Don't Buy Into These "Trends" Concerning Best Hob
How to Choose the Best HobWhen choosing the best hob for your needs, there are many factors to take into consideration. From cost to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're also pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob comes with four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go" functions, and will aid in cooking quick meals. It was one of the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an option to pause the process, so you can stop the process without having to fiddle around with the controls.
Its design is sleek and modern and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has control buttons that sit in the same place as the worktop to make it easy to use.
The controls were simple to use and we appreciated the display that displays the current power level as well as which zone is active. The "Boost" feature creates powerful heat in a short time. It is perfect to stir fry and speedily boiling pans. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also useful.
However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs we tested. We found it took nine presses on the control to achieve the highest temperature, compared with six or seven on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you might have to alter settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.
This 60 cm model comes with 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 at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat and searing it, or making water come to a quick boil.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app, and offers hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 unique programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation types. It features a multislider controls panel with a "lockable interface' that can identify the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn sets and comes with a variety of safety features, such as an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Whether you're having work done in your kitchen, or seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a little more.
This sleek-looking model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots that have dimensions of at least 9 cm and then automatically activates the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's focus is on energy efficiency, but it doesn't ignore flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to save power based on the maximum temperatures of the zones. There are options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edges of it. The control panel's color-coded design makes it easy to determine the status of each zone. The "Flexi duo" feature lets the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, such as four automatic cooking presets (melting boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.
The hob also has an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are several safety features, including a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface is too hot.
It's also hard-wearing with the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist tough marks and stains from cooking. This hob has nine power levels and the FlexiDuo feature for accommodating large pans and is simple to set up. There are a few bonus features like lockable here controls, and an emergency fuse to stop accidental button pressing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They make use of copper plates to create magnetic force when a pot or pan is placed on them. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas and they are also simpler to clean.
This induction hob from Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two separate zones that can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and an instant booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go lets you create perfectly cooked meals by pressing the button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to choose nine power modes including the P boost option that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.
The controls are easy to operate and feature modern, minimalist designs that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up once we placed a pan on the Booster zone. However, it took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob. Additionally, our test participants were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows the user to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an auto switch-off system that stops the appliance from working when it's heated to the point of. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers were impressed by the fact that it's. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is located on the surface. Our experts believed that 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 manufactured by GE
When selecting a kitchen appliance think about how it will fit to your kitchen's design and layout, and also your cooking style and lifestyle. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features like automatic shut-off and an icy to the touch surface could make an induction stove the best choice. For those who prefer efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a clean ceramic glass facia is ideal. For those living in regions susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.