How to Choose the best ovens and hobs Hob

There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric hob can cost as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, however they are pricier.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this stove from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to faff around using controls.

Its style is modern and sleek it blends seamlessly with modern kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with control buttons that sit in the same place as the worktop for easy use.

The controls are simple to use and we liked the clear display that tells the current power setting and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a brief time. It is perfect for stir-frying and quickly boiling pans. The hot hob and oven light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.

However it's not as responsive to touch as other hobs we tested. We found that it took nine presses on the control to achieve the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to respond to changes in temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings a few times to get the right heat.

This 60 cm model comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. The dual-ring design allows it to operate with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat and searing it, or making water come to a quick boil.

It is fully integrated with the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 different programmes divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It has a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to set the correct cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third parties and has several security features, including a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Whether you're having work done in your kitchen, or seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, they are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now available at less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it is worth paying a little more.

This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with a diameter of at least 9 centimetres and automatically activates the appropriate zone.

Smeg's focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. There are also options to save energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.

Testers were impressed by the hob's user-friendly design with easy-to-use controls that move across the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's color-coded design allows you to easily identify the status of each zone. The 'Flexi Duo" function allows you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful functions, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.

In addition to this, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you of any risk of fire or burnt-on food. There are many safety features like a residual heat sensor and Culinary Tools an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.

It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist tough staining and cooking marks. The hob comes with nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature to accommodate large pans and is simple to set up. There are also a variety of extra features, including control locks and a safety fuse in case of accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They make use of copper plates to generate a magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means that they can reach temperatures much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and also save energy as the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas and they are also easier to clean.

This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create the Dual Zone for larger pans and the Booster Zone is quick that can bring water to boiling point quickly. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go let you cook your food perfectly with the click of one button. The controls are easy to operate and let you select nine power modes, including a P boost setting which gives the highest power in each zone for five minutes.

The controls are easy to operate and feature a modern, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up after placing a pan on the Booster zone. However, it took some time to cool down once we shut off the hob. Our testers were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also features the bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block, as well as an auto shut-off feature that stops the appliance from working when it's heated to the point of. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct on the surface. Our experts believed that this hob's duct was easy to clean, even though it required two people to lift the filter to change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

When choosing a new hob think about how it will fit to your kitchen's design and layout, in addition to your cooking style and lifestyle. For example, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off or an icy to the touch surface may make an induction cooker the best choice. For those who prioritize speed oven and hob efficiency, an electric stove with a clean ceramic glass facia is ideal. For those living in regions susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.