How to Choose the Best Hob When choosing the best hob to buy there are a lot of aspects to take into consideration. From cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important. A basic ceramic electric hob can cost less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're also more expensive. 1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob This Haier hob has four cooking zones, three 'Push&Go functions, and will aid in cooking quick meals. It was also among the fastest tests to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an option to pause the process, so you can stop the process without having to faff around with controls. Its design is sleek and modern, blending in well with modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with touch controls that sit flush with the worktop for ease of use. The controls were simple to use and we loved the display that shows the current power level and the zone that is active. The Boost feature generates high-powered heat in a brief time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. Safety features like the hob light that is hot or automatic shut-off are also useful. hobs uk 's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to achieve the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It takes longer to respond when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you might have to alter settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature. This 60 cm model features 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 with both normal and boost power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat while searing it or making water come to a quick boil. It's fully connected via the hOn app and comes with 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programmes split into different food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it can automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and has a range of safety features, like an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection. 2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a non-gas option. Prices have dropped drastically in the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now available for less that PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more. This sleek-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology to make your cooking efficient and easy. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the location 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 This hob is designed to save power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking needs. There are other options to save even more energy by 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 user-friendly interface of this hob with easy-to-use controls that move across the edge of the hob to follow the pan. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm. The hob also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you when there's a risk of a food item being burned or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features, like a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface gets too hot. It's also hard-wearing with the CleanProtect coating that is designed to protect it from tough stains and cooking marks. The hob comes with nine power levels and a 'FlexiDuo feature' for accommodating large pans and is easy to put in. There are a host of additional features, like lockable controls and a safety fuse in case of accidental button pushing. 3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is placed on top. This means they can heat up much quicker than conventional gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only heats up when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are simpler to clean and that's why they're an extremely popular option. Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features to help you get creative in the cooking. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans as well as an accelerated Booster zone that can bring water to boiling point quickly. A range of automatic functions like Push&Go allow you to cook your food perfectly with the click of one button. The controls are easy to operate and let you select nine power options, including the P boost option that gives maximum power to each zone for five minutes. The controls are easy to use, and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan when we placed it on the Booster Zone and boiled pasta water. It took a while for it to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel. Alongside the Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also has an overheating and child lock block, as well as an auto switch-off system that stops the hob working when it's too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers liked that. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, but it took two people to remove the filter. 4. GE Induction Hob Consider how the stove can work with your kitchen's layout and design as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features like an automatic shut-off or cool to the touch surface could make an induction cooker a better choice. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the ideal option. Gas hobs are a good option for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.
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