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have slashed dramatically over the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold at less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it's worth the extra cost. This sleek-looking model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots that have dimensions of at least 9cm and then automatically activates the appropriate zone. Smeg's attention to energy savings doesn't overlook flexibility either This hob is designed to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking needs. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to conserve more energy by reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW. The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, with its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the status of each zone. The Flexi duo function lets the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions, including four automated cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm. In addition, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you of any risk of burning or burning food. There are a variety of safety features such as a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface becomes too hot. It also has an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough staining and cooking marks. This hob is easy to set up and has nine power levels as well as a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are also a number of additional features, such as lockable controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button pushing. 3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They utilize copper plates to create an electric force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they use less energy since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally less expensive than gas, and they're easier to clean making them a popular option. Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features to allow you to get creative in the cooking. It comes with two distinct zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as an instant booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook with perfection by pressing one button. And nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which move across the bottom of the cooktop to follow your pans. The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up once we placed an oven in the Booster zone. However it took a long time to cool down after it was turned off from the hob and our testers found it difficult to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel. As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block, as well as an auto shut-off feature that stops the appliance from working when it's overheated. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no visible flames. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Unlike a traditional extractor hood, vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is built into the surface. Our experts believed that this hob's duct was easy to clean, though it required two people to take the filter out and change it. 4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE Consider how the hob can fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For instance, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off or a cool to the touch surface may make an induction stove an ideal option. For those who value speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages may make the difference in favor of gas models.
Best place to buy oven and hob
