How to Choose the best ovens and hobs Hob

There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the ideal hob, ranging from the price to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.

A basic electric ceramic hob can cost as low as PS100, but you'll need to shell out more for a model with a lot of features. Gas hobs are also a popular option and offer excellent temperature control, but they're pricier.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this cooker from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features a pause function, so you can stop the process without having to mess around using controls.

Its design is modern and sleek and blends well with modern kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features controls that are in the same place as the worktop to make it easy to use.

The controls were simple to use and oven uk we loved the display that shows the current power level as well as which zone is active. The "Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a brief time. It is ideal for stir-frying and rapidly boiling pans. Safety features like the light on the hot hob or automatic shutdown are also useful.

However, it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs and ovens tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, as opposed to six or hobs seven for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to respond when you alter the temperature. It is possible to adjust the settings several times to achieve the correct temperature.

This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. It is great for cooking meat and searing it, or making water come to a quick boil.

It is fully integrated with the hOn App, and offers 100's of recipes, guides for cooking, and 30 special 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 set the correct cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with several safety features such as the ability to lock the panel and Hob and Oven boil-dry prevention.

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 in the last few years, Hobs with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you want all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth paying more to get the latest technology.

This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most modern induction tech to keep your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots that have a diameter of at least 9 centimetres and then automatically selects the zone that is appropriate.

Smeg's attention to energy savings does not mean that they don't offer flexibility - this hob is designed to conserve power by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking needs. There are other options to save energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 4 kW.

The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edge of it. The control panel's color-coded layout allows you to easily identify the state of each zone. The 'Flexi Duo" function lets the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful functions including four automatic cooking settings: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.

In addition, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' which alerts you if there is any danger of a fire or food that has been burned. There are a variety of safety features, such as a residual heat indicator and an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It also has an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to protect it from tough stains and cooking marks. This hob is easy to set up and features nine power levels as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are some additional features, such as locking controls and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pressing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs use copper plates that create an electric field when a pan is placed on the top. This means that they can reach a temperature much quicker than conventional gas hobs and also conserve energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are easier to wipe clean too, which makes them an extremely popular option.

Indesit's induction hob is full of features to help you be creative when cooking. It has two separate cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pans as well as an accelerated Booster zone to bring water to the boil quickly. The Push&Go feature, for instance, allows you to cook with perfection with the click of the button. The controls are simple to operate and allow you to select nine power options, including a P boost setting that gives maximum power for each zone for five minutes.

The controls are easy to operate and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it quickly heated up a pan after we put it on the Booster Zone, and boiling pasta water. However it took an extended time to cool down once we shut off the hob. Additionally, our test participants were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to connect two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also has an overheating and child lock block as well as an auto shut-off feature that shuts down the hob when it's heated to the point of. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no flames visible. Our testers were impressed by the fact that it's. Unlike a traditional extractor hood, vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. Our experts thought the duct of this hob was simple to clean, though it required two people to take the filter out and change it.

4. Induction Hob manufactured by General Electric

Think about how the hob will be able to fit into your kitchen's layout and design, as well as what your cooking style. Induction hobs are an excellent option if you cook with children or older people in mind. They are equipped with safety features like automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. For those who prefer efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is a great choice. For those who live in areas that are prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tip the scales in favour of a gas model.