12 Stats About Best Hob To Inspire You To Look More Discerning Around The Water Cooler
12 Stats About Best Hob To Inspire You To Look More Discerning Around The Water Cooler
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How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model that comes with numerous features. Gas hobs, which are also popular and offer great temperature control but are more expensive, are a different alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this hob from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was one of the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking just four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with an option to pause the process, so you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around using controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary, and works well with contemporary kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features controls that are in the same place as the worktop for ease of use.
The controls were simple to operate, and we liked the display that displays the current power level and the zone that is currently in use. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a short duration, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the hot hob light or automatic shut-off are also beneficial.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as other hobs in this test. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to achieve the highest temperature, as opposed to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react to changes in temperature. You may need to adjust the settings multiple times to get the right heat.
This 60 cm model has 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. The Boost model is great for frying, searing meat or bringing pans of water to the rapid boiling point.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes with cooking instructions and 30 different programs that are divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It features a simple multislider interface, as well as a lockable' control panel, plus it can automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn sets and comes with a variety of safety features, such as a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth the extra cost to get the latest technology.
This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots with a minimum diameter of 9 cm, allowing you to switch on the appropriate zone without having to select it manually.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings however, it doesn't overlook the flexibility of this appliance - get more info it can be adjusted to save power based on the maximum temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to save more energy, reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded layout allows you to easily identify the state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" function allows 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 hob also has a FlameSensor which will alert you in the event of a meal that's been burned or the possibility of a fire. There are a variety of safety features, such as a residual heat indicator and an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It also resists hard stains and comes with an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. The hob comes with nine power levels as well as a 'FlexiDuo feature' for accommodating large pans and is easy to install. There are also a number of bonus 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 make use of copper plates to generate magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means they can reach a temperature much quicker than conventional gas hobs and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also simpler to clean.
Indesit's induction hob is full of features that will allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to the boil quickly. A variety of automated functions like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes with the click of the button. Nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to track the pans.
The controls are also simple to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone and boiled pasta water. However it took an extended time to cool down after we shut off the hob and our testers found it difficult to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.
In addition to having a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an auto switch-off system that stops the hob working when it's heated to the point of. Our testers appreciated the fact that there were no messy, visible flames and the glass was easy to clean. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct on the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, but it required two people in order to take the filter out.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the stove will be able to fit into the layout and design of your kitchen, as well as what your cooking style is. For example, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features such as an automatic shut-off feature and an icy to the touch surface could make an induction stove a better choice. For those who prefer speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is a great choice. Gas hobs are an excellent alternative for those living in areas susceptible to power outages.