5 Killer Quora Answers On Best Hob

How to Choose the best hobs Hob

There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the ideal hob, ranging from the price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is crucial.

A basic electric ceramic hob could cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to shell out more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs are a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're also more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

This Haier hob comes with four cooking zones, three "Push&Go" functions, and will aid in cooking quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water hobs and ovens in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to faff around using controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary, and works well with contemporary kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has control buttons that sit on top of the worktop to allow to make it easy to use.

The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display which tells you the current power setting and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature produces powerful heat in a short time. It is ideal to stir fry and speedily boiling pans. Safety features like the hot hob light or automatic shutdown are also useful.

However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, so you may need to alter settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.

This model is 60cm long and comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex area where two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pans and pots. Dual-ring design permits it to operate at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boiling.

It is fully integrated with the hOn app and includes 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 special programs divided into various 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 determine the appropriate cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan 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 searching for a substitute to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped drastically in the past few years. Basic four-zone models are now sold at less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth the extra cost for the latest innovations.

This slick-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology to make your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots with dimensions of at least 9 cm and then automatically selects the appropriate zone.

Smeg's attention to energy savings does not mean that they don't offer flexibility This hob is designed to conserve power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking needs. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to save more energy by reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.

Testers were impressed by the hob's user-friendly design that has intuitive controls that slide along the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. 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 functions, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.

The oven hob also comes with an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a burnt-on meal or the possibility of a fire. There are other safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an auto switch-off if the surface is too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains and features a CleanProtect protective coating. The stove is simple to set up and features nine power levels, as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are also a number of extra features, such as lockable controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs and ovens use copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when a pan is placed on top. This means they can reach temperatures much quicker than conventional gas hobs. They also save energy as the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally cheaper to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.

Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features that will allow you to get creative in the cooking. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create the Dual Zone for larger pans and the Booster Zone is quick that can bring water to boiling point quickly. A variety of automated functions like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes at the touch of the button. The controls are simple to use and allow you to select nine power modes, including a P boost setting that gives maximum power for each zone for five minutes.

The controls are also simple to use and have an elegant, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan when we placed it on the Booster Zone, and boiled pasta water. It took a while for it to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our testers had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.

In addition to a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven from operating when it becomes too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no visible flames. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam 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 is easy to clean, however it required two people to take the filter out.

4. GE Induction Hob

Think about how the hob will fit into the layout best ovens and hobs design of your kitchen, as well as the style of cooking you prefer. Induction hobs are a great choice for cooking with children or the elderly in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the ideal choice. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages could tilt the balance in favor of gas models.