How to Choose the Best Hob

There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the best hobs uk hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs as little as PS100. However you'll have to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs, also well-known and offer excellent temperature control, but are expensive, are a different option.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this stove from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the most efficient on test to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It has the child lock as well as a the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process quickly without having to fiddle with controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary it blends seamlessly with modern kitchens. It is typically made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest directly on the worktop.

The controls are easy to operate and we loved the clear display that informs you the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The "Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a short time. It is perfect to stir fry and speedily heating up pans. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob and automatic shutoff are useful.

However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs tested in this test. We found it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, so you might have to alter settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.

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

It's fully connected via the hOn app and boasts hundreds of recipes that include cooking instructions and 30 different programs divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' that can identify the type pan you are using to set the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn 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

Whether you're having work done in your kitchen or looking for an alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have slashed dramatically over the past few years. Basic four-zone models are now available for less that PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a little more.

This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots that have minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to switch on the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.

Smeg's main focus is on energy savings but it doesn't forget flexibility - this hob can be adjusted to save power based on the maximum temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to reduce energy consumption, reducing the power output to as little as 2.4kW.

The user-friendly interface of this cooker impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's color scheme lets you quickly see the operational status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are plenty of useful functions, including four automatic cooking presets (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.

The oven also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you if there's a danger of a food item being burned or a fire. There are also several safety features, such as a residual heat indicator as well as an auto switch-off if the surface becomes too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough staining and oven Uk cooking marks. The hob is simple to set up and features nine power levels and a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are several bonus features such as locking controls ovens And hobs uk a safety fuse to prevent accidental pressing of buttons.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They use copper plates to create magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs and they also consume less energy since the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas and they are also simpler to clean.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that allow you to get creative in the kitchen. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans as well as a rapid Booster zone to bring water to a boil quickly. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go let you create perfectly cooked meals at the touch of one button. There are nine power modes that include a 'P boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to follow the pans.

The controls are simple to operate, and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up when we put an oven on the Booster zone. However, it took a long time to cool down once we turned off the hob and our testers found it difficult to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also features a bridge function that allows you to connect two cooking zones for larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block ovens and hobs uk an automatic switch-off system which prevents the oven from working if it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there were no visible flames that were messy and messy, and the ceramic glass was easy to clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room through a duct on the surface. Our experts thought that this hob's duct was easy to clean, though it required two people to lift the filter to change it.

4. Induction Hob from GE

Consider how the hob will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features like an automatic shut-off feature and a cool to the touch surface can make an induction stove the best choice. For those who prefer efficiency and speed, an electric hob with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is a great choice. For those who live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs during power cuts may tilt the balance in favor of a gas model.