How to Choose the best hob uk Hob

There are many factors to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs just PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model with numerous features. Gas hobs are a popular choice and provide great temperature control, however they are more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this hob from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an pause feature, meaning you can stop the process without having to mess around with the controls.

Its style is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has control buttons that sit flush with the worktop for easy use.

The controls are intuitive to use, and we appreciated the clear display that informs you the current power settings and which of the five zones are in use. The "Boost" feature creates powerful heat in a short time. It is perfect for stir-frying and quickly heating up pans. The hob's hot light and the automatic shutoff are helpful safety features, too.

However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs we tested. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature in contrast to seven or six on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you change the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings multiple times to get the right heat.

The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. The dual-ring design allows it to operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying and searing meat, or hobs bringing pans of water to the rapid boiling point.

It is fully integrated with the hOn App and has hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 special programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It has a multislider control panel with a "lockable interface' and can detect the type pan you are using to set the correct cooking mode. It also works with hOn cookware from third parties and has several security features, including the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

When you're doing work in your kitchen or looking for an alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models can be found at less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth paying more for the most up-to-date technology.

This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots that have a diameter of at least 9 centimetres and automatically selects the appropriate zone.

Smeg's main focus is on energy efficiency however, it doesn't overlook the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to save more energy, reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.

Testers were impressed with this hob's user-friendly interface that has intuitive controls that slide along the edges of the hob, allowing it to follow your pan. The control panel's colour scheme lets you quickly see the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are a variety of useful features, including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

The hob also comes with an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a burnt-on meal or a fire. There are several safety features like the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with a protective CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough stains and cooking marks. The hob is simple to set up and has nine power levels as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are several bonus features, such as control locks, as well as a safety fuse to prevent accidental pressing of buttons.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is placed on the top. This means they can reach a temperature more quickly than gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only is heated when you turn on the pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas and are simpler to clean and that's why they're an extremely popular option.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that allow you to be creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as an instant booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook perfectly by pressing a button. There are nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the hob to track your pans.

The controls are also easy to use and have modern, minimalist designs that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up when we put an oven 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.

This Indesit hob also features a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven with hob from working if it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and has no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with that. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people in order to remove the filter.

4. Induction Hob from General Electric

Think about how the hob can be able to fit into the layout and design of your kitchen and the style of cooking you prefer. Induction hobs are an excellent choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the best ovens and hobs alternative. For those living in regions susceptible to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs oven in power outages may tilt the balance in favor of a gas model.