9 . What Your Parents Taught You About Best Hob

How to Choose the best oven Hob

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is crucial.

A basic electric ceramic stove could cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to shell out more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're also 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 one of the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with a child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process swiftly without having to fiddle with controls.

Its design is sleek and contemporary, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit in a flush position on the countertop.

The controls were simple to use and we appreciated the display that shows the current power level and the zone that is in use. The 'Boost" feature creates powerful heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great security features, too.

However it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, as opposed to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer to react when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may need to alter settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.

This model is 60cm long and comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex zone where two zones can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. It has a dual-ring design that can operate on both 'normal as well as 'boost power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat, searing it or quickly bring water to a fast boil.

It's fully integrated with the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation types. It has an intuitive multislider interface as well as a lockable' control panel, plus it will automatically recognize the kind of pan you're using and set the right cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans made by third party companies and has several security features, including the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction oven hob

If you're working in your kitchen or seeking a better alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth paying more to get the latest technology.

This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with a diameter of at least 9 cm and automatically will activate the appropriate zone.

Smeg's attention to energy savings does not mean that they don't offer flexibility - this hob is designed to reduce power consumption by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking preferences. There are also options to save even more energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.

The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edges of it. The control panel's color-coded layout makes it easy to identify the state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" function lets you connect 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.

In addition to this the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you if there is any risk of fire or burnt-on food. There are a variety of safety features, such as a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface becomes too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains, and has an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. The hob is simple to install and has nine power levels, as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are some additional features such as locking controls and a safety fuse to protect against accidental pressing of buttons.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They make use of copper plates to generate magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive than gas and are easier to wipe clean too, which makes them an extremely popular option.

This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone that can bring water to boil quickly. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go lets you create perfectly cooked meals by pressing one button. And nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow the pans.

The controls are simple to operate and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan after we placed it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. However it took an extended time to cool down after we shut off the hob and our testers were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.

Alongside the Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It comes with a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven with hob from working if it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is simple to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers were impressed by that. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room by a duct 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

When selecting a kitchen appliance take a look at how it fits into your kitchen's design and layout, in addition to your cooking style and lifestyle. Induction hobs are an excellent choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They come with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. Alternatively, for those who value speed and efficiency, an electric hob with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is the best hobs uk choice. If you live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas ovens hobs during power outages could make the difference in favor of a gas model.