20 Trailblazers Setting The Standard In Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob

There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.

A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as little as PS100, but you'll need to pay more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs are a popular option and offer excellent 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 will aid in cooking quick meals. It was also among the quickest on test to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It comes with an child lock and an pause feature, so you can stop the process swiftly without having to fiddle with controls.

Its style is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has controls that are on top of the worktop to allow to make it easy to use.

The controls are easy to operate and we loved 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 short duration, and is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pans of water to a boil fast. The hob's light that is hot and the automatic shutoff are helpful safety features, too.

It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to seven or six for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, so you may need to alter settings several times before the pan is at the right temperature.

This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of it 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 at 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 integrated with the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes with cooking instructions and 30 different programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. 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 up the right cooking mode. It also works with hOn cookware from third parties and has a number of safety features like a lockable panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or searching for a non-gas option. Prices have slashed dramatically over the past few years. Basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth paying more for the most up-to-date technology.

This sleek model from Smeg boasts the latest induction tech to keep your cooking efficient and easy. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots that have a diameter of at least 9cm and automatically will activate the appropriate zone.

Smeg's focus on energy saving does not mean that they don't offer flexibility The hob is built to save power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking preferences. There are other options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.

The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The control panel's colour scheme helps you quickly identify the operating status of each zone, while the Flexi Duo function allows you to 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.

The oven also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you if there's a danger of a meal that's been burned or an igniting fire. There are several safety features such as a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface gets too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains, and has a protective coating of CleanProtect. The stove is simple to set up and has nine power levels as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are also a number of additional features, like control locks and a safety fuse in case of accidental button-pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when a pan is placed on top. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs and they use less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas and are easier to clean and that's why they're an extremely popular option.

This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to be creative 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 boiling water to. A range of automatic functions like Push&Go allow you to cook your food perfectly by pressing the button. And nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow the pans.

The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up when we put an oven oven on the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, and our test subjects had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also features a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block, as well as an auto switch-off system that shuts down the hob when it's too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no visible flames. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through a duct in the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people in order to take the filter out.

4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE

Think about how the hob will be able to fit into the layout and design of your kitchen, as well as what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are a great choice if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They come with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the best option. Gas hobs are a good alternative for those living in areas susceptible to power outages.