How to Choose the Best Hob

When choosing the best hob to buy there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric hob can cost just PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs and ovens are another popular choice and provide great 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 one of the fastest boiling water hobs oven in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with a child lock and an pause feature, so you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle with controls.

Its design is sleek, contemporary, and works well with contemporary kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof ovens and hobs heatproof) or ceramic, and has controls that are flush with the worktop for easy use.

The controls are simple to use, and we appreciated the clear display that tells you the current power setting, and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a brief duration, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to a boil fast. The hob's hot light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.

However, it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs tested in this test. We found it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to six or seven on other models. It takes longer to respond when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may have to change settings multiple times before your pan reaches the right heat.

This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. Dual-ring design permits it to be operated on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat, searing it or quickly bring water to a fast boil.

It's fully integrated with the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface as well as a lockable' control panel, plus it can automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set the proper cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans made by third party companies and has various safety features like the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

When you're doing work in your kitchen or searching for a substitute to gas, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past few years. Basic four-zone models can be found at less than 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 has the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically recognises the position of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without having to select it manually.

Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not leave out flexibility too The hob is built to save power by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking needs. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to conserve more energy by reducing power output to as low as 2.4kW.

Testers were awed by the user-friendly interface of this hob with easy-to-use controls that move across the edge of the hob, allowing it to follow your pan. The control panel's color-coded layout makes it easy to determine the status of each zone. The "Flexi duo" function lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions, including four automated cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.

The hob also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you in the event of a meal that's been burned or a fire. There are many safety features like the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist tough staining and cooking marks. This model has nine power levels and an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to allow for large pans, and is simple to set up. There are also a number of additional features, such as locking controls and a safety fuse in case of accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction ovens hobs use copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is set on top. This means they can reach temperatures much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and also save energy as the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.

Indesit's induction hob is full of features that will allow you to be creative when cooking. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and an instant booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go lets you cook your food perfectly with the click of one button. There are 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 across the bottom of the hob to track your pans.

The controls are easy to operate, and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up once we placed an oven in the Booster zone. However it took an extended time to cool down after it was turned off from the hob and our test participants were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

In addition to a Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and overheating block as well as an auto shut-off feature that shuts down the hob when it's heated to the point of. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that there was no visible flame. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through a duct in the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, however it required two people in order to remove the filter.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the stove will fit into your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style. Induction hobs - www.viewtool.com`s statement on its official blog, are an excellent choice for cooking 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. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the best alternative. For those living in regions that are prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.