11 Ways To Fully Defy Your Best Hob
11 Ways To Fully Defy Your Best Hob
Blog Article
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs less than PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice, and offer great temperature control, but they're also more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this cooker from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the most efficient tested to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to fiddle around with controls.
Its style is sleek and contemporary it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with controls that are flush with the worktop to make it easy to use.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display that informs the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature generates high-powered 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 beneficial.
It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested 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, meaning you may have to change settings several times before the pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has 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 operate at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boil.
It's fully connected via the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 special programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. It has a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' that detects the type pan you are using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third parties and has various safety features like a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free option. Prices have plummeted over the past few years, with basic four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.
This sleek model from Smeg boasts the latest induction tech to keep your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the location of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, which allows you to activate the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.
Smeg's main focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to save energy based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are options to save even more energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with 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 state of each zone. The "Flexi duo" feature lets 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) and a Power Boost for quick results.
In addition to this the hob also has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you when there is a danger of a fire or burnt-on food. There are a variety of safety features, such as a residual heat indicator and an auto switch-off if the surface is too hot.
It's also hard-wearing with an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating 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 some additional features like locking controls and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Powered by electricity 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 because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas, and they're easier to clean and that's why they're a popular choice.
The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy website booster zone that can quickly bring boiling water to. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook perfectly with the click of one button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to choose nine power modes, including the P boost option that provides maximum power in each zone for five minutes.
The controls are also simple to use and have modern, minimalist designs that's ideal for a contemporary 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 for it to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an auto switch-off system that shuts down the hob when it's overheated. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any visible flames that were messy and messy, and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room by a duct located on the surface. Our experts believed that the duct of this hob was simple to keep clean, although it required two people to take the filter to change it.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric
Consider how the stove can work with the layout and design of your kitchen, as well as what your cooking style. For instance, if frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features like an automatic shut-off feature and a cool to the touch surface may make an induction stove the best choice. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the ideal alternative. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs during power cuts may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.