There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob can cost as little as PS100. However, you will need to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're also pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this hob from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was among the fastest ways to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with an option to pause the process, so you can stop the process without having to faff around with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern and is a great match for modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit flush on the worktop.
The controls are simple to use, and we appreciated the clear display which tells you the current power settings, and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for a brief period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pots of water to the boil quickly. Safety features such as the hot hob light or automatic shut-off are also useful.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature in contrast to six or seven on other models. It takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, so you may need to alter settings several times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
This 60 cm model includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pots and pans. It features a dual-ring design that can operate on both 'normal' and 'boost' power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly bring water to a fast boiling.
It's fully connected via the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and preparation styles. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. In addition, it is able to automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans made by third-party manufacturers and comes with a number of safety features such as the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free option. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past few years. The basic four-zone models can be found for less that PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that include induction, it's worth paying extra to get the latest technology.
This sleek model from Smeg features the latest induction technology to make cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots with dimensions of at least 9cm and automatically will activate the zone that is appropriate.Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings, but it doesn't ignore the possibility of flexibility. The hob 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 reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.
Testers were awed by the hob's user-friendly design, with intuitive sliding controls that slide across the edge of the hob to follow the pan. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to determine the status of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" feature lets you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions, including four automated cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The oven also comes with an alarm system that will notify you when there's a risk of a food item being burned or an igniting fire. There are also several safety features, including an indicator of residual heat and an auto switch-off if the surface becomes too hot.
It also has a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough staining and cooking marks. The hob comes with nine power levels and an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to accommodate large pans and is simple to set up. There are a host of additional features, including locking controls and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They make use of copper plates to create magnetic force when a pot or pan is placed on them. They heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas, and they are also easier to clean.
Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features that will allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring boiling water to. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook with perfection at the touch a button. Nine power modes, including a 'P boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected using the controls, which move across the bottom of the cooktop to follow the pans.
The controls are also simple to use and have a modern, minimalist design that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up once we placed an oven on the Booster zone. However, it took an extended time to cool down after we turned off the hob. Additionally, our testers found it difficult to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
In addition to the Dual Zone and Push&Go, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It has a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the glass was easy to wipe clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room via a duct on the surface. Our experts believed that the duct on this hob was easy to clean, though it required two people to take the filter out and change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
When choosing a new hob, consider how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and lifestyle. Induction hobs are a great choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. Alternatively, for those who prefer speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a glass face that is wipe-clean is a great choice. For those who live in areas prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs during power cuts may tip the scales in favour of gas models.
