How To Resolve Issues With Best Hob
How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob for your needs there are a variety of factors to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost less than PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs, which are also popular and offer great temperature control, but are expensive, are another option.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this stove from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was one of the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It has the child lock as well as a the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with modern 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 to make it easy to use.
The controls were easy to operate, and we liked the display that shows the current power level as well as which zone is in use. The "Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a brief time. It is perfect for stir-frying and rapidly heating up pans. Safety features like the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also useful.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as other hobs we tested. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to respond to changes in temperature. You may have to adjust the settings a few times before you get the proper temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pans and pots. Dual-ring design permits it to be operated with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost model is great for frying meat, searing it or bringing pots of water to a rapid boiling point.
It is fully connected to the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 special programs divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a multislider control panel with a "lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third party companies and has several safety features such as 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, they are becoming more popular. Prices have plummeted in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth paying more for the most up-to-date technology.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology to make cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9 cm, allowing you to switch on the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's main focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget the possibility of flexibility. The hob can be adjusted to save energy based on the maximum temperatures of the zones. There are also options to save even more energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.
Testers were awed by the user-friendly interface of this hob that has intuitive controls that move along the edges of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's color scheme lets you quickly see the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful functions, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
The hob also has a FlameSensor that can alert you in the event of a meal that's been burned or the possibility of a fire. There are also several safety features, like a residual heat indicator as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface gets too hot.
It is also resistant to tough stains, and has a CleanProtect protective coating. The stove is simple to install and features nine power levels, as well as a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are a few bonus features like lockable controls, and an emergency fuse to stop accidental pressing of buttons.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when a pan is placed on top. They heat up faster than gas hobs and they also consume less energy because the cooking area 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 with features that allow you to be creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans as well as an accelerated Booster zone that can bring water to boil quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, lets you cook flawlessly with the click of the button. Best ovens that include a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to follow the pans.
The controls are also easy to operate and feature a modern, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up after placing an oven in the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block and an auto shut-off feature that stops the hob working when it's overheated. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room through an air duct that is located on the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, however it required two people in order to take the filter out.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric
Consider how the hob can fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as what your cooking style is. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features like an automatic shut-off or a cool to the touch surface could make an induction stove an ideal option. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the best alternative. Gas hobs are a great alternative for those living in areas that are susceptible to power outages.