How to Choose the Best Hob

There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are important is essential.

A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs, which are also popular and offer great temperature control, but are more expensive, are a different alternative.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this hob from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was also one of the quickest on test to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It comes with an child lock and pause function so you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls.

Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit flush on the worktop.

The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display that tells you the current power settings and which of the five zones is active. The "Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a brief time. It's ideal for stir-frying and quickly heating up pans. The hob's light that is hot and auto shut-off are great security features, too.

It's not as responsive as other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, as opposed to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you change the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings several times to achieve the correct temperature.

This model is 60cm long and includes 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 on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly bringing water to a rapid boiling.

It is fully integrated with the hOn app and includes 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 different programs that are divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It features a multislider controls panel with a "lockable interface' and can detect the type pan you are using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a number of safety features such as a lockable panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

When you're doing work in your kitchen, or searching for a substitute to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped dramatically in the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it is worth the extra cost.

This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.

Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not mean that they don't offer flexibility - this hob is designed to save power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking needs. There are options to save energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.

The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edge of it. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see the operating status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful functions, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.

Additionally the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' that warns you when there is a risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are many safety features, including a residual heat sensor and an automatic shut-off if the surface becomes too hot.

It also has a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough stains and cooking marks. This model has nine power levels, the FlexiDuo feature to allow for large pans, and is simple to set up. There are a host of bonus features, such as lockable controls 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 utilize copper plates to generate an electric force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means that they can reach a temperature more quickly than gas hobs. They also save energy as 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 option.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to get creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone for larger pans and an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to the boil quickly. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go lets you cook your food perfectly at the touch of one button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to select nine power options, including a P boost setting that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.

The controls are easy to use and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up once we placed an oven with hob in the Booster zone. 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.

In addition to having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also 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 flames visible. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room by a duct located on the surface. Our experts thought that the duct on this hob was easy to clean, though it required two people to take the filter out and change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the stove will work with your kitchen's layout and design as well as what your cooking style is. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features such as automatic shut-off and an icy to the touch surface can make an induction stove a better choice. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the best oven uk option. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs during power cuts may make the difference in favor of gas models.