When deciding on the best hob to buy there are a variety of factors to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.A basic ceramic electric hob can cost less than PS100. However you'll need to pay more for one with many features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice and ovensandhobs provide great temperature control, but they're also more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones with three 'Push&Go" functions, and will assist you in making quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has a pause function, so you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and modern, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit flush on the worktop.
The controls are intuitive to operate and we loved the clear display which tells you the current power settings, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a brief period of time, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pots of water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also beneficial.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs in this test. We found it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, as opposed to seven or six on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings multiple times before you get the proper temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone that allows two zones 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. It is great for cooking meat while searing it or making water come to a quick boil.
It's fully connected via the hOn app and comes with 100's of recipes, with cooking instructions and 30 different programs divided into different food categories and preparation styles. It has a multislider control panel with 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 comes with a variety of safety features, like a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or searching for a gas-free option. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with basic four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it is worth the extra cost.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with a diameter of at least 9 cm and then automatically will activate the appropriate zone.
Smeg's attention to energy savings does not leave out flexibility too The hob is built to conserve power by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking preferences. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to save more energy by reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker was a hit with testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded layout allows you to easily identify the status of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" function allows the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, such as four automatic cooking presets (melting boiling, melting slow cooking, and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.
In addition to this the hob also has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you when there is a danger of a burning or burning food. There are other safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an automatic shut-off when the surface gets too hot.
It also resists hard stains and comes with an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. This hob is easy to install and features nine power levels as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are several bonus features like lockable controls, and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is placed on top. This means they can reach temperatures much quicker than conventional gas hobs and also conserve energy since the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are easier to wipe clean too and that's why they're an extremely popular choice.
This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to be creative in the kitchen. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone that can bring water to boil quickly. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go let you create perfectly cooked meals with the click of one button. The controls are easy to use and allow you to choose nine power modes, including the P boost option that provides maximum power in each zone for five minutes.
The controls are simple to operate, and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up after placing an oven on the Booster zone. However it took some time to cool off after we turned off the hob. Additionally, our testers found it difficult to pinpoint the exact temperature 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 also has an overheating and child lock block and an auto shut-off feature that shuts down the hob when it's overheated. Our test participants were impressed that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the glass was easy to clean. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via an air duct that is built into the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, however it required two people to take the filter out.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a hob think about how it will fit to your kitchen's style and layout, and also your cooking style and life. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features like an automatic shut-off or an icy to the touch surface may make an induction hob the best option. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the ideal choice. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages could tip the scales in favour of a gas model.
