20 Things You Should Ask About Best Hob Before You Decide To Purchase It
How to Choose the Best Hob There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is essential. A basic electric ceramic hob could cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to shell out more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs, which are popular and offer great temperature control but are more expensive, are another alternative. 1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this cooker from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It comes with an child lock and pause function so you can stop the process swiftly without having to fiddle with controls. Its style is modern and sleek it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with touch controls that sit flush with the worktop to make it easy to use. The controls are intuitive to use and we liked the clear display which tells you the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a brief duration, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to the boil quickly. The hob's light that is hot and auto shut-off are great security features, too. It's not as responsive as the other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, in comparison to six or seven for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings a few times to achieve the correct temperature. This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. Dual-ring design permits it to be operated at both “normal” and “boost” power levels. Boost is ideal for frying and searing meat, or bringing water pans to a rapid boiling point. It's fully connected through the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programmes split into different food categories and preparation types. It has an intuitive multislider interface, as well as a lockable' control panel, plus it is able to automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set the right cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans made by third party companies and has a number of safety features such as a lockable panel and boil-dry prevention. 2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free option. Prices have plummeted in the last few years, with basic four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more. This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with a diameter of at least 9 centimetres and automatically will activate the appropriate zone. ovens hobs on energy efficiency does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to conserve power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking requirements. There are other options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW. The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme 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 automatic cooking presets (melting boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient. In addition the hob also has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you of any risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are a variety of safety features, such as a residual heat indicator as well as an auto switch-off if the surface is too hot. It also resists hard stains and comes with an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. The hob is simple to set up and comes with nine power levels and a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are several bonus features such as locking controls and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing. 3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They utilize copper plates to create an electric force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs, and they use less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas and are simpler to wipe clean too and that's why they're an extremely popular option. Indesit's induction hob is full of features to help you develop your cooking ideas. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans as well as a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go let you cook your food perfectly at the touch of the button. There are oven and hob , including a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to track your pans. The controls are simple to use and the minimalist design is perfect for modern kitchens. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up once we placed a pan on the Booster zone. However, it took a long time to cool down once we turned off the hob and our test participants were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel. This Indesit hob also features a bridge function, which allows the user to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off feature that stops the hob from working if it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no visible flames. Our testers were impressed by that. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room through a duct on the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people in order to take the filter out. 4. Induction Hob from GE Think about how the hob will be able to fit into the layout and design of your kitchen as well as what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are an excellent choice if you cook with children or older people in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. 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 good alternative for those living in areas that are susceptible to power outages.