Choosing the Best Hob
The choice of the right hob is contingent on your preferences for cooking and the space available. The type of worktop and location of the extractor hood are important considerations when selecting the best hob.
A basic gas-on-glass stove costs less than PS100 if you opt for an own-brand model. They are simpler to clean, and include various safety features like the red indicator that lights when they are hot.
1. Flexibility
A versatile hob can help you to achieve your goals, whether that's perfecting your pancake recipe or cooking a quick meal for the midweek. The best hobs provide precise temperature control, dual wok burners, and an enormous cooking surface. They're ideal for a wide variety of recipes. These hobs can be utilized in any kitchen, thanks to their sleek design and easy to clean surfaces. Plus, many come with the option to add an extractor fan built-in that eliminates the need for an overhead appliance and freeing up space on your worktop.
Gas hobs provide instant heat. It's no wonder they are so popular. Gas hobs require frequent cleaning in order to avoid carbon buildup and fires. Plus, they take longer to heat water than induction models.
Induction hobs heat the cooking pan itself rather than the surface of the cooker They are, therefore, cleaner to maintain. But they can also be more expensive than gas hobs, while their glossy surfaces can expose fingerprints and scratches more easily.
Hybrid hobs blend gas and induction cooking into one product. You can switch between both modes depending on what you're cooking. These are great for those who want to test their culinary abilities, but don't want to upgrade their kitchen.
This electric hob is a fantastic example of a product that offers flexibility in both appearance and function. The dual flex zones can be used to accommodate larger pots or pans. The controls also feature the option of a child lock to prevent children from changing the settings. And it's also designed to be connected to a smart hub, so you can manage its functions from your smartphone.
Smeg's induction stove is a top-quality model that is connected to your WiFI network. It's packed with features to facilitate cooking faster and more easily with features like automatic pan detection and PowerBoost as well as the ability to set a timer as well as an option to pause. It's also super-easy to use and has touch controls that react immediately to your changes and an elegant design that will be perfect for a modern kitchen.
2. Energy efficiency
The most efficient hobs are those that consume the minimal amount of energy regardless of whether you're boiling water or simmering soup. This means they're an excellent choice for those who want to cut their energy costs. Induction hobs make use of electromagnetic fields to heat the pan directly, preventing the glass from heating up. Induction hobs are the safest choice as they protect against accidental burns. But while gas hobs aren't as efficient, they tend to be cheaper to run than electric ones.
The Miele I Flex induction hob is our top pick. It offers a lot of flexibility due to the "I Flex zone. It allows you to join two cooking zones together to create a larger area so you can use big pots and saucepans. The child lock on the touch controls blocks children from turning the hob or changing settings. This is a great feature for families with small children. The ceramic glass is matte, but it can be easily cleaned by wiping it clean.
This hob also has the 'Pan detection function' that automatically turns off power to a particular cooking zone when removing the pan. It's not the only hob with this feature, but it's an excellent addition to make your life easier if you cook for a large family or group of friends.
This is an intelligent stove that connects to the internet, so you can control it with an app that you can download on your smartphone. It can alert you when food is ready, so you do not overcook your food. It took only four minutes to boil our test pan of water with this model, which is very fast for an induction stove. It has flexible zones that you can combine with a Stop & go' button that reduces the cooking zones to their lowest setting.
This compact induction hob is ideal for camping and also for taking to university. It's the thinnest and lightest hob we tested, but still has the full range of cooking functions and a touch-sensitive slider. It also has a built-in 'VaryCook' function which lets you vary the temperature by moving your pan upwards and downwards on the surface of the hob. This is ideal for making sauces or caramel.
3. Convenience
When you are choosing a new stove, you should think about how it will fit into the design of your kitchen and what it will do to enhance the efficiency of your home. This will help you narrow your options and pick the one that's ideal for you, your family and your home. You should also review reviews to learn what other people's opinions are about the appliance. This can help you understand its strengths and weakness.
Some hob brands are renowned for their smart technology, making them the ideal choice for those who want to control their cooking via their mobile. For example Samsung's models come with electronic timers that let you to determine precise cooking times and stop overcooking. This is particularly helpful for people who have a busy schedule and can be used by the timer to make sure that your meals are cooked at the right time without having to keep an eye on them.
Gas hobs are an excellent choice for those looking for an older-style feel. They can be used to cook with a wide variety of cookware sizes and styles. This includes non-flat-bottomed cookware and pans, which can be difficult to place on other hobs. Gas hobs are usually equipped with a range of settings so that you can adjust the temperature to suit your cooking.
Induction hobs, which are more energy-efficient than gas models and provide faster heat-up times and are a popular choice among those looking to modernise a kitchen. Induction hobs with built-in ovens are especially popular due to the fact that they can save space by condensing the oven and the hob into one.
A child lock is a different option to look for. It allows you to stop the stove's controls and shields children from accidents in the kitchen. This is a crucial feature for families with young children, as it can assist in avoiding burns and other injuries. In addition there are many induction hobs that have an option to connect two zones to create a larger cooking space This can be helpful when you're cooking with large pans.
4. Safety
A good hob will have several safety features. These include an indicator for the hot surface of the hob that will warn you when the surface is hot and stop kitchen accidents. Some hobs will also have a child lock that will prevent children from turning the stove on or altering the settings. Some will have a function that allows you to combine two cooking zones into one larger zone, allowing you to cook in a larger pan.
This is a great feature for families with children and it will help keep everyone safe in the kitchen. It operates by monitoring the temperature of the stove and if it determines that the pan isn't positioned correctly or there is an incident of fire, it will shut off the burner immediately. This is a great way to ensure that your home is secure and is something you should look for when you are shopping for a new stove.
You can select between electric, gas and induction hobs. Gas hobs utilize the use of a flame to heat your pans. Electric hobs have electric rings you can control by pressing the button. Then there is the induction hob which uses a magnetic field to heat your pans. It will not start unless you place a magnetizable pan on top of it. This is a highly efficient type of hob and will cool quickly when the pan has been removed.
This type of hob is an ideal space saver since it does not require 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 a great choice for any oven home. It is also able to remove excess steam and smoke from the kitchen, which can help improve the air quality of your home. This is a great option for families as it is easy to clean and protects against burns. When selecting a kitchen appliance, there are a variety of options to consider. Make sure to research them all before making your choice.