How to Choose the Best Hob<br /><br />There are a lot of aspects to take into consideration when selecting the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.<br /><br />A basic electric ceramic stove could cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to shell out more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs, which are also popular and provide excellent temperature control but are more expensive, are a different alternative.<br /><br />1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob<br /><br />With four cooking zones and three 'Push&amp;Go' functions, this cooker from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was one of 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.<br /><br />Its style is modern and sleek, blending in well with modern kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and comes with touch controls that sit in the same place as the worktop for easy use.<br /><br />The controls are easy to use and we liked the clear display which tells you the current power setting and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for just a short period of time. It is perfect for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil fast. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great security features, too.<br /><br />It's not as responsive as other hobs we tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to reach the highest temperature, as opposed to six or seven on other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may have to change settings several times before the pan reaches the right heat.<br /><br />This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two zones can be joined to accommodate larger pans and pots. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is great for cooking meat and searing it, or making water come to a quick boiling.<br /><br />It is fully connected to the hOn app and includes 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 special programs that are divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It comes with a user-friendly multislider interface as well as a lockable' control panel, plus it can automatically detect the type of pan you're using and set up the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and has a range of safety features, like an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.<br /><br />2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob<br /><br />When you're doing work on your kitchen or simply searching for a substitute to gas, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have dropped over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models costing less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth the extra cost for the latest innovations.<br /><br />This sleek model from Smeg has the latest induction technology that makes cooking more efficient and energy efficient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots that have an overall diameter of at least 9cm and automatically selects the appropriate zone.<br /><br />Smeg's focus on energy saving does not leave out flexibility too - this hob is designed to conserve power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking requirements. There are options to save energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 kW.<br /><br /><br /><br />The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's edge the edges of it. The control panel's color scheme allows you to quickly determine the status of each zone, and the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones together to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.<br /><br />The hob also has an alarm system that will notify you in the event of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are many safety features, including the residual heat sensor, as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface gets too hot.<br /><br />It also resists hard stains and comes with an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. The stove is simple to install and comes with nine power levels and the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering for large pans. There are a host of extra features, such as lockable controls and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.<br /><br />3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob<br /><br />Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They use copper plates to create magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means that they can heat up much quicker than conventional gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only heats up when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also less difficult to clean.<br /><br />Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features that will allow you to be creative when cooking. It has two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone to bring water to the boiling point quickly. A range of functions that are automatic like Push&amp;Go allow you to cook your food perfectly by pressing a button. Nine power modes including a 'P-boost setting that grants each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the hob to follow your pans.<br /><br />The controls are also easy to use and have modern, minimalist designs that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan once we put it on the Booster Zone, and pasta water that was boiling. However, <a href="https://www.ovensandhobs.uk/">breaking news</a> took a long time to cool down once we turned off the hob and our test participants were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.<br /><br />Alongside having a Dual Zone and Push&amp;Go, this Indesit hob comes with a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It comes with a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic switch-off system which prevents the oven from working when it gets too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room by an air duct that is located on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people to remove the filter.<br /><br />4. GE Induction Hob<br /><br />Think about how the hob can work with the layout and design of your kitchen and what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are a good choice for cooking with children or older people in mind. They are equipped with safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. If you're looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the ideal option. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, having the ability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tilt the balance in favor of gas models.<br /><br />