Shawna Fauchery

How to Choose the best ovens Hob

There are many factors to consider when choosing the ideal hob, ranging from cost to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are important is essential.

A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice and provide great temperature control, but they're also pricier.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this hob from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was one of the fastest to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an option to pause the process, so you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around using controls.

Its style is modern and sleek and blends well with modern kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit flush on the worktop.

The controls are easy to operate and we loved the clear display that informs you the current power setting and which of the five zones are active. The 'Boost' feature creates high-powered heat for just a short period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pans of water to a boil fast. The hob's hot 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, in comparison to seven or six for other models. It takes longer to react when you alter the cooking temperature, so you may have to change settings several times before the pan reaches 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 pots and pans. Dual-ring design permits it to operate on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost model is great for frying meat, searing it or bringing water pans to a rapid boiling point.

It's fully integrated with the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programmes split into different food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface as well as a lockable control panel. In addition, it will automatically recognize the type of pan you're using and set the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans from third party companies and has several security features, including the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Whether you're having work done on your kitchen or simply seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped drastically in the last few years. Basic four-zone models are now available for less than PS100. But if you want all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth paying more for the latest innovations.

This sleek-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology to make your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognizes pots that have a diameter of at least 9 cm and automatically selects the appropriate zone.

Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings however, it doesn't overlook the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve energy based on the highest temperatures that the zones can operate at. There are options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as low as 2.4 kW.

Testers were impressed with the user-friendly interface of this hob with easy-to-use controls that move across the edge of the hob in order to follow your pan. The control panel's colour-coded scheme makes it easy to identify the status of each zone. The "Flexi Duo" function allows the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful features, such as four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.

Additionally the hob also has an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you when there is a danger of a fire or burnt-on food. There are other safety features, including a residual heat indicator as well as an auto shut-off feature if the surface becomes too hot.

It also has the CleanProtect coating that is designed to help it resist hard staining and cooking marks. The stove is simple to set up and features nine power levels as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are some additional features like lockable controls, and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pressing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They make use of copper plates to generate an electric force when a pot or pan is placed on them. This means that they can reach temperatures faster than gas hobs. They also conserve energy since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive than gas and are simpler to wipe clean too and that's why they're a popular choice.

Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features that will allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It has two separate zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring the water to a boil. A variety of automated functions such as Push&Go let you cook your food perfectly by pressing the button. ovens hobs and hobs uk (http://lakonia-photography.de/url?q=https://www.ovensandhobs.uk/) nine power modes including a 'P-boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which move across the bottom of the hob to follow your pans.

The controls are simple to use and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it cooked pasta water in a snap and was quick to heat up when we put a pan on the Booster zone. It took a while to cool down after turning off the hob, and the testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.

In addition to having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also has a child lock and overheating block and an auto shut-off feature that shuts down the hob when it's too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the glass was easy to clean. Unlike a traditional extractor hood vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room via a duct in the surface. Our experts believed that the duct of this hob was simple to keep clean, although it required two people to lift the filter out to change it.

4. Induction Hob from GE

Consider how the hob can be able to fit into the layout and design of your kitchen and what your cooking style. For instance, if often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, security features such as an automatic shut-off or an icy to the touch surface could make an induction hob the best ovens option. Alternatively, for those who value speed and efficiency, an electric stove with a glass face that is wipe-clean is ideal. For those who live in areas susceptible to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages could tip the scales in favour of a gas model.