Choosing the Best Hob
The ideal hob for your needs depends on the type of worktop you have and the space available. The type of worktop you choose and the location of the extractor hood are also important factors to consider when choosing the right hob.
A basic gas-on-glass hob costs less than PS100 If you select an original brand. They are easier to clean and come with a range of safety features, including the red indicator that illuminates when the surface is heated.
1. Flexibility
A hob that is flexible will assist you in achieving your goals, whether that's perfecting your pancake technique or making a quick dinner for a midweek meal. The best hobs offer precise temperature control, dual wok burners, and an enormous cooking surface. They are perfect for a wide range of recipes. They can be used in any kitchen, thanks to their sleek design and easy-to clean surfaces. In addition, many of them come with the option to add a built-in extractor fan that eliminates the need for an overhead appliance and freeing up space on your worktop.
Gas hobs can provide instant heating. They're no wonder they are popular. However, they need regular cleaning to ensure that you don't run the risk of carbon build-up on your stove or a fire breaking out. Additionally, they often take longer to boil water than induction models.
Induction hobs heat the pans rather than the surface of the cooker, which makes them easier to clean. They can be more expensive and their glossy surfaces are more likely to show scratches and fingerprints.
Hybrid hobs combine both gas and induction cooking into one product. You can switch between both modes based on what you're cooking. These are great for those who want to test their culinary skills, but do not want to make a major investment in their kitchen.
This electric hob is a fantastic model that offers flexibility in style and function. Its dual flex zones can be combined to accommodate larger pots or pans. The controls also come with an option for children to lock them out of children changing the settings. It's also designed to be connected to a smart hub so that you can control the features from your smartphone.
Smeg's induction hob is a top-quality model that is connected to your home Wi-Fi network. It comes with a variety of features that make cooking more efficient and faster, including automatic pan detection, PowerBoost, a timer, and a pause feature. It is also very easy to use thanks to touch controls that respond immediately to changes you make, and an elegant modern design.
2. Energy efficiency
The most efficient hobs are those that use the least amount of energy, whether you're boiling water or simmering soup. This makes them a great option for people who want to cut their electric costs. Induction hobs utilize electromagnetic fields to directly heat the pan, preventing the glass from heating up. This makes them the most secure choice and prevents accidental burns. But while gas hobs aren't as efficient, they tend to be less expensive to run than electric ones.
The Miele I Flex induction hob is our top choice. It offers a lot of flexibility, thanks to the "I Flex zone. This allows you to join two cooking zones into one big area so you can use big saucepans and pots. Its touch controls have a child lock so that children can't turn off the appliance or alter settings, which is a good option for households with young children. Ceramic glass is matte however, it is easy to clean by a simple wipe.
The hob also comes with the 'Pan detection function' that automatically turns off the power to a specific cooking zone when removing the pan. It's not the only hob that has this feature, but it is a great addition to make life easier when you cook for a large family or a group of friends.
This is a smart kitchen appliance that connects to the internet so that you can manage it through an app on your smartphone or tablet. It can also notify you when your food is ready, so you do not overcook it. It took only four minutes to boil our test pan of water on this model, which is a lot for an induction hob. It comes with flexible zones that you can mix and a stop & go' button that reduces the cooking zones to the lowest setting.
This induction hob is portable and has a slim design that's ideal for camping trips or taking to university. It's the thinnest and lightest hob that we tried, yet it comes with all of our cooking functions as well as an adjustable slider. It also comes with a built-in "VaryCook" function that lets you to control the temperature of your pan by dragging it up and down on the surface of your hob. This is perfect 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 efficiency of your home. This will help you narrow your options and select the model that's best for your family, you, and your property. It's also worth reading reviews to learn what other users have thought about the appliance, since this can help you to understand its strengths and weaknesses better.
Certain hob brands are famous for their advanced technology, which makes them the ideal choice for those who prefer to control their cooking via their smartphones. Samsung's models, for example, have electronic timers which allow you to set precise timeframes and avoid overcooking. This is especially useful for people with busy lives, as the timer lets you ensure that your meals are cooked at the time they should be without having to monitor them constantly.
Gas hobs are an ideal option for those seeking an older-style feel. They are able to cook using a wide range of cookware sizes and styles. This includes non-flat-bottomed pans and pans that can be difficult to accommodate on other types of hob. Plus, gas hobs often offer a range of settings, meaning you can adjust the temperature to suit your pan's style or recipe.
Induction hobs are more energy efficient than gas models, and have quicker heat-up times and are popular among those who want to modernize their kitchen. Induction hobs with built-in ovens are very popular because they save space by combining the oven and hob into one.
Another feature to look out for is a child lock, which allows you to block the controls on a stove and safeguard children from accidental accidents in the kitchen. This is a crucial feature for families with young children, as it could aid in avoiding burns and other injuries. In addition some induction hobs come with a function that lets you link two zones together to make a larger cooking area that can be beneficial if you're using large pans.
4. Safety
A quality hob has several safety features. A hot hob indicator will alert you when the surface of the hob is heated. This can help prevent accidents in the cooking area. Some hobs will also have a child lock that will prevent children from turning the stove on or altering the settings. Some hobs have a feature that allows you merge two cooking zones to create an additional zone, meaning you can cook a wide pan.
This is an excellent feature for families and will ensure that everyone in the kitchen is safe. It operates by monitoring the temperature of the hob. If it finds that the pan has not been placed correctly or if there's an ignition on the stove, it will automatically shut off the burner. This is a great way to keep your home safe and it's something that you should consider when shopping for.
There are many different types of hobs that you can select from which include electric, gas and induction. Gas hobs make use of the use of a flame to heat your pans. Electric hobs come with electronic rings that can be controlled by pressing the button. Then there's the induction hob that uses a magnetic field to heat your pans. It will not turn on until you place a magnetizable metal pan on it. This is a very efficient hob, and it cools quickly when the pan has been removed.
This type of hob saves space as it does not require an extractor fan. It is therefore possible to have a a more streamlined kitchen design. It can be more expensive than other hobs but it is a fantastic choice for any home. It can be used to remove excessive steam and smoke from the kitchen. This can improve the air quality in your the home. This is a fantastic choice for families as it is easy to clean and guards against burns. There are a number of different options to consider when selecting a hob, so be sure to take the time to research each one prior to making your choice.