How to Choose the Best Hob

When deciding on the best hob to buy, there are many factors to take into account. From cost to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric stove costs as little as PS100. However you'll need to pay more for one 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 'Push&Go' functions this cooker from Haier will allow you to cook quick meals. It was one of the fastest boiling water hobs in our tests, taking just four minutes. It comes with a child lock and the ability to pause, which means you can stop the process in a snap without having to mess with controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary, and works well with modern kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and features controls that are flush with the worktop for easy use.

The controls are easy to use and we liked the clear display that informs the current power setting, and which of the five zones is active. The 'Boost" feature generates powerful heat in a short time. It's ideal for stir-frying and rapidly boiling pans. The hob's light that is hot and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.

It's not as responsive as other hobs in this test. It took nine presses to reach the maximum temperature, as opposed to seven or six for other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may have to change settings multiple times before your pan is at the right temperature.

This model is 60cm long and includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex zone where two areas can be joined together to accommodate larger pans and pots. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated on both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for Cooking Efficiency meat and searing it, or bringing water to a rapid boil.

It is fully connected through the hOn App, and offers hundreds of recipes, a guide to cooking, and 30 different programmes divided into different food categories and types of cooking. It comes with a multislider control panel with a 'lockable interface' that can identify the type of pan you're using to set the correct cooking mode. It's also compatible with third-party hOn pan sets and comes with a variety of security features, including an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether you're renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with the simplest four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you're looking for the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a little more.

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

Smeg's focus on energy saving does not leave out flexibility too - this hob is designed to save power by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones according to your cooking preferences. Eco-Logic advanced mode allows you to save more energy by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.

The user-friendly interface of this stove impressed testers, with its simple sliding controls that follow your pan along the edges of it. The color scheme of the control panel allows you to quickly determine the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are many useful features, such as four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling slow cooking, keeping warm) and a Power Boost to get results that are quick and efficient.

The oven also comes with a FlameSensor which will alert you in the event of a meal that's been burned or a fire. There are a variety of safety features, such as a residual heat indicator and an auto switch-off if the surface is too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough staining and cooking marks. This hob has nine power levels as well as the FlexiDuo feature for accommodating large pans and is easy to put in. There are some additional features such as lockable controls, and a safety fuse to prevent accidental pressing of buttons.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity, not gas. They utilize copper plates to create a magnetic force when a pan or pot is placed on them. This means they can reach a temperature more quickly than gas hobs and also save energy as the cooking area only is heated when you turn on a pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also easier to clean.

The induction hob made by Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to be creative in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined to form a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a speedy booster zone that can quickly bring water to a boil. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook with perfection by pressing the button. The controls are simple to use and allow you to choose nine power modes, including the P boost option which gives the highest power in each zone for five minutes.

The controls are simple to operate, and the minimalist design is ideal for modern kitchens. In our tests, it was able to boil pasta water in a snap and quickly heated up once we placed a pan on the Booster zone. However, it took some time to cool off after we shut off the hob. Additionally, our testers were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.

In addition to having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It comes with a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off feature that prevents the oven hob from operating when it becomes too hot. Our test participants were impressed that there weren't any visible flames or flammable substances and the ceramic glass was easy to clean. In contrast to traditional extractor hoods, vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room via an air duct that is built into the surface. Our experts believed that the duct of this hob was simple to clean, even though it required two people to take the filter out and change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

Think about how the hob can work with your kitchen's layout and design and what your cooking style is. For example, if you frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features like an automatic shut-off or an icy to the touch surface can make an induction stove the best hobs uk choice. For those who value speed and efficiency, a ceramic glass fascia on an electric hob is the best choice. Gas hobs uk are a good choice for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.