11 Strategies To Completely Defy Your Best Hob

How to Choose the Best Hob There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important. Read A great deal more than PS100. However you'll have to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs are another popular choice, and offer great temperature control, however they are more expensive. 1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob This Haier hob comes with four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go” functions, and will help you prepare quick meals. It was also one of the quickest tested to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It comes with an child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process swiftly without having to mess with controls. Its design is sleek, contemporary and blends well with modern 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 for easy use. The controls were easy to use, and we liked the display which shows the current power level and the zone that is active. The “Boost” feature generates high-powered heat in a brief time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly heating up pans. The hob's hot light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too. It's not as responsive as other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, compared to six or seven for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to respond when you change the temperature. You may have to adjust the settings multiple times to get the right temperature. This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone, where two areas can 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 pots of water to a rapid boiling point. It's fully connected via the hOn app and boasts hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation types. It comes with a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' and can detect the type of pan you're using to set the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a variety of security features, including the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection. 2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or looking for a non-gas option. Prices have plummeted in the last few years, with basic four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more. This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system detects pots with dimensions of at least 9 cm and then automatically activates the appropriate zone. Smeg's main 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 of the zones. There are also options to save energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW. The user-friendly interface of this hob was a hit with testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edge of it. The color scheme of the control panel allows you to quickly determine the operating status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to cater for larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results. The oven also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you if there's a danger of a food item being burned or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features such as the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface gets too hot. It's also hard-wearing with a protective CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough marks and stains from cooking. This model has nine power levels, a 'FlexiDuo feature' to allow for large pans, and is simple to set up. There are a host of extra features, like lockable controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing. 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 pan or pot is placed on them. They 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're generally cheaper to run than gas and are easier to wipe clean too, which makes them a popular option. The induction hob made by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It has two separate zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook perfectly with the click of the button. There are nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to track the pans. The controls are easy to use and have an elegant, minimalist design that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up after placing a pan on the Booster zone. It took a while for it to cool down after we turned off the hob, and our test subjects could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel. As well as having a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off system which prevents the hob from working when it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the glass was easy to clean. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room via an air duct on the surface. Our experts thought that the duct of this hob was simple to clean, though it required two people to lift the filter out and change it. 4. Best ovens UK Think about how the hob will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are a great option if you cook with children or older people in mind. They are equipped with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who prioritize efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a clean ceramic glass facia is the best choice. If you live in areas prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs in power outages could make the difference in favor of a gas model.