How to Choose the Best Hob

When selecting the ideal hob for your needs, there are many factors to consider. From cost to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are important is essential.

A basic ceramic electric hob can cost less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with numerous features. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, however they are more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this cooker from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was also among the most efficient on test to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It comes with a child lock and pause function so you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls.

Its design is sleek and modern, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit directly on the worktop.

The controls were simple to operate and we loved the display which shows the current power level and the zone that is in use. The 'Boost' feature produces high-powered heat for a short period of time. It is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil fast. Safety features like the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also beneficial.

It's not as responsive as the other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, meaning you may have to change settings several times before your pan reaches the right heat.

The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of it is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It comes with a dual-ring design that is able to operate on both normal' and 'boost power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat, searing it or quickly bringing water to a rapid boil.

It's fully connected through the hOn app and boasts hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 unique programmes split into different food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it will automatically recognize the type of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn sets and has a range of safety features, such as an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

When you're doing work in your kitchen, or looking for an alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped over the past few years, with basic four-zone models available for less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it is worth the extra cost.

This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology to make cooking more efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots that have a diameter of at least 9 cm and then automatically selects the zone that is appropriate.

Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings however, it doesn't overlook the possibility of flexibility. The hob can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. hob uk -Logic advanced mode allows you to conserve more energy by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.

The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded design makes it easy to determine the status of each zone. The 'Flexi Duo" feature lets you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions, including four automated cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.

The oven also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you in the event of a meal that's been burned or an igniting fire. There are many safety features, including the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It also has an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard stains and cooking marks. This hob is easy to set up and comes with nine power levels as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are a few bonus features like locking controls and an emergency fuse to stop accidental button pressing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They use copper plates to create a magnetic force when a pot or pan is placed on them. They are able to heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they use less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas, and they are also less difficult to clean.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to be creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone for larger pans and an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to the boiling point quickly. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook perfectly at the touch one button. There are nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the hob to follow the pans.

The controls are simple to use, and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan once we put it on the Booster Zone, and pasta water that was boiling. It took a while to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our test subjects had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also has the bridge function, which allows the user to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off system which prevents the hob from working if it gets too hot. hobs uk is easy to clean and has no flames visible. Our test subjects were pleased with that. 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 this hob's duct was easy to keep clean, although it took two people to take the filter out and change it.

4. GE Induction Hob


When selecting a kitchen appliance think about how it will fit to your kitchen's style and layout, as well as your cooking style and life. Induction hobs are a good choice for cooking with children or older people in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who value efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is ideal. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tip the scales in favour of gas models.