10 Quick Tips For Best Hob
How to Choose the Best Hob
When deciding on the best hob for your needs there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs as little as PS100. However, you will need to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs, also popular and offer great temperature control, but are more expensive, are a different option.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones and three "Push&Go" functions and can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the most efficient tests to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It comes with an child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process in a snap without having to fiddle with controls.
Its style is modern and sleek and blends well with modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with controls that are flush with the worktop for ease of use.
The controls were easy to operate, and we liked the display that displays the current power level as well as which zone is active. The 'Boost" feature produces powerful heat in a short time. It is perfect for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob and automatic shutoff are useful.
However, it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs tested in this test. We found it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, as opposed to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to respond when you change the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings multiple times before you get the proper temperature.
This 60 cm model includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. Dual-ring design permits it to be operated at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly bring water to a fast boiling.
It is fully connected through the hOn app and includes hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 special programs divided into various food categories and types of cooking. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface, as well as a lockable' control panel, plus it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and comes with a variety of safety features, such as an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a non-gas option. Prices have slashed dramatically over the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now available for less than PS100. If Best place to buy oven and hob are looking for the most modern induction technology, it's worth the extra cost.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes your cooking efficient and easy. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with dimensions of at least 9cm and automatically activates the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's main focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to save energy based on the highest temperatures that the zones can operate at. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to save more energy by reducing power output to as low as 2.4kW.
Testers were awed by the hob's user-friendly design, with intuitive sliding controls that slide along the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see the operational status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
In addition to this the hob also has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you if there is any risk of fire or burnt-on food. There are also several safety features, like a residual heat indicator and an auto switch-off if the surface becomes too hot.
It's also hard-wearing with the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist tough stains and cooking marks. This hob has nine power levels, an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect for accommodating large pans and is easy to install. There are also a variety of additional features, including lockable controls and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is set on top. This means that they can heat up faster than gas hobs. They also save energy as the cooking zone only is heated when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive than gas and are easier to wipe clean too, which makes them a popular option.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that allow you to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two separate zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as an instant booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go lets you create perfectly cooked meals by pressing one button. The controls are easy to operate and let you select nine power options, including the P boost option which gives the highest power in each zone for five minutes.
The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up after placing an oven in the Booster zone. It took a while to cool down after turning off the hob, and our test subjects were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
Alongside a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block, as well as an auto switch-off system that stops the hob working when it's overheated. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no visible flames. Our testers were impressed by 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 that is built into the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, but it required two people to remove the filter.
4. Induction Hob from General Electric
When choosing a new hob take a look at how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and life. For instance, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features such as an automatic shut-off feature and cool to the touch surface can make an induction cooker an ideal choice. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the best option. For those who live in areas prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power outages could make the difference in favor of a gas model.