How to Choose the
best ovens uk hob ukWhen choosing the
best hob for your needs there are a lot of aspects to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you'll have to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs are a popular choice, and offer great temperature control, however they are pricier.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this stove from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also one of the quickest tested to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to mess around with controls.
Its style is sleek and modern, blending in well with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit directly on the worktop.
The controls are simple to operate and we loved the clear display that informs the current power setting and which of the five zones is active. The "Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a short time. It is perfect for stir-frying and rapidly heating up pans. Safety features like the hot hob light or automatic shutdown are also beneficial.
However, it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs tested in this test. We observed that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature compared with seven or six on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may have to change settings multiple times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.
The model in 60 cm comes with four cooking zones including a half-flex zone that two areas can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. Dual-ring design permits it to operate with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly bringing water to a rapid boiling.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app and comes with 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 unique programmes split into different food categories and preparation styles. It has a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' that can identify the type pan you are using to set the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and has a range of safety features, like an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
When you're doing work on your kitchen or simply seeking a better alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have slashed dramatically over the last few years. Basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth the extra cost for the most up-to-date technology.
This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically recognises the position of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without having to select it manually.
Smeg's attention to energy savings does not mean that they don't offer flexibility - this hob is designed to conserve power by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking preferences. There are options to save energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edges of it. The control panel's color scheme lets you quickly see the operating status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' feature allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful functions, including four automated cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.
Additionally, the hob has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you if there is any danger of a fire or burnt-on food. There are a variety of safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an auto switch-off if the surface gets too hot.
It is also resistant to tough stains, and has a protective coating of CleanProtect. This hob is easy to install and features nine power levels as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering for large pans. There are a few bonus features, such as lockable controls, and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They make use of copper plates to create magnetic force when a pot or pan is placed on them. This means that they can reach a temperature much quicker than conventional
Gas Hob hobs. They also save energy as the cooking zone only is heated when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas and they are also less difficult to clean.
Indesit's induction hob is full of features to allow you to be creative when cooking. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone for larger pans and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to a boil quickly. A variety of automated functions like Push&Go allow you to achieve perfectly cooked dishes by pressing a button. And nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected using the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow your pans.
The controls are easy to operate, and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up once we placed a pan on the Booster zone. It took a while to cool down after we turned off the hob,
Gas Hob and our test subjects had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.
Alongside the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the
oven uk from working when it gets too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no flames visible. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that it's. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room by a duct on the surface. Our experts thought this hob's duct was easy to clean, though it required two people to lift the filter out to change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
When selecting a kitchen appliance think about how it will fit to your kitchen's style and layout, and also your cooking style and lifestyle. For instance, 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 may make an induction cooker an ideal option. If you're looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the
best oven option. For those who live in areas prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs during power outages could make the difference in favor of a gas model.
