An In-Depth Look Into The Future How Will The Best Hob Industry Look Like In 10 Years?

How to Choose the Best Hob There are many factors to consider when choosing the best hob, from cost to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is crucial. A basic ceramic electric stove costs less than PS100. However, you will need to pay more for a model with many features. Gas hobs are also a popular choice, and offer great temperature control, however they are pricier. 1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions this hob from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was among the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with an pause feature, meaning you can stop the process without having to mess around with controls. Its design is sleek, contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It is typically made of glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest directly on the worktop. The controls were easy to use, and we liked the display that shows the current power level as well as which zone is in use. The “Boost” feature produces powerful heat in a short time. It's ideal to stir fry and speedily boiling pans. The hob's light that is hot and auto shut-off are great safety features, too. It's not as responsive as the other hobs tested in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, in comparison to six or seven for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you might have to alter settings several times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature. This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone that two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pans and pots. It features a dual-ring design that can operate on both 'normal' and 'boost power levels. Boost is ideal for frying meat, searing it or bringing pots of water to the rapid boil. It's fully connected via the hOn app and boasts 100's of recipes with cooking instructions and 30 different programmes split into different food categories and preparation types. 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 the proper cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and has a range of safety features, such as a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection. 2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob Induction hobs are increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a non-gas option. Prices have slashed dramatically over the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now available for less that PS100. If you are looking for the most modern induction technology, it's worth the extra cost. This slick-looking model from Smeg features the latest induction tech to keep your cooking energy-efficient and convenient. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically detects the location of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, which allows you to switch on the appropriate zone without having to select it manually. Smeg's attention to energy savings doesn't overlook flexibility either This hob is designed to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking requirements. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to conserve more energy, reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW. Testers were impressed by the user-friendly interface of this hob that has intuitive controls that move along the edges 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” feature lets the connection of two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are numerous useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting, boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm. In addition to this the hob comes with an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you of any danger of a fire or burnt-on food. There are also best ovens and hobs uk , like a residual heat indicator and an auto shut-off feature if the surface is too hot. It's also hard-wearing with an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough stains and cooking marks. The hob comes with nine power levels, an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to accommodate large pans and is easy to put in. There are a few bonus features such as locking controls and a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pressing. 3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They use copper plates to generate an electric force when a pot or pan is placed on them. This means that they can reach temperatures much quicker than conventional gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only gets hot when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to operate than gas, and they are also less difficult to clean. Indesit's induction hob is full of features to allow you to develop your cooking ideas. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create a Dual Zone for larger pots and an accelerated Booster zone that can bring water to boiling point quickly. Push&Go, for example, lets you cook flawlessly with the click of the button. The controls are easy to operate and let you select nine power modes, including a P boost setting which gives the highest power for each zone for five minutes. The controls are simple to operate and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up after placing a pan on the Booster zone. However it took some time to cool down once we shut off the hob. Our testers were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel. This Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to combine two cooking zones for larger pans. It also comes with a child lock and overheating block and an auto switch-off system that shuts down the hob when it's too hot. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no visible flames. Our testers liked the fact that there was no visible flame. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room by an air duct that is located on the surface. Our experts believed that the duct on this hob was easy to clean, though it required two people to lift the filter to change it. 4. GE Induction Hob When selecting a hob, consider how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, and also your cooking style and your lifestyle. For example, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as an automatic shut-off or cool to the touch surface may make an induction hob an ideal choice. Alternatively, for those who prioritize efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is ideal. Gas hobs are a great alternative for those living in areas prone to power outages.