A Look At The Future: What Will The Best Hob Industry Look Like In 10 Years?
How to Choose the Best Hob
There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Decide what features are most important.
A basic ceramic electric hob costs as little as PS100. However you'll have to pay more for one with numerous features. Gas hobs, which are well-known and offer excellent temperature control, but are more expensive, are another alternative.
1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob
With four cooking zones and three functions called 'Push&Go', this stove from Haier can help you make quick meals. It was also among the fastest on test to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and features an pause feature, meaning you can quickly stop the process without having to fiddle around with controls.
Its design is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit flush on the worktop.
The controls are easy to use, and we appreciated the clear display that tells the current power setting and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost" feature produces high-powered heat in a short time. It's ideal for stir-frying and quickly bringing pans to boil. The hot hob light and auto shut-off are great safety features, too.
However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs we tested. We found it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature in contrast to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. You may have to adjust the settings a few times before you get the proper temperature.
The model measures 60 cm and comes with four cooking zones. One of it is a half-flex zone that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat while searing it or bringing water to a rapid boil.
It's fully connected through the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes with guided cooking and 30 special programs divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a multislider controls panel that has a lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It is also compatible with hOn pans from third party companies and has a number of safety features such as the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.
2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob
If you're working in your kitchen or looking for an alternative to gas induction hobs, they are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped drastically in the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now available at less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that are included in the induction system it's worth paying more for the latest innovations.
This slick-looking model from Smeg features the latest induction tech to keep your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The unique Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to switch on the appropriate zone without having to manually select it.
Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to conserve power by altering the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking preferences. There are other options to save energy using the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 4 kW.
Testers were impressed with the user-friendly interface of this hob, with intuitive sliding controls that slide across the edge of the hob in order to follow your pan. The color scheme of the control panel allows you to quickly determine the operating status of each zone, while the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are many useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.
The oven also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you if there's a danger of a burnt-on meal or an igniting fire. There are a variety of safety features, like a residual heat indicator and an automatic shut-off when the surface gets too hot.
It also has a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard staining and cooking marks. ovens hobs is easy to set up and features nine power levels, as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are a host of additional features, like control locks and a safety fuse in case of accidental button pushing.
3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob
Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They use copper plates to create an electric force when a pot or pan is placed on them. They can heat up much faster than gas hobs, and they also consume less energy because the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas, and they're easier to clean, which makes them an extremely popular choice.
This induction hob by Indesit is packed with features that allow you to be creative in the kitchen. oven hob comes with two distinct zones which can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a rapid booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go lets you cook your food perfectly with the click of the button. There are nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily set using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the hob to follow the pans.
The controls are easy to use and have modern, minimalist designs that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up when we put a pan on the Booster zone. However it took some time to cool down once we turned off the hob and our testers found it difficult to see the exact temperatures on the control panel.
This Indesit hob also features a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones to make larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an auto switch-off system that shuts down the hob when it's overheated. Our test subjects were pleased that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass was easy to clean. Ventilated hobs in contrast to traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room via a duct located on the surface. The duct on this hob was easy to clean, but it required two people in order to remove the filter.
4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE
Consider how the stove will fit into the layout and design of your kitchen as well as what your cooking style is. Induction hobs are a great choice for cooking 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 value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the best choice. Gas hobs are an excellent choice for those who live in areas prone to power outages.