11 Ways To Destroy Your Best Hob
11 Ways To Destroy Your Best Hob
Blog Article
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are essential is vital.
A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as low as PS100, but you'll need to shell out more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're also pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this cooker from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an option to pause the process, so you can stop the process without having to mess around with the controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has controls that are on top of the worktop to allow to make it easy to use.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display which tells you the current power setting, and which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a short time. It's ideal for stir-frying and rapidly bringing pans to boil. The hot hob light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.
It's not as responsive as other hobs in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to achieve the highest temperature, as opposed to six or seven on other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you may need to alter settings several times before your pan is at the right temperature.
This model is 60cm long and includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. Dual-ring design permits it to be operated on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost model is great for frying and searing meat, or bringing pots of water to a rapid boiling point.
It is fully connected through the hOn app and includes hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 different programs divided into various food categories and types of cooking. It comes with a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It also works with hOn cookware from third party companies and has several security features, including the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work in your kitchen or seeking a better alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped drastically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a little 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 that have dimensions of at least 9cm and then automatically activates the appropriate zone.
Smeg's main focus is on energy savings, but it doesn't ignore the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve power based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are also options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The control panel's colour scheme helps you quickly identify the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful functions, including four cooking presets that automatically cook (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 in the event of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features, including a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.
It's also hard-wearing with a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard marks and stains from cooking. This model has nine power levels, an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to allow for large pans, and is easy to install. There are a few bonus features like lockable controls, and a safety fuse to prevent accidental pressing of buttons.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when a pan is placed on top. They heat up faster than gas hobs and they use less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally less expensive than gas and are easier to clean and that's why they're a popular choice.
Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to allow you to get creative in the cooking. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy booster zone that hob can quickly bring the water to a boil. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go lets you create perfectly cooked meals with the click of the button. Nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow the pans.
The controls are also simple to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up after placing an oven on the Booster zone. However, it took an extended time to cool down after we turned off the hob. Our testers were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It also has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off feature that stops the hob from working when it gets too hot. Our testers appreciated the fact that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass was easy to clean. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through a duct in the surface. Our experts thought the duct of this hob was simple to keep clean, although it took two people to take the filter out and change it.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric
When choosing a new hob think about how it will fit to your kitchen's style and layout, as well as your cooking style and lifestyle. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features like automatic shut-off and a cool to the touch surface could make an induction hob an ideal option. If you're looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the ideal option. If you live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power outages may tip the scales in favour of gas models.