How to Choose the Best Hob

There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the best ovens hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is essential.

A basic ceramic electric hob costs less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with numerous features. Gas hobs, also well-known and offer excellent temperature control, but are more expensive, are another option.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this cooker from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was among the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with the child lock as well as a the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process in a snap without having to fiddle with controls.

Its design is sleek, ovens and hobs contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It's typically made of glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features controls that are on top of the worktop to allow for ease of use.

The controls were easy to use and we loved the display that displays the current power level and which zone is in use. The "Boost" feature creates high-powered heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and quickly heating up pans. Safety features such as the light on the hot hob and automatic shutoff are useful.

However it's not as sensitive to touch as other hobs we tested. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to reach the highest temperature, compared with seven or six on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react to changes in temperature. You may need to adjust the settings a few times to get the right heat.

The model in 60 cm has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two areas can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. It features a dual-ring design and can function on both 'normal and Best Oven boost power levels. It is perfect for cooking meat, searing it or bringing water pans to a rapid boiling point.

It is fully integrated with the hOn App and has 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 different programs divided into various food categories and types of cooking. It features a multislider controls panel that has a lockable interface' that can identify the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans made by third-party manufacturers and comes with a number of security features, including a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether you are renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free option. Prices have plummeted in the last few years, with basic four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth the extra cost.

This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without needing to select it manually.

Smeg's focus on energy saving doesn't overlook flexibility either - this hob is designed to conserve power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking requirements. There are also options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode, which reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 2 kW.

Testers were impressed with the hob's user-friendly design with easy-to-use controls that move across the edge of the hob in order to follow the pan. The control panel's color-coded layout makes it easy to identify the state of each zone. The 'Flexi Duo" feature lets you connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

The oven also comes with an alarm system that will notify you if there's a danger of a food item being burned or an igniting fire. There are many safety features like a residual heat sensor as well as an automatic shut-off if the surface gets too hot.

It is also resistant to hard stains and comes with a protective coating of CleanProtect. This hob has nine power levels, a 'FlexiDuo feature' to accommodate large pans and is easy to put in. There are a host of additional features, like lockable controls and a safety fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create a magnetic field when the pan is set on the top. They are able to heat up quicker than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas, and they are also less difficult to clean.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones which can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go lets you achieve perfectly cooked dishes with the click of a button. The controls are easy to use and allow you to select nine power options, including the P boost option that gives maximum power for each zone for five minutes.

The controls are also simple to use and have an elegant, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan when we put it on the Booster Zone and pasta water that was boiling. However, it took some time to cool down after we shut off the hob. Our testers found it difficult to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also comes with a bridge function that allows the user to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the hob from working if it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no visible flames. Our testers were impressed by the fact that it's. Contrary to traditional extractor hoods vented hobs draw steam and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct on the surface. Our experts thought that this hob's duct was easy to clean, though it required two people to take the filter out and change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

Consider how the hob can work with your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style. Induction hobs are an excellent choice for cooking with kids or elderly in mind. They come with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. Alternatively, for those who prioritize efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a glass face that is wipe-clean is the Best place to buy oven and hob choice. For those who live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the capability to use gas ovens hobs during power outages may make the difference in favor of a gas model.