How to Choose the Best Hob

When deciding on the best hob for your needs there are a lot of aspects to consider. From cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are essential is vital.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs just PS100. However you'll have to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs are another popular choice and provide great temperature control, however they are more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this hob from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also one of the fastest tested to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to mess around using controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with touch controls that sit flush with the worktop for ease of use.

The controls are simple to use, and we appreciated the clear display that tells the current power setting, and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a short time. It is perfect for stir-frying and rapidly boiling pans. The hob's hot light and automatic shutdown are useful security features, too.

However, it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, as opposed to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. You may have to adjust the settings multiple times before you get the proper temperature.

The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of the zones is a half-flex which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It comes with a dual-ring design that can function on both 'normal as well as 'boost power levels. The Boost model is great for frying, searing meat or bringing pans of water to the rapid boiling point.


It is fully connected to the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 different programs that are divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It has a multislider control panel with a "lockable interface' that can identify the type pan you are using to set the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn cookware from third-party manufacturers and comes with various security features, including a lockable panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with basic four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it is worth paying a bit more.

i loved this from Smeg boasts the latest induction tech to keep your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots with a diameter of at least 9 centimetres and automatically selects the appropriate zone.

Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not mean that they don't offer flexibility - this hob is designed to conserve power by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking needs. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to reduce energy consumption by reducing power output to as low as 2.4kW.

Testers were impressed by this hob's user-friendly interface that has intuitive controls that slide across the edge of the hob, allowing it to follow your pan. The control panel's color-coded layout allows you to easily identify the status of each zone. The "Flexi duo" function allows you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions, including four automated cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

In addition to this, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you of any danger of a fire or food that has been burned. There are also several safety features, like a residual heat indicator as well as an auto shut-off feature if the surface is too hot.

It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to protect it from tough marks and stains from cooking. The hob comes with nine power levels as well as an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to allow for large pans, and is easy to install. There are a few bonus features such as locking controls and an emergency fuse to stop accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They utilize copper plates to create an electric force when a pot or pan is placed on them. This means that they can reach temperatures faster than gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only heats up when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive than gas and are simpler to clean, which makes them an extremely popular choice.

Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. A range of automatic functions like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes with the click of the button. Nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected using the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to follow the pans.

The controls are also easy to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up once we placed an oven on the Booster zone. However, it took some time to cool down after it was turned off from the hob and our testers were unable to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

In addition to a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven from working if it gets too hot. additional hints is easy to clean and there are no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that there was no visible flame. Unlike a traditional extractor hood, vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via an air duct that is built into the surface. Our experts believed that the duct of this hob was simple to keep clean, although it took two people to take the filter out and change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the stove will work with the layout and design of your kitchen, as well as what your cooking style. Induction hobs are a good option if you cook with children or older people in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. For those who live in areas prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs during power outages may tip the scales in favour of gas models.