How Do You Explain Best Hob To A Five-Year-Old
How to Choose the Best Hob
When choosing the best hob for your needs there are a variety of factors to consider. From price to energy efficiency. Therefore, deciding on the features that are important is essential.
A basic ceramic electric stove costs just PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model that comes 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
This Haier hob has four cooking zones, three "Push&Go" functions and can help you prepare quick meals. It was also one of the most efficient on test to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It has a child lock and an pause feature, so you can stop the process swiftly without having to fiddle with controls.
Its design is sleek, modern and is a great match for contemporary kitchens. It is typically made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit flush on the worktop.
The controls were easy to use, and we liked the display that shows the current power level and the zone that is active. The "Boost" feature generates powerful heat in a short time. It's ideal for stir-frying and quickly boiling pans. The hob's hot light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.
It's not as responsive as the other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach maximum temperature, compared to seven or six for other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you alter the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings multiple times before you get the proper temperature.
This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. Dual-ring design permits it to be operated at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is perfect for frying meat, searing it or quickly bringing water to a rapid boil.
It's fully integrated with the hOn app, and offers 100's of recipes, with guided cooking and 30 unique programs divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface as well as a lockable' control panel, plus it will automatically recognize the type of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third parties and has a number of security features, including a lockable 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 are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have slashed in the last few years, with the simplest four-zone models available for less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that include induction, it's worth paying extra for the latest innovations.
This sleek-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction tech to keep your cooking energy efficient and convenient. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to switch on the appropriate zone without having to manually select it.
Smeg's focus on energy saving doesn't overlook flexibility either The hob is built to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking requirements. There are also options to save even more energy with the Eco-Logic advance mode which moderates the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 kW.
Testers were awed by this hob's user-friendly interface with easy-to-use controls that move along the edge of the hob in order to follow your pan. The control panel's colour scheme helps you quickly identify the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pans. There are many useful functions, including four automatic cooking presets (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.
Additionally, the hob has a 'FlameSensor' that warns you when there is a danger of a fire or burnt-on food. There are other safety features, such as an indicator of residual heat and an auto shut-off feature if the surface becomes too hot.
It is also resistant to hard stains and comes with a protective coating of CleanProtect. This hob has nine power levels, an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect for accommodating large pans and is easy to install. There are hobs oven of extra features, including lockable controls 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 a magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs, and they also use less energy because the cooking zone is only hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally less expensive to run than gas and are simpler to clean and that's why they're a popular choice.
This induction hob from Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined to form the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring boiling water to. A range of functions that are automatic such as Push&Go lets you achieve perfectly cooked dishes with the click of the button. Nine power modes including a 'P-boost' setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily set using the controls, which are positioned across the bottom of the cooktop to follow your pans.
The controls are simple to use and the minimalist design is ideal for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a flash and quickly heated up after placing a pan on the Booster zone. However it took an extended time to cool down once we turned off the hob and our testers were unable to determine the precise temperature on the control panel.
As well as having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you combine two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It also has a child lock and an overheating block, as well as an auto shut-off feature that stops the hob working when it's heated to the point of. The ceramic glass is easy to clean and there are no flames visible. Our testers were impressed by the fact that it's. Unlike a traditional extractor hood vented hobs draw heat and smoke away from the pan and out of the room through an air duct that is built into the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it took two people in order to take the filter out.
4. Induction Hob by General Electric
When selecting a kitchen appliance, consider how it fits to your kitchen's style and layout, in addition to your cooking style and lifestyle. Induction hobs are a great choice if you cook with kids or elderly in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who value speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the best option. For those living in regions that are prone to load-shedding, the ability to use gas hobs during power outages could tip the scales in favour of gas models.