Looking Into The Future What Is The Best Hob Industry Look Like In 10 Years?
How to Choose the Best Hob
When selecting the ideal hob to buy there are a lot of aspects to consider. From price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as little as PS100, but you'll need to spend more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs, also popular and provide excellent temperature control, but are expensive, are another alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this stove from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with an option to pause the process, so you can quickly stop the process without having to fiddle around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit directly on the worktop.
The controls are easy to use and we liked the clear display that tells you the current power settings and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a short time. It is perfect to stir fry and speedily heating up pans. The hot hob light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.
However it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature as opposed to seven or six on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react to changes in temperature. You may need to adjust the settings multiple times to achieve the correct temperature.
This 60 cm model comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex zone where two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. Dual-ring design permits it to operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing pans of water to the rapid boil.
It's fully connected through the hOn app and comes with 100's of recipes with cooking instructions and 30 different programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. It comes with a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' that can identify the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn sets and has a range of safety features, like an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or looking for a non-gas option. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it is worth the extra cost.
ovens uk -looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology to make your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots that have dimensions of at least 9cm and then automatically selects the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's main focus is on energy efficiency but it doesn't forget the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the highest temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to reduce energy consumption by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's colour-coded scheme allows you to easily identify the state of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" function lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions, including four automated cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
Additionally the hob also has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you of any risk of fire or food that has been burned. There are also several safety features, including an indicator of residual heat and an auto shut-off feature if the surface gets too hot.
It also resists tough stains, and has a CleanProtect protective coating. This hob is easy to install and has nine power levels as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are a host of bonus features, like lockable controls and a safety fuse in case of accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They use copper plates to generate an electric force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They are able to heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they also consume less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas, and they're easier to clean, which makes them an extremely popular option.
This induction hob by Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a rapid booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook with perfection at the touch a button. The controls are simple to use and let you select nine power modes including the P boost option that gives maximum power to each zone for five minutes.
The controls are simple to use, and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up after placing an oven on the Booster zone. It took a while for it to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our testers had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.
In addition to having a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It has a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off system which stops the hob from working when it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no flames visible. Our test subjects were pleased with that. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through a duct in the surface. Our experts thought the duct on this hob was easy to clean, even though it required two people to lift the filter out to change it.
4. Induction Hob from GE
When selecting a hob think about how it will fit to your kitchen's style and layout, as well as your cooking style and life. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features like automatic shut-off and an icy to the touch surface could make an induction hob an ideal option. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the best option. For those who live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs during power cuts may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.