The 10 Worst Best Hob FAILURES Of All Time Could Have Been Prevented
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as low as PS100, but you'll need to pay more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs are a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're more expensive.
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 one of the fastest ways to boil water in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with the child lock as well as a pause function so you can stop the process quickly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary, and works well with modern 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 easy to operate and we loved the display that displays the current power level and the zone that is in use. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a brief period of time. It is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil quickly. Safety features such as the hot hob light or automatic shutdown are also useful.
It's not as responsive as other hobs in this test. We found it took nine presses of the control to achieve the highest temperature, as opposed to six or seven on other models. It takes longer to respond when you change the temperature of cooking, which means you might have to alter settings multiple times before your pan reaches the right heat.
The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing pans of water to a rapid boil.
It is fully connected to the hOn app and includes hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 special programmes divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It has a multislider control panel with a "lockable interface' and can detect the type pan you are using to set the correct cooking mode. Best ovens works with third-party hOn sets and has a range of safety features, such as the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work in your kitchen, or seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped drastically in the last few years. Basic four-zone models are now available for less that PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth the extra cost for the latest innovations.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with an overall diameter of at least 9 cm and automatically activates the zone that is appropriate.
Smeg's primary focus is on energy efficiency but it doesn't forget the possibility of flexibility. The hob can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. There are options to save energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 4 kW.
Testers were impressed with the user-friendly interface of this hob that has intuitive controls that slide along the edges of the hob in order to follow your pan. The control panel's colour scheme helps you quickly identify the operating status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
In addition to this, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you of any risk of fire or food that has been burned. There are a variety of safety features, including a residual heat sensor and an automatic shut-off if the surface is too hot.
It also has a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough stains and cooking marks. The hob is simple to install and comes with nine power levels as well as a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are some additional features such as lockable controls, and an emergency fuse to stop accidental pressing of buttons.
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 a pan is placed on top. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs, and they use less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas, and they're easier to wipe clean too making them an extremely popular option.
Indesit's induction hob is full of features to help you develop your cooking ideas. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create the Dual Zone for larger pots and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook perfectly by pressing one button. There are nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected with the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to follow the pans.
The controls are easy to operate and feature modern, minimalist designs that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan when we put it on the Booster Zone and boiled pasta water. However it took a long time to cool down after we shut off the hob. Our test participants were unable to determine the precise 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 has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven from working if it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people in order to take the filter out.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a hob think about how it will fit into your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and your lifestyle. Induction hobs are a great option if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. Alternatively, for those who prefer efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a glass face that is wipe-clean is a great choice. For those who live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs during power cuts may make the difference in favor of gas models.