9 . What Your Parents Taught You About Best Hob
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob could cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to spend more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs, which are well-known and offer excellent temperature control, but are more expensive, are a different option.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob has four cooking zones with three "Push&Go" functions, and will assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the quickest tested to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an option to pause the process, so you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around with the controls.
Its design is sleek, modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with control buttons that sit on top of the worktop to allow to make it easy to use.
The controls were simple to operate and we loved the display that shows the current power level as well as which zone is in use. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a brief duration, and is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.
It's not as responsive as other hobs in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to seven or six on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to respond when you change the temperature. You may have to adjust the settings several times before you get the proper temperature.
The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. Dual-ring design permits it to operate at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost model is great for frying meat, searing it or bringing water pans to a rapid boil.
It is fully connected through the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 unique programs that are divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface and a 'lockable control panel. Additionally, it is able to automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans made by third party companies and has several safety features like a lockable panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or looking for a non-gas option. Prices have slashed in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth the extra cost for the latest innovations.
This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots with minimum diameters of 9 cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without having to manually select it.
Smeg's attention to energy savings doesn't overlook flexibility either This hob is designed to save power 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.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded design makes it easy to determine the status of each zone. 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) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.
The hob and oven also has a FlameSensor that can alert you if there's a danger of a burnt-on meal or a fire. There are a variety of safety features, like an indicator of residual heat and an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.
It's also hard-wearing with the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist hard marks and stains from cooking. This hob is easy to set up and has nine power levels and an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are a host of extra features, including lockable controls and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is set on the top. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs, and they use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive than gas, and they're easier to clean, which makes them an extremely popular option.
The induction hob made 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 the water to a boil. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook perfectly with the click of a button. The controls are simple to operate and allow you to choose nine power options, including the P boost option that gives maximum power in each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also simple to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan after we placed it on the Booster Zone and boiling pasta water. However it took a long time to cool off after we turned off the hob. Our testers were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also features a bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones for larger pans. It has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the hob from working when it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the ceramic glass was easy to wipe clean. Unlike a traditional extractor hood vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is built into the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people to remove the filter.
4. Induction oven hob from General Electric
When choosing a new hob, consider how it fits to your kitchen's style and layout, and also your cooking style and lifestyle. For example, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as an automatic shut-off or a cool to the touch surface may make an induction hob a better option. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the best hobs uk alternative. Gas hobs are a great option for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.