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How to Choose the Best Hob

There are lots of factors to take into consideration when selecting the  best hob , from cost to energy efficiency. Determine which features are the most important.

A basic electric ceramic stove can cost as little as PS100 However, you'll need to pay more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs are also a popular choice, and offer great temperature control, but they're more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three  functions called 'Push&Go', this cooker from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was one of the fastest ways to boil water in our tests, taking only four minutes. It's child lock-compatible and has an option to pause the process, so you can quickly stop the process without having to faff around using controls.

Its design is sleek and modern it blends seamlessly with modern kitchens. It is typically made of glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and rest in a flush position on the countertop.

The controls were easy to operate and we appreciated the display that displays the current power level and which zone is currently in use. The 'Boost" feature generates high-powered heat in a brief time. It's ideal for stir-frying and rapidly boiling pans. Safety features like the hob light that is hot or automatic shutdown are also beneficial.

It's not as responsive as other hobs tested in this test. We found it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature in contrast to seven or six on other models. It also takes longer for the pan to respond when you change the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings multiple times to achieve the correct temperature.

This 60 cm model features four cooking zones. One of them is a half-flex zone which allows two areas to easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. The dual-ring design allows it to be operated with both "normal" and "boost" power levels. Boost is ideal for frying and searing meat, or bringing pans of water to a rapid boiling point.

It's fully connected via the hOn app and boasts hundreds of recipes that include guided cooking and 30 special programmes split into different food categories and types of preparation. It has a multislider control panel that has a lockable interface' that can identify the type of pan you're using to set the proper cooking mode. It also works with third-party hOn sets and comes with a variety of safety features, such as a lockable control panel and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular, whether renovating your kitchen or are looking for a gas-free alternative. Prices have slashed dramatically over the last few years. The basic four-zone models are now sold for less that PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.

This sleek model from Smeg comes with the most advanced induction technology that makes cooking more energy-efficient and convenient. The Auto-pot detection system recognises pots with a diameter of at least 9 centimetres and automatically selects the zone that is appropriate.

Smeg's primary focus is on energy savings, but it doesn't ignore the flexibility of this appliance - it can be adjusted to conserve power based on the maximum operating temperatures of the zones. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to reduce energy consumption by reducing the power output to as low as 2.4kW.

The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The control panel's colour scheme lets you quickly see the operating status of each zone, while the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones to accommodate larger pots. There are a variety of useful features, including four cooking presets for automatic cooking (melting boiling, melting, slow cooking and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for super-quick results.

The hob also has a FlameSensor which will alert you when there's a risk of a food item being burned or a fire. There are also several safety features, including a residual heat indicator as well as an automatic shut-off when the surface becomes too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with a protective CleanProtect coating to help it resist tough stains and cooking marks. The stove is simple to set up and has nine power levels, as well as the handy FlexiDuo feature for catering for large pans. There are also a variety of additional features, like locking controls and an emergency fuse in the event of accidental button-pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Induction hobs are powered by electricity and not gas. They use copper plates to generate magnetic force when a pot or pan is placed on them. They are able to heat up faster than gas hobs, and they also use less energy since the cooking zone only gets hot when you turn on your pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas, and they're easier to wipe clean too making them an extremely popular option.

Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features to allow you to get creative in the cooking. It comes with two cooking zones that can be combined to create an Integrated Zone for larger pans and a rapid Booster zone that can bring water to boiling point quickly. A range of automatic functions such as Push&Go lets you create perfectly cooked meals by pressing the button. And nine power modes, including a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, are easily selected with the controls, which are positioned along the bottom edge of the hob to track the pans.

The controls are simple to operate, and the minimalist design is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it swiftly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone, and boiled pasta water. However it took a long time to cool off after we turned off the hob. Our test participants were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.

This Indesit hob also has a bridge function that allows you to connect two cooking zones to make larger pans. It has a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic shut-off mechanism that stops the hob from working when it gets too hot. Our testers appreciated the fact that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the ceramic glass is easy to clean. Ventilated hobs unlike traditional extractors draw smoke and steam from the pan out of the room by a duct located on the surface. Our experts believed that the duct of this hob was simple to clean, even though it required two people to lift the filter out and change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

When choosing a new hob take a look at how it fits to your kitchen's design and layout, as well as your cooking style and life. Induction hobs are a good option if you cook with children or older people in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool to touch surface. For those who are looking for speed and efficiency using a ceramic glass facia on an electric hob is the ideal option. For those living in regions prone to load-shedding, the capability to use gas hobs in power cuts may tip the scales in favour of gas models.