How to Choose the Best Hob

There are a lot of aspects to take into consideration when selecting the Best place to buy oven and hob hob, from price to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.

A basic electric ceramic stove could cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to pay more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs, which are also popular and provide excellent temperature control, but are more expensive, are a different alternative.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this hob from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was also among the most efficient on test to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an pause feature, meaning you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around with the controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit directly on the worktop.

The controls were simple to operate and we appreciated the display which shows the current power level and the zone that is currently in use. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a short period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to a boil quickly. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.

It's not as responsive as other hobs tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, meaning you may need to alter settings multiple times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.

This 60 cm model comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex zone where two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. It features dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal as well as 'boost power levels. Boost is ideal for frying, searing meat or bringing water pans to the rapid boiling point.

It's fully connected through the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 unique programs divided into different food categories and preparation types. 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 right cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and has a range of safety features, like an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

If you're working on your kitchen or simply searching for a substitute to gas induction hobs, they are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more.

This sleek model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the position of pots that have minimum diameters of 9cm, which allows you to select the correct zone without having to manually select it.

Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not mean that they don't offer flexibility This hob is designed to reduce power consumption by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking requirements. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to reduce energy consumption by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.

Testers were awed by the user-friendly interface of this hob with easy-to-use controls that slide along the edge of the hob, allowing it to follow your pan. The control panel's colour-coded scheme 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, melting, slow cooking and hob keeping warm) oven and hob a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.

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 other safety features, best Hob like a residual heat indicator as well as an auto shut-off feature if the surface becomes too hot.

It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to protect it from tough staining and cooking marks. This model has nine power levels and a 'FlexiDuo feature' to accommodate large pans and is easy to put in. There are several bonus features, such as lockable controls, and an emergency fuse to stop 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 placed on the top. They heat up faster than gas hobs, and they use 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 less difficult to clean.

Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to help you get creative in the cooking. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. A range of functions that are automatic like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes at the touch of a button. The controls are easy to use and allow you to choose 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 put it on the Booster Zone and boiling pasta water. However, it took some time to cool off after we shut off the hob. Our testers found it difficult to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.

Alongside the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that stops the hob from working when it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no visible flames. Our testers liked the fact that it's. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room through an air duct that is located on the surface. Our experts thought the duct on this hob was easy to keep clean, although it required two people to lift the filter out to change it.

4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric

When choosing a new hob think about how it will fit into your kitchen's design and layout, and also your cooking style and life. For instance, if you 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 can make an induction cooker an ideal option. Alternatively, for those who prefer speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a glass face that is wipe-clean is ideal. For those living in regions susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages may tilt the balance in favor of gas models.