How to Choose the best ovens Hob

There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.

A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as little as PS100 however, you'll have to pay more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs, which are popular and offer great temperature control, but are more expensive, are another alternative.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this stove from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also one of the fastest on test to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It comes with an child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle oven with hob controls.

Its design is sleek, contemporary, and works well with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit directly on the worktop.

The controls were easy to operate, and we liked the display which shows the current power level and the zone that is in use. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a brief duration, and is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to a boil fast. Safety features like the hob light that is hot or automatic shut-off are also beneficial.

It's not as responsive as the other hobs in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to reach the highest temperature, as opposed to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you change the cooking temperature, meaning you may have to change settings several times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.

The model in 60 cm includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pans and pots. Dual-ring design permits it to operate with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost model is great for frying meat, searing it or bringing pots of water to a rapid boil.

It's fully connected through the hOn app, and offers hundreds of recipes that include cooking instructions and 30 different programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation styles. It features a simple multislider interface and a 'lockable control panel. Additionally, it is able Best place to buy oven and hob automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set the right cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans made by third parties and has several safety features such as a lockable panel and 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 non-gas option. Prices have dropped drastically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now available for less that PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it is worth the extra cost.

This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology to make cooking more efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots that have minimum diameters of 9cm, Meal Prep which allows you to select the correct zone without having to select it manually.

Smeg's attention to energy savings does not mean that they don't offer flexibility The hob is built to reduce power consumption by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking needs. There are other 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 2 kW.

The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The control panel's color scheme allows you to quickly determine the status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pots. There are a variety of useful functions, including four automatic cooking presets (melting boiling slow cooking, and keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.

The hob 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 many safety features such as the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It also has a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard marks and stains from cooking. The hob is simple to install and has nine power levels as well as a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are a few bonus features, such as locking controls and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction ovens hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They utilize copper plates to generate magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They heat up faster than gas hobs, and they also consume less energy because the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas, and they are also simpler to clean.

This induction hob by Indesit is packed full of features that make it easy to be creative in the kitchen. It has two separate zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring boiling water to. Push&Go, for example, lets you cook flawlessly by pressing a button. The controls are easy to operate and allow you to select nine power modes including a P boost setting that gives maximum power to each zone for five minutes.

The controls are simple to operate, and the minimalist design is perfect for modern kitchens. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone, and pasta water that was boiling. However it took an extended time to cool down once we turned off the hob. Our testers found it difficult to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.

As well as a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It comes with a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the oven with hob from working if it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there were no messy, visible flames and the ceramic glass was easy to wipe clean. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room through a duct on the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, however it took two people in order to take the filter out.

4. GE Induction Hob

When selecting a kitchen appliance think about how it will fit to your kitchen's style and layout, in addition to your cooking style and your lifestyle. Induction hobs are a good choice for cooking with children or the elderly in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass front on an electric hob is the ideal choice. For those living in regions prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power outages may make the difference in favor of gas models.