Will Best Hob Always Rule The World?
Will Best Hob Always Rule The World?
Blog Article
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, 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 have to pay more for one with many features. Gas hobs, which are popular and provide excellent temperature control, but are expensive, are another alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones, three "Push&Go" functions and can aid in cooking quick meals. It was one of the fastest ways to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It comes with a child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process quickly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is sleek, modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features touch controls that sit in the same place as the worktop for easy use.
The controls are intuitive to use and we liked the clear display that informs the current power setting and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a short period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. The hob's light that is hot and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs in this test. We found it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings multiple times to achieve the correct temperature.
This 60 cm model has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is perfect for cooking, searing meat or bringing water pans to the rapid boiling point.
It is fully integrated with the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 different programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a multislider controls panel with a "lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn cookware from third-party manufacturers and comes with several security features, including a lockable panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Whether you're having work done in your kitchen or searching for a substitute to gas induction hobs, they are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have slashed dramatically over the past few years. Basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a little more.
This sleek-looking model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots with an overall diameter of at least 9 cm and automatically activates the appropriate zone.
Smeg's focus on energy saving doesn't overlook flexibility either - this hob is designed to save power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking needs. There are options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.
Testers were impressed by the hob's user-friendly design that has intuitive controls that slide along the edge of the hob in order to follow your 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 cater for larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions, including four automated 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 meal that's been burned or an igniting fire. There are several safety features, including the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It's also hard-wearing with an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough staining and cooking marks. This hob is easy to set up and comes with nine power levels as well as a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are a host of extra features, such as 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 use copper plates to generate an electric force when a pot or pan is placed on them. This means they can heat up much quicker than conventional gas hobs and also conserve energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on a pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas and are easier to wipe clean too making them a popular choice.
Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features that will allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It has two separate zones which can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as an instant booster zone to quickly bring water to a boil. A variety of automated functions such as Push&Go let you cook your food perfectly by pressing a button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to choose nine power options, including a P boost setting which gives the highest power for 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 cooked pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up when we put an oven in the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, and our test subjects were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also has an overheating and child lock block and an auto shut-off feature that shuts down the hob when it's overheated. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers were impressed by the fact that there was no visible flame. Unlike a traditional extractor hood, here vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is built into the surface. Our experts thought the duct on this hob was easy to clean, even though it required two people to take the filter out and change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a kitchen appliance take a look at how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and lifestyle. Induction hobs are a great option if you cook with children or the elderly in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. Alternatively, for those who value speed and efficiency, an electric hob with a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. If you live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power outages may tip the scales in favour of gas models.