How to Choose the Best Hob

There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is essential.

A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as low as PS100, but you'll need to spend more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs are a popular choice, and offer great temperature control, Best Hob but they're pricier.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

This Haier hob has four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go" functions and can assist you in making quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with a child lock and pause function so you can stop the process in a snap without having to fiddle with controls.

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

The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display that tells you the current power settings and which of the five zones are in use. The "Boost" feature produces powerful heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. The hob's light that is hot and the automatic shutoff are helpful security features, too.

It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the temperature of cooking, which means you might have to alter settings several times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.

This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. It features a dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal' and 'boost' power levels. The Boost model is great for frying and searing meat, or bringing pans of water to the rapid boil.

It's fully connected through the hOn app, and offers hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. It has a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' that can identify the type pan you are using to set the correct cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third party companies and has various safety features such as the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction hob uk

Whether you're having work done in your kitchen, or searching for a substitute to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a little more.

This slick-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology to make your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without having to select it manually.

Smeg's primary focus is on energy efficiency but it doesn't forget the possibility of flexibility. The hob and oven can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the highest temperatures that the zones can operate at. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to save more energy, reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.

Testers were impressed with the hob's user-friendly design with easy-to-use controls that move along the edges of the hob, allowing it to follow your pan. The control panel's colour scheme lets you quickly see the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.

In addition, the hob has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you when there is a risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are a variety of safety features like the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface is too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist hard marks and stains from cooking. This model has nine power levels and an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to accommodate large pans and is simple to set up. There are a host of extra features, such as control locks and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They use copper plates to generate a magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They can heat up much quicker than gas hobs, and they also consume less energy since the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also less difficult 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 cooking zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone for larger pots and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to the boiling point quickly. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook with perfection with the click of the button. There are nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected with the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to follow the pans.

The controls are simple to operate, and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up once we placed an oven and hob in the Booster zone. However, it took some time to cool down after we shut off the hob. Our test participants were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

Alongside having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block, as well as an auto shut-off feature that shuts down the hob when it's heated to the point of. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers liked that. Unlike a traditional extractor hood vented hobs draw steam ovens and hobs uk smoke out of the pan and out of the room via an air duct on 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

Consider how the hob can work with the layout and design of your kitchen, as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, security features such as automatic shut-off and an icy to the touch surface may make an induction cooker the best option. If you prefer efficiency and speed, an electric hob with a glass face that is wipe-clean is ideal. If you live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.