Choosing the Best Hob
Choosing the best hob depends on your cooking preferences and the space available. The type of worktop you choose and the location of the extractor hood are also important considerations when selecting the best hob.
If you select an own-brand model, the basic gas-on glass stove will cost less than PS100. They're easier to clean and come with various safety features including the red indicator that illuminates when the surface is hot.
1. Flexibility
A versatile hob can help you to achieve your goals, whether it's perfecting your pancake recipe or making a quick dinner for the midweek. The best hobs provide precise temperature control, with features like dual wok burners and an expansive cooking area making them ideal for a wide range of recipes. These hobs can be used in any kitchen due to their sleek design and easy to clean surfaces. Many of them have the option to have an extractor fan which eliminates the requirement for separate overhead appliances, and thereby freeing up space for your work area.
Gas hobs offer you instant heat, so it's no surprise that they are an extremely popular choice. Gas hobs require regular cleaning in order to prevent carbon build-up and fires. Plus, they can often take longer to boil water than induction models.
Induction hobs heat the pan instead of the cooktop surface which makes them cleaner to maintain. They are more expensive and their glossy surfaces are more likely to show scratches and fingerprints.
Hybrid hobs offer the benefits of gas and induction cooking into one product which allows you to switch between the two depending on the type of food you're making. They are ideal for those looking to test their culinary skills, but do not want to upgrade their kitchen.
This electric hob is a fantastic example of a product that provides flexibility in design and performance. Its dual flex zone can be joined to accommodate larger pans and pots and its controls come with an option for locking children that prevents children from changing the settings. And it's also designed to be connected to a smart hub, so you can control its features from your smartphone.
Smeg's induction cooktop is a high-spec model that can be connected to your WiFI network. It's packed with features that help cook faster and more efficiently such as automatic pan detection and PowerBoost, as well as a timer and an option to pause. It's also super-easy to use, with touch controls that react immediately to your changes and an elegant design that will look great in a modern kitchen.
2. Energy efficiency
The most efficient hobs consume as little energy as possible, whether you're simmering soup or bringing water to the boil. This makes them an excellent choice for those who are looking to reduce their energy bills. Induction hobs use electromagnetic fields to heat the pan directly and prevent the glass from heating up. This also makes them the safest option, preventing accidental burns. While gas hobs aren't as efficient, they tend to be less expensive to run than electric models.
Our top choice, the Miele I-Flex 90cm induction hob, comes with plenty of flexibility thanks to its 'IFlex' zone, which allows you to merge two cooking zones into one area so you can cook with large pots and pans. The child lock on the touch controls prevents children from turning the stove or changing settings. This is an excellent feature for families with young children. The ceramic glass is matte, but it can be easily cleaned by wiping it clean.
Another great feature of this model is its 'Pan detection' function, which switches off the heating zone when you take your pan off. This isn't the only hob with this feature, but it is an excellent addition to simplify your life for those who cook for an entire family or group of friends.
This is a smart kitchen appliance, which connects to the internet, allowing you to control it using an app on your tablet or smartphone. It can alert you when food is ready so you do not overcook your food. The model we tested boiled a pan of hot water in only four minutes, which is incredibly fast for an Induction hob. It has flexible zones that you can mix and a stop & go' button that reduces the cooking zones to their lowest setting.
This portable induction hob is compact and ideal for camping or a trip to the university. It's the thinnest and lightest hob we've tested, but still has a full set of cooking options and a touch-sensitive slider. why not try here comes with an integrated "VaryCook" function that allows you to adjust the temperature of your pan by dragging it up and down on the surface of the hob. This is great for making sauces and caramel.
3. Convenience
When choosing a new hob you'll need to think about how it fits with your kitchen's design and how it can do to improve the utility of your home. This will help you narrow your choices and choose the one that's ideal for your family, you and your home. It's important to read reviews and learn what other users have to say about the appliance, as this can help you to identify its strengths and weaknesses.
Some hob brands have intelligent technology, making them the ideal choice for those looking to control their cooking using their smartphone. For instance Samsung's models have electronic timers that allow you to set precise cooking times and avoid overcooking. This is especially beneficial for people with busy lives, as the timer lets you ensure that your meals are cooked when they should be without needing to keep an eye on them.
Gas hobs are also a great option for those looking for traditional style, since they can be used with a variety of cookware designs and sizes. It is possible to use non-flat bottomed pots and pans on gas hobs. In addition, gas hobs usually have a variety of settings, which means you can alter the temperature to suit your recipe or pan type.
Induction hobs are more energy efficient than gas models, and have faster heat-up times they are also a popular choice among those looking to modernise a kitchen. Hobs that have built-in ovens are particularly popular because they save space by combining the oven and hob into one unit.
A child lock is a different feature to look out for. It allows you to stop the stove's controls and shields children from accidents in the kitchen. This is a particularly important feature for families with young children, as it can assist in avoiding burns and other injuries. Induction hobs often have a feature that allows you to connect two zones together, resulting in more cooking space. This is particularly useful when you cook with large pans.
4. Safety
A quality hob has many safety features. A hot hob indicator will inform you when the surface of the hob is heated. This can help prevent accidents in the cooking area. Certain hobs may also include a child lock that can prevent children from turning the hob on or altering its settings. Some hobs feature an option to combine two cooking zones into an even larger area, so you can cook a wide pan.
This is a fantastic feature for families and can ensure that everyone in the kitchen is secure. It monitors the temperature of the hob and if it detects that the pan isn't positioned correctly or there's an incident of fire it will shut down the burner instantly. This is a great method to keep your home safe and is something you should look for when you shop for.
There are many different kinds of hobs you can choose from which include electric, gas and induction. Gas hobs use an electric flame to heat your pans. Electric hobs come with electric rings you can control by pressing a button. There is also the induction hob that uses an electric field to heat your pans. It will not start unless you place a magnetizable pan on top of it. This is a reliable type of hob that will cool quickly after the pan is removed.
This kind of hob can be an efficient space-saver since it removes the need for an extractor fan. This means that you can have a sleek kitchen design. It is more expensive than other types of hobs but it's an excellent choice for any family. It can be used to remove excess smoke and steam from the kitchen. This can improve the air quality at the home. This is an excellent option for families because it can protect against burns and is easy to clean. When it comes to choosing a cooktop, there are a variety of options to think about. Make sure to research them all prior to making a decision.