Choosing the Best Hob

Choosing the best hob depends on your cooking preferences and available space. The selection of the best hob requires a look at the kind of worktop that you have as well as the location of your extractor hood.

A basic gas-on-glass stove costs less than PS100 If you select an own-brand model. They are less difficult to clean and come with many safety features like the red indicator that lights when they are hot.

1. Flexibility

Whether you're looking to cook an easy midweek meal or perfect your pancake technique, a movable hob is essential. The best hobs give you precise temperature control, with features such as dual wok burners and an enormous cooking space making them ideal for a wide range of recipes. These hobs can be utilized in any kitchen, thanks to their sleek design and easy to clean surfaces. In addition, many of them come with the option to add a built-in extractor fan, eliminating the need for an additional overhead appliance and freeing space on your worktop.

Gas hobs offer you instant warmth, so it's not a surprise that they're an extremely popular option. However, they need regular cleaning to ensure you don't run the risk of carbon build-up on your hob or a fire bursting. In addition, they typically take longer to boil water than models that use induction.

Induction hobs heat the pan itself rather than the cooker surface which makes them more easy to clean. They can be more expensive, and their glossy surfaces are more likely to show fingerprints and scratches.

Hybrid hobs offer the benefits of gas and induction cooking in one product, allowing you to change between these two modes based on the kind of food you're cooking. They are ideal for those who want to test their culinary skills but don't want to make a major investment in their kitchen.

This electric hob is an excellent example of a model that can be flexed in design and function. Its dual flex zones can be used to accommodate larger pans or pots. The controls also have the option of a child lock to prevent children from changing the settings. It's also designed to be connected to a smart hub, so you can manage the features via your smartphone.

Smeg's induction hob is a high-spec model that can be connected to your WiFI network. It's packed with features to help cook faster and more efficiently such as automatic pan detection and PowerBoost and an alarm clock and a pause function. It's also simple to use with touchscreen controls that react immediately to changes you make and sleek modern design.

2. Energy efficiency

The best oven hobs use the least amount of energy regardless of whether you're cooking soup or bringing water to a boil. This makes them an excellent choice for those who are looking to reduce their electric costs. Induction hobs are the most efficient type, using electromagnetic fields to heat your pan directly so that the glass stays cool. This also makes them the most secure choice to avoid burns from accidental accidents. But while gas hobs aren't as efficient, they tend to be cheaper to run than electric ones.

The Miele I-Flex induction hob is our top choice. It offers a lot of flexibility due to the "I Flex' zone, which allows you to join two cooking zones into one large area, so you can use big saucepans and pots. The child lock on the touch controls stops children from turning the hob or changing settings. This is a fantastic feature for families with young children. And although the ceramic glass has a matte finish, it's easy to keep clean with just a wipe.

Another impressive aspect of this hob is its "Pan detection" function, which automatically switches off the power to a cooking zone after you have removed your pan. This is not the only hob to have this feature, but it's a great addition to make life easier for those who cook a lot for a large family or group of friends.

This is a smart stove that connects to the internet so that you can control it via an app on your phone. It can even alert you when your food is ready, so you don't overcook it. This model was able to boil our test pan of hot water in just four minutes, which is extremely quick for an Induction stove. It has cooking zones that are flexible that you can mix and an 'Stop & Go' button that reduces all the cooking zones to the lowest setting, making it easy to switch off.

This compact induction cooker is ideal for camping trips and also for taking to university. It's the thinnest and lightest hob we tested, yet it has all of our cooking functions as well as an adjustable slider. It also has a built-in 'VaryCook' function which lets you alter the temperature by moving your pan up and down the surface of the hob, which is perfect for making sauces or caramel.

3. Convenience

When selecting a new kitchen appliance, you'll have to consider the way it's incorporated into the design of your kitchen and what it will do to enhance the efficiency of your home. This will help you narrow down your choices and choose the one that's ideal for your family, you, and your property. It is also advisable to read reviews to find out what other people think about the appliance. This will help you better understand its strengths and weaknesses.

Some hob brands are renowned for their advanced technology, making them the ideal choice for those who prefer to control their cooking via their mobile. For example, Samsung's models feature electronic timers that allow you to set precise cooking times and prevent overcooking. This is particularly useful for people who have busy lives, as the timer will ensure that your meals are cooked at the time they should be without having to constantly monitor them.

Gas hobs are also a good option for those seeking more traditional appearance. They are able to cook using a wide range of cookware sizes and styles. This includes non-flat-bottomed pans and pans, which may be difficult to place on other types of hob. Gas ovens hobs are usually equipped with a range of settings, so that you can alter the temperature to suit your cooking.

Induction hobs are yet another popular option for those looking to modernize their kitchen, as they provide quicker heat-up times and are more efficient in energy use than gas models. This is particularly true for induction hobs with a built-in oven hob, as they can reduce space in your kitchen by providing you with an oven and hob in one unit.

Another feature to look out for is a child lock which lets you block the controls of a hob and shield children from accidents in the kitchen. This is particularly important for families with young children, as it will help prevent burns and other injuries. Additionally some induction hobs come with an option to connect two zones to create a larger cooking area that can be beneficial in the event that you're using large pots.

4. Safety

A good hob will have many safety features. These include an indicator for the hot surface of the hob that will warn you when the surface is hot and prevent accidents in the kitchen. Some hobs come with locks for children to stop children from turning on the stove or altering the settings. Some will have a function that allows you to merge two cooking zones into one larger zone so that you can cook a wider pan.

This is a great feature for family households and it can help keep everyone safe in the kitchen. It operates by monitoring the temperature of the hob. If it finds that the pan hasn't been properly placed or if there's an fire on the hob it will shut off the burner. It's a great method to ensure that your home is safe, and you should consider it when shopping.

You can select between electric, gas, and induction hobs. Gas hobs make use of the use of a flame to heat your pans. Electric hobs feature electric rings you can control by pressing a button. Induction hobs make use of magnets to heat your pans. They won't work unless a magnetizable pan is placed on them. This is a highly efficient hob and it cools quickly once the pan has been removed.

This type of hob saves space as it does not require an extractor fan. You can therefore have an easier kitchen design. It can be more expensive than other hobs but it's a great choice for any home. It can also be used to eliminate excessive smoke and steam from the kitchen, which can help improve the air quality inside your home. This is a fantastic choice for families as it protects against burns and is very easy to clean. When it comes to choosing a cooktop, there are many choices to take into consideration. It is important to study them all before making a decision.