How to Choose the Best Hob

When selecting the ideal hob for your needs there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.

A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to pay more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs, which are popular and provide excellent temperature control but are more expensive, are a different alternative.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

This Haier stove has four cooking zones with three "Push&Go" functions, and will help you prepare quick meals. It was also one of the quickest on test to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It has the child lock as well as a an pause feature, so you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls.

Its design is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with modern kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest directly on the worktop.

The controls were easy to use and we loved the display that shows the current power level as well as which zone is in use. The "Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly heating up pans. The hob's hot light and the automatic shutoff are helpful security features, too.

However it's not as responsive to touch as other hobs in this test. We found it took nine presses of the control to achieve the highest temperature, in contrast to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react to changes in temperature. You may have to adjust the settings multiple times to achieve the correct heat.

This model is 60cm long and includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex area where two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. It has a dual-ring design that can function on both 'normal and boost power levels. It is great for cooking meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boiling.

It's fully connected via the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes, with cooking instructions and 30 different programmes split into different food categories and preparation types. It features a multislider controls panel that has a lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third parties and has a number of security features, including a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Whether you're having work done in your kitchen or looking for an alternative to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have plummeted in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models available for less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that come with induction it's worth paying more to get the latest technology.

This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology here automatically detects the location of pots with a minimum diameter of 9 cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without having to manually select it.

Smeg's attention to energy savings does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to conserve power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking requirements. There are other options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 4 kW.

Testers were impressed with the user-friendly interface of this hob, with intuitive sliding controls that slide across the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" feature lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.

The oven also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you when there's a risk of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are also several safety features, like an indicator of residual heat and an auto shut-off feature if the surface gets too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard staining and cooking marks. This hob is easy to install and has nine power levels, as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are also a number of additional features, including locking 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 stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is placed on top. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs and they use less energy since the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas and are simpler to wipe clean too making them an extremely popular choice.

Indesit's induction hob is full of features that will allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans as well as the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to the boiling point quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook perfectly by pressing a button. And nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to track the pans.

The controls are also simple to use and have an elegant, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up when we put an oven in the Booster zone. However, it took some time to cool down once it was turned off from the hob and our testers found it difficult to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also features a bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has a child lock and overheating block and an auto switch-off system that stops the hob working when it's heated to the point of. Our test subjects were pleased that there were no visible flames that were messy and messy, and the ceramic glass was easy to clean. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room by a duct located on the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, however it took two people to remove the filter.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the stove will be able to fit into the layout and design of your kitchen and what your cooking style is. For instance, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as automatic shut-off and cool to the touch surface may make an induction cooker an ideal option. If you value speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is a great choice. Gas hobs are a good choice for those who live in areas susceptible to power outages.