The 10 Worst Best Hob FAILURES Of All Time Could Have Been Prevented
How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob for your needs there are a variety of factors to consider. From cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is essential.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs less than PS100. However you'll have to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas hobs, 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 functions called 'Push&Go', this hob from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the fastest tested to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with a pause function, so you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around with controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary, and works well with modern kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has touch controls that sit flush with the worktop for ease of use.
The controls are easy to operate and we loved the clear display that tells you the current power setting and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a brief period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to the boil quickly. Safety features like the light on the hot hob and automatic shutoff are useful.
It's not as responsive as other hobs in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to seven or six 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 to get the right heat.
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 pans or pots. The dual-ring design allows it to operate at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing pots of water to the rapid boil.
hobs and ovens is fully integrated with the hOn app and includes 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 unique programmes divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It has an intuitive multislider interface and a 'lockable' control panel, plus it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn sets and comes with a variety of safety features, such as a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free option. Prices have dropped drastically in the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth paying more for the latest innovations.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without having to select it manually.
Smeg's focus is on energy efficiency, but it doesn't ignore flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. There are options to save even more energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 kW.
Testers were awed by the hob's user-friendly design that has intuitive controls that move along the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's color scheme allows you to quickly determine the status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are a variety of useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
In addition to this the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you if there is any risk of a burning or burning food. There are a variety of safety features like a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off if the surface gets too hot.
It also resists tough stains, and has a CleanProtect protective coating. This model has nine power levels and a 'FlexiDuo feature' to allow for large pans, and is simple to set up. There are some additional features like locking controls and an emergency fuse to stop accidental pressing of buttons.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is set on the top. This means they can reach a temperature much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and also save energy as the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas and are easier to wipe clean too and that's why they're a popular option.
This induction hob from Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to get creative in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and an instant booster zone to quickly bring water to a boil. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook with perfection with the click of the button. And nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the hob to track the pans.
The controls are easy to operate and feature a modern, minimalist design that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan after we put it on the Booster Zone, and boiling pasta water. It took a while for it to cool down after turning off the hob, and the testers had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers liked that. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room by a duct located on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it required two people to take the filter out.
4. Induction Hob by GE
Think about how the hob can be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as what your cooking style. Induction hobs are an excellent choice if you cook with children or the elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. Alternatively, for those who value efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a glass face that is wipe-clean is the best choice. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may make the difference in favor of a gas model.