Melody Zimin

Choosing the Best Hob

The best hob for you depends on the type of worktop you have and the space available. The type of worktop you choose and the location of the extractor hood are important considerations when choosing the right hob.

If you select an own-brand model, a basic gas-on glass hob will cost less than PS100. They are easier to clean and offer a range of safety features including a red indicator that glows when the surface is hot.

1. Flexibility

A hob that is flexible will aid you in reaching your goals, whether that's perfecting your pancake technique or making a quick meal for a midweek meal. The best hobs offer precise heat control, dual wok burners, and an enormous cooking surface. They are ideal for a wide variety of recipes. They can be used in any kitchen, thanks to their sleek design and easy to clean surfaces. Additionally, many have the option of adding a built-in extractor fan which eliminates the need for an overhead appliance and freeing up space on your worktop.

Gas hobs can provide instant heating. They're no wonder they are so popular. Gas hobs require frequent cleaning to avoid carbon buildup or fires. In addition, they typically take longer to boil water than models that use induction.

Induction hobs are able to heat pans more than the surface of the cooker, which makes them easier to clean. However, they are more expensive than gas hobs, as their glossy surfaces may reveal fingerprints and scratches more easily.

Hybrid hobs offer the benefits of gas and induction cooking into one product, allowing you to switch between the two depending on the type of food you're making. They're great for people who like to flex their culinary abilities but don't have the space or time for a full-on kitchen upgrade.

This electric hob is a great model that can be flexed in design and function. The dual flex zone can be combined to accommodate larger pots and pans and its controls come with the feature of a child lock that stops children from changing the settings. Additionally, it can be connected to a smart hub, so you can control its features from your smartphone.

If you're looking for a top-quality induction hob that can connect to your Wi-Fi network at home take a look at this one from Smeg. It has many features that make cooking more efficient and faster, such as automatic pan detection, PowerBoost, a timer and a pause function. It's also incredibly simple to use with touchscreen controls that respond instantly to your changes and a sleek design that could look great in the modern kitchen.

2. Energy efficiency

The most efficient hobs consume as little energy as possible, whether you're simmering soup or bringing water up to boiling point. They're also a good option for those who want to cut down on their electric bill. Induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to directly heat the pan and prevent the glass from becoming hot. This makes them the safest option, preventing accidental burns. But while gas hobs aren't as efficient, they can be less expensive to run than electric models.

Our top pick, the Miele I-Flex 90cm induction hob, has plenty of flexibility because of its 'I-Flex' zone which allows you to merge two cooking zones into one area, so you can cook with large pans and pots. The child lock on the touch controls stops children from turning the hob or altering settings. This is a fantastic feature for families with young children. The ceramic glass is smooth, but it can be easily cleaned by a simple wipe.

Another amazing feature of this hob is its 'Pan detection' function, which automatically switches off the power to a cooking zone after you have removed your pan. This isn't the only hob with this feature however it's a fantastic addition that makes your life easier when cooking lots of meals for a family or a group of friends.

This is a smart kitchen appliance, which connects to the internet to allow you to control it via an app on your smartphone or tablet. It will even notify you when food is ready, so you don't overcook it. This model boiled our test pan of hot water in less than four minutes, which is extremely quick for an Induction stove. It has flexible zones that you can combine, and a Stop & go' button which reduces the cooking zones to the lowest setting.

This induction hob is portable and has a slim design that's ideal for camping or taking to university. It's the tiniest and lightest hob in our tests yet it has a full set of cooking functions as well as a touch-sensitive slider. It also has an integrated "VaryCook" function that allows you to alter the temperature of your pan by moving it up and down on the surface of the hob. This is perfect for making sauces and caramel.

3. Convenience

When you are choosing a new stove, you'll have to consider the way it's incorporated into the design of your kitchen and what it can do to improve the efficiency of your home. This will help you narrow your options and hobs and Ovens select the model that's best ovens and hobs for you, your family, and your property. It's important to read reviews and find out what others have thought about the appliance, as this will help you identify its strengths and weaknesses.

Certain brands of hobs are known for their advanced technology, making them the go-to option for those who want to control cooking with their smartphone. For example, Samsung's models feature electronic timers that allow you to set precise cooking times and prevent overcooking. This is particularly helpful for those who lead busy lives, as you can use the timer to ensure that meals are ready at the correct time without having to keep a close watch over them.

Gas hobs can also be an ideal choice for those looking for more traditional appearance. They are able to cook with a broad variety of cookware sizes as well as styles. This includes non-flat-bottomed cookware and pans, which can be difficult to fit on other hobs. Gas hobs are often equipped with a range of settings, so that you can alter the temperature to suit the recipe you are cooking.

Induction hobs, which are more energy-efficient than gas models and offer faster heating times and are popular among those looking to modernise a kitchen. This is especially the case for induction hobs with an oven built in, since they can help you save space in your kitchen by offering an oven and hob in one unit.

A child lock is an additional feature to look out for. It allows you to stop the stove's controls and shields children from accidents in the kitchen. This feature is crucial for families with young children as it can prevent burns and other injuries. Many induction hobs also have a feature that allows the linking of two zones, creating a larger cooking surface. This is particularly useful if you use large pans.

4. Safety

A quality hob will include a number of safety features. A hot hob indicator will inform you when the surface of the hob is hot. This can prevent accidents in the cooking area. Certain hobs feature locks for children to stop children from turning on the hob or altering the settings. Some hobs feature a feature that allows you combine two cooking zones into an even larger area, so you can cook in a larger pan.

This is a fantastic feature for families and can ensure that everyone in the kitchen is safe. It works by monitoring the temperature of the hob. If it finds that the pan has not been placed correctly or if there's an ignition on the stove it will shut off the burner. This is a great method to ensure that your home is safe and it's something that you should look for when shopping around.

You can choose between gas, electric, and induction hobs. Gas hobs use the use of a flame to heat your pans, while an electric hob comes with electric rings that you can control by pressing a button. Induction hobs utilize magnets to heat your pans. They won't function until a pan that is magnetizable is placed on them. This is a reliable type of hob that cools quickly after the pan is removed.

This kind of hob can be an ideal space saver since it removes the need for an extractor fan. This means that you can have a streamlined kitchen design. It can be more expensive than other hobs but it is a fantastic choice for any home. It can be used to remove excessive steam and smoke from the kitchen. This can improve the air quality at home. This is a great option for families because it can protect against burns and is simple to clean. There are a number of different options to consider when selecting a hob, so take the time to study each one before making a decision.