A Good Rant About Best Hob
A Good Rant About Best Hob
Blog Article
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from the price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is crucial.
A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as little as PS100 However, you'll need to spend more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs are a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, however they are pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
This Haier stove has four cooking zones, three 'Push&Go" functions, and will aid in cooking quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to faff around with controls.
Its design is sleek, modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features control buttons that sit in the same place as the worktop to make it easy to use.
The controls were easy to use and we appreciated the display that displays the current power level and the zone that is currently in use. The 'Boost" feature creates powerful heat in a short time. It's ideal to stir fry and speedily bringing pans to boil. The hob's light that is hot and automatic shutdown are useful security features, too.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs we tested. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, as opposed to six or seven for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you change the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings several times to get the right temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. It has dual-ring design and can operate on both 'normal and boost' power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing pots of water to the rapid boiling point.
It's fully connected via the hOn app and comes with hundreds of recipes that include cooking instructions and 30 different programs that are divided into various food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it is able to automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans made by third-party manufacturers and comes with various safety features like the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free option. Prices have slashed dramatically over the last few years. Basic four-zone models are now available for less that PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it is worth paying a little more.
This slick-looking model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction technology that makes your cooking efficient and easy. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to switch on the appropriate zone without having to select it manually.
Smeg's focus is on energy efficiency however, it doesn't overlook the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve power based on the maximum temperatures that the zones can operate at. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to reduce energy consumption by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.
The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The control website panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to determine the status of each zone. The 'Flexi Duo" function lets you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, such as four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.
Additionally, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you of any danger of a fire or food that has been burned. There are a variety of safety features, including the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic switch-off when the surface is too hot.
It also has an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard marks and stains from cooking. The stove is simple to set up and has nine power levels, as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering for large pans. There are a few bonus features like control locks, as well as an emergency fuse to stop accidental pressing of buttons.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They use copper plates to generate magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means they can reach a temperature much quicker than conventional gas hobs. They also save energy as the cooking area only heats up 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 from Indesit is packed with features that allow you to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and an instant booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook perfectly by pressing a button. There are nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to follow the pans.
The controls are also easy to operate and feature an elegant, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan after we put it on the Booster Zone, and boiled pasta water. It took a while for it to cool down after turning off the hob, and the testers had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.
Alongside a Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you 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 messy, visible flames and the glass was easy to wipe clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room by a duct on the surface. The duct on this hob is easy to clean, but it required two people in order to take the filter out.
4. Induction Hob by General Electric
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 an icy to the touch surface may make an induction stove the best choice. Alternatively, for those who value efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs during power outages may tilt the balance in favor of gas models.