3 Reasons Commonly Cited For Why Your Best Hob Isn't Working (And How To Fix It)
How to Choose the Best Hob
When deciding on the best hob to buy there are a lot of aspects to take into consideration. From price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are essential is vital.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as low as PS100 however, you'll have to shell out more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs are another popular option and offer excellent temperature control, however they are pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this cooker from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also one of the quickest tested to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It has an child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle with controls.
Its design is sleek, modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest flush on the worktop.
The controls are intuitive to operate and we loved the clear display that informs you the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a short period of time. It is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob and automatic shutoff are beneficial.
It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, as opposed to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to respond to changes in temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings a few times before you get the proper heat.
This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. Dual-ring design permits it to operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying, searing meat or bringing pots of water to a rapid boil.
It is fully connected through the hOn app and includes hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 special programmes divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface and a 'lockable' control panel, plus it is able to automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan 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
Induction hobs have become increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free option. Prices have slashed in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models available for less than PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth the extra cost for the most up-to-date technology.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology to make cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots with a minimum diameter of 9 cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's main focus is on energy savings, but it doesn't ignore flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to save power based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to reduce energy consumption, reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.
Testers were awed by the hob's user-friendly design, with intuitive sliding controls that move across the edge of the hob, allowing it to follow the pan. The control panel's color scheme lets you quickly see the status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
The oven also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you if there's a danger of a burnt-on meal or the possibility of a fire. There are a variety of safety features, such as a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface gets too hot.
It also resists tough stains and features a protective coating of CleanProtect. The hob comes with nine power levels and an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to allow for large pans, and is easy to put in. There are also a number of additional features, such as 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 electric field when a pan is placed on the top. This means they can heat up much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and also conserve energy since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive than gas and are easier to wipe clean too making them a popular option.
This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone for larger pots and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boiling point quickly. A variety of automated functions like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes at the touch of one button. The controls are simple to operate and allow you to select nine power modes including the P boost option that provides maximum power to each zone for five minutes.
The controls are easy to operate and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone, and boiled pasta water. It took a while for it to cool down after turning off the hob, and our test subjects were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also comes with the bridge function, which allows you to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It also has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off system which prevents the oven from working if it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that there was no visible flame. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is built into the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people to remove the filter.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the hob can be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style is. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as an automatic shut-off feature and cool to the touch surface may make an induction hob an ideal option. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the ideal choice. Gas hobs are a great option for those who live in areas prone to power outages.