Who Is Responsible For A Best Hob Budget? 12 Best Ways To Spend Your Money
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are a lot of aspects to take into consideration when selecting the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as little as PS100, but you'll need to spend more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're also more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go" functions and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was also among the most efficient tests to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It has a child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with touch controls that sit in the same place as the worktop for easy use.
The controls were easy to use and we appreciated the display which shows the current power level as well as which zone is in use. The 'Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a short time. It is ideal to stir fry and speedily heating up pans. Safety features like the light on the hot hob and automatic shutoff are beneficial.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to six or seven for other models. It takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, meaning you might have to alter settings several times before the pan reaches the right heat.
The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It comes with a dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal and boost' power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat while searing it or bringing water to a rapid boiling.
It is fully connected through the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 unique programmes divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It comes with a multislider control panel with a "lockable interface' that can identify the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans made by third party companies and has several safety features like a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work on your kitchen or simply searching for a substitute to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped in the last few years, with basic four-zone models available for less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth the extra cost to get the latest technology.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with an overall diameter of at least 9 cm and then automatically selects the appropriate zone.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings however, it doesn't overlook the possibility of flexibility. The hob can be adjusted to save energy based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are other options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.
Testers were impressed with the user-friendly interface of this hob with easy-to-use controls that move along the edges of the hob in order to follow your pan. The control panel's color-coded layout allows you to easily identify the status of each zone. The "Flexi duo" feature lets you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The hob also comes with an alarm system that will notify you when there's a risk of a food item being burned or the possibility of a fire. There are several safety features such as the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.
It is also resistant to hard stains and comes with an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. This model has nine power levels and an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect for accommodating large pans and is easy to install. There are several bonus features such as locking controls and an emergency fuse to stop accidental button pressing.
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 are able to heat up faster than gas hobs and they also use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are easier to clean making them an extremely popular choice.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features that will allow you to get creative in the cooking. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans and an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to a boiling point quickly. A range of automatic functions like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes with the click of one button. 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 are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to track the pans.
The controls are simple to use and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up once we placed an oven in the Booster zone. However, it took an extended time to cool off after it was turned off from the hob and our testers found it difficult to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
In addition to the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off system which prevents the oven from working if it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room by a duct on the surface. Our experts thought the duct on this hob was easy to clean, even though it took two people to take the filter to change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a kitchen appliance, consider how it fits into your kitchen's design and layout, and also your cooking style and your lifestyle. For example, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as automatic shut-off and cool to the touch surface may make an induction hob a better choice. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the best option. Gas hobs are a great alternative for those living in areas that are susceptible to power outages.