How to Choose the Best Hob

When selecting the ideal hob, there are many factors to take into consideration. From cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs, also popular and offer great temperature control, but are more expensive, are another option.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

This Haier stove has four cooking zones, three "Push&Go" functions, and will assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the fastest on test to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with an option to pause the process, so you can stop the process without having to mess around using controls.

Its style is sleek and 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 they sit in a flush position on the countertop.

The controls were simple to use, and we liked the display that displays the current power level and the zone that is currently in use. The 'Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a short time. It is perfect for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also useful.


It's not as responsive as other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, as opposed to six or seven for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to respond when you change the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings several times to achieve the correct temperature.

The model in 60 cm has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. It has a dual-ring design that is able to operate on both normal as well as 'boost power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing water pans to a rapid boiling point.

It's fully connected via the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes, with cooking instructions and 30 different programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation types. It has an intuitive multislider interface and a 'lockable' control panel, plus it will automatically recognize the kind of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a variety of security features, including the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

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

This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction tech to keep your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with a diameter of at least 9 centimetres and then automatically will activate the appropriate zone.

Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not leave out flexibility too - this hob is designed to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking needs. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to conserve more energy by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.

The user-friendly interface of this hob was a hit with testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan along the edges of it. The control panel's colour scheme allows you to quickly determine the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are a variety of useful functions, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.

Additionally, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you of any danger of a fire or burnt-on food. There are other safety features, such as a residual heat indicator as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist tough stains and cooking marks. This hob is easy to set up and has nine power levels as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering to large pans. There are also a number of extra features, like lockable controls and a safety fuse in case 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 electromagnetic field when the pan is set on the top. This means that they can reach temperatures faster than gas hobs. They also conserve energy since the cooking area only is heated when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas and they are also less difficult to clean.

Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features to help you be creative when cooking. It has two separate zones that can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. A variety of automated functions like Push&Go allow you to cook your food perfectly at the touch of one button. The controls are simple to use and allow you to choose nine power modes including a P boost setting that provides maximum power for each zone for five minutes.

The controls are also simple to use and have modern, minimalist designs that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up once we placed an oven in the Booster zone. ovens hobs took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our testers could not determine the exact temperature 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 connect two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also has a child lock and overheating block and an auto switch-off system that stops the appliance from working when it's overheated. Our testers appreciated the fact that there were no visible flames or flammable substances and the glass is easy to clean. Unlike a traditional extractor hood vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. Our experts thought that the duct of this hob was simple to clean, even though it required two people to lift the filter to change it.

4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric

Consider how the stove will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as the style of cooking you prefer. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as an automatic shut-off or an icy to the touch surface may make an induction cooker an ideal choice. Alternatively, for those who prefer speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is ideal. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.