How to Choose the Best Hob

There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are essential is vital.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs as little as PS100. However you'll have to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs are another popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're also pricier.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this stove from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also among the fastest tests to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It has the child lock as well as a pause function so you can stop the process swiftly without having to fiddle with controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made of glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest flush on the worktop.

The controls were simple to operate and we loved the display that shows the current power level and which zone is in use. The "Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a short time. It is perfect for stir-frying and quickly boiling pans. Safety features such as the hot hob light or automatic shut-off are also useful.

It's not as responsive as the other hobs we tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer for the pan to respond to changes in temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings several times to get the right 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 has dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal and boost' power levels. It is perfect for cooking, searing meat or bringing water pans to the rapid boil.

It's fully connected through the hOn app and comes with hundreds of recipes that include cooking instructions and 30 different programs that are divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface and a 'lockable' control panel, plus it is able to automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It also works with hOn cookware from third parties and has several security features, including a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

If you're working in your kitchen, or looking for an alternative to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth paying more to get the latest technology.

This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots that have a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.

Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to conserve power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet 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 impressed testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded design allows you to easily identify the status of each zone. 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.

Additionally, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you when there is a risk of a fire or burnt-on food. There are also several safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist hard stains and cooking marks. 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 like lockable controls, and a safety fuse to prevent accidental pressing of buttons.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is set on the top. They heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive than gas, and they're easier to wipe clean too and that's why they're an extremely popular choice.

This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pots and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to the boiling point quickly. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go lets you cook your food perfectly at the touch of a button. There are best oven uk , including a 'P boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to track your pans.


The controls are also easy to operate and feature modern, minimalist designs that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up after placing an oven in the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.

Alongside having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there were no visible flames or flammable substances and the glass was easy to wipe clean. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room via a duct on the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, but it required two people to remove the filter.

4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE

Consider how the hob will work with the layout and design of your kitchen and what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are a great choice for cooking with children or the elderly in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the best option. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power outages may tilt the balance in favor of a gas model.