A Vibrant Rant About Best Hob
A Vibrant Rant About Best Hob
Blog Article
How to Choose the Best Hob
When deciding on the best hob to buy there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as low as PS100, but you'll need to pay more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, however they are pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier hob comes with four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go" functions, and can help you prepare quick meals. It was also among the fastest on test to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It has an child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process in a snap without having to mess with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with touch controls that sit flush with the worktop to make it easy to use.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display that tells the current power setting and which of the five zones are active. The "Boost" feature produces powerful heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and rapidly heating up pans. Safety features like the hot hob light or automatic shut-off are also beneficial.
It's not as responsive as other hobs tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to reach the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may need to alter settings several times before the pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. Dual-ring design permits it to operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boil.
It is fully integrated with the hOn App, and offers hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 unique programs divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface and a 'lockable' control panel, plus it can automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans made by third party companies and has a number of safety features like the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have dropped drastically in the last few years. Basic four-zone models can be found for less that PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth paying more for the most up-to-date technology.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots with an overall diameter of at least 9cm and automatically selects the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not leave out flexibility too - this hob is designed to save power by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking requirements. Eco-Logic advanced mode lets you to save more energy by reducing power output to as low as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control best hob panel's colour scheme lets you quickly see the operating status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions, including four automatic cooking presets (melting, boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
The oven also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you if there's a danger of a food item being burned or a fire. There are also several safety features, including a residual heat indicator as well as an auto switch-off if the surface is too hot.
It also has a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard staining and cooking marks. The hob comes with nine power levels, a 'FlexiDuo feature' for accommodating large pans and is easy to install. There are a host of extra features, including control locks and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when a pan is placed on top. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs, and they use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas and they are also easier to clean.
Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features to help you get creative in the cooking. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans as well as an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook with perfection by pressing a 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 are positioned along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow your pans.
The controls are simple to operate, and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up once we placed an oven in the Booster zone. It took a while for it to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also comes with a bridge function, which allows you to connect two cooking zones for larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block and an auto shut-off feature that stops the appliance from working when it's too hot. Our testers appreciated the fact that there were no visible flames that were messy and messy, and the glass was easy to clean. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is built into the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people in order to take the filter out.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the hob will work with your kitchen's layout and design and what your cooking style. Induction hobs are a good option if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the best choice. Gas hobs are a good alternative for those living in areas that are susceptible to power outages.