A Good Rant About Best Hob
A Good Rant About Best Hob
Blog Article
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the ideal hob, ranging from price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding which features are important is crucial.
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 another popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're more expensive.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this stove 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 comes with a child lock and an pause feature, so you can stop the process quickly without having to mess with controls.
Its design is sleek, contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest flush on the worktop.
The controls were easy to operate, and we liked the display that displays the current power level as well as which zone is active. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for a brief period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of water to a boil fast. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.
It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, as opposed to seven or six for other models. It takes longer to respond when you alter the temperature of cooking, which means you might have to alter settings several times before the pan reaches the right heat.
This model is 60cm long and includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex area where two areas can be joined together to accommodate larger pots and pans. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing water pans to the rapid boiling point.
It's fully connected via the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programs that are divided into various food categories and preparation styles. It has a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' and can detect the type of pan you're using to set the correct cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn cookware from third-party manufacturers and comes with various security features, including a lockable panel as well as boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or looking for a gas-free option. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with basic four-zone models costing less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.
This slick-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology that makes your cooking efficient and easy. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically recognises the position of pots that have 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 but it doesn't forget the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to save power based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. There are also options to save energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.
The user-friendly interface of this hob was a hit with testers, thanks to its simple sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The color scheme of the control panel lets you quickly see the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are a variety of useful features, such as four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.
In addition to this the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you when there is a risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are several 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 an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough staining and cooking marks. This hob is easy to set up and comes with nine power levels and an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are also a variety of extra features, such as lockable controls and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
They are powered by electricity, not gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when the pan is placed on the top. This means they can heat up much quicker than conventional gas hobs, and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only is heated when you turn on a pan. They are generally cheaper to operate than gas and they are also simpler to clean.
Indesit's induction hob is full of features to help you develop your cooking ideas. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pots and the Booster Zone is quick to bring water to the boiling point quickly. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook with perfection with the click of one button. Nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which Ovens And Hobs are positioned across the bottom of the hob to follow your pans.
The controls are simple to operate and the minimalist design is perfect for modern kitchens. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a snap 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, and the testers had difficulty seeing the exact temperature on the control panel.
As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the hob from working when it gets too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no visible flames. Our test subjects were pleased with the fact that it's. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is located on the surface. Our experts believed that the duct of this hob was simple to clean, even though it took two people to lift the filter to change it.
4. GE Induction Hob
Consider how the stove can fit into the layout and design of your kitchen as well as what your cooking style. Induction hobs are a good option if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features like automatic shut-offs as well as a cool-to-touch surface. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the ideal option. For those living in regions prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.