14 Companies Doing An Excellent Job At Best Hob
14 Companies Doing An Excellent Job At Best Hob
Blog Article
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are a lot of aspects to take into consideration when selecting the ideal hob, ranging from the price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are important is crucial.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to spend more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs are another popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're more expensive.
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 ways to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an pause feature, meaning you can stop the process without having to faff around with controls.
Its design is sleek, modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features controls that are flush with the worktop for ease of use.
The controls are intuitive to operate and we loved the clear display that tells you the current power settings, and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for just a short duration, and is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pots of water to a boil fast. Safety features like the hob light that is hot and automatic shutoff are beneficial.
It's not as responsive as other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, in comparison to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may need to alter settings multiple times before your pan reaches the right heat.
The model in 60 cm has four cooking zones, including a half-flex area where two areas can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. It comes with a dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal as well as 'boost power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly making water come to a quick boil.
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 preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it can automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn sets and comes with a variety of security features, including an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Whether you're having work done on your kitchen or simply looking for an alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped in the last few years, with basic four-zone models available for less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth the extra cost for the latest innovations.
This sleek-looking model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction technology to make your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises 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 doesn't overlook flexibility either This hob is designed to conserve power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking preferences. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to conserve more energy, reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.
Testers were awed by the user-friendly interface of this hob with easy-to-use controls that move along the edges of the hob, allowing it to follow the pan. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones together to cater for larger pans. There are numerous useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The hob also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you in the event of a burnt-on meal or a fire. There are a variety of safety check here features, including an indicator of residual heat and an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It is also resistant to tough stains, and has a protective coating of CleanProtect. This model has nine power levels and a 'FlexiDuo feature' to accommodate large pans and is easy to install. There are also a variety of extra features, like lockable controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when the pan is set on the top. This means they can reach a temperature much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and also save energy as the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring water to a boil. A variety of automated functions such as Push&Go lets you create perfectly cooked meals by pressing one button. There are nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected with the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to track the pans.
The controls are also easy to use and have modern, minimalist designs that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan when we put it on the Booster Zone, and pasta water that was boiling. It took a while to cool down after turning off the hob, and our testers were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also features a bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off system which prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there were no visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through a duct in the surface. Our experts believed that this hob's duct was easy to keep clean, although it took two people to take the filter to change it.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE
Think about how the hob will fit into the layout and design of your kitchen and the style of cooking you prefer. For instance, if frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features such as an automatic shut-off or cool to the touch surface can make an induction stove an ideal option. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the ideal alternative. Gas hobs are a good alternative for those living in areas susceptible to power outages.