Who Is Responsible For An Best Hob Budget? 12 Top Notch Ways To Spend Your Money

Who Is Responsible For An Best Hob Budget? 12 Top Notch Ways To Spend Your Money

How to Choose the Best Hob

When deciding on the best hob for your needs, there are many factors to consider. From price 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 spend more to get a high-end model. Gas hobs are another popular choice, and offer great temperature control, but they're also pricier.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and three 'Push&Go' functions, this stove from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also one of the quickest tests to boil water, which took just under four minutes. It comes with the child lock as well as a pause function so you can stop the process in a snap without having to fiddle with controls.

Its design is sleek, contemporary and blends well with contemporary kitchens. It is typically made from glass (which is heatproof and shatterproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive and sit directly on the worktop.

The controls are easy to operate and we loved the clear display that informs you the current power settings, and which of the five zones are active. The "Boost" feature creates powerful heat in a short time. It is ideal for stir-frying and rapidly heating up pans. The hot hob light and the automatic shutoff are helpful safety features, too.

hobs and ovens 's not as responsive as other hobs in this test. We observed that it took nine presses of the control to reach the highest temperature, in contrast to six or seven on other models. It takes a bit longer for the pan to react when you change the temperature. You may need to adjust the settings a few times to get the right temperature.

The model in 60 cm includes four cooking zones, including a half-flex area where two areas can be joined to accommodate larger pans and pots. It features dual-ring design and is able to operate on both normal as well as 'boost power levels. It is great for cooking meat and searing it, or making water come to a quick boiling.

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 features a simple multislider interface, as well as a lockable control panel. Additionally, it is able to automatically detect the kind of pan you're using and set the correct cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a variety of safety features, like an adjustable control panel that locks and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

When you're doing work on your kitchen or simply seeking a better alternative to gas, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have slashed over the past few years, with basic four-zone models costing less than PS100. However, if you're looking for all the bells and whistles that include induction it's worth paying more to get the latest technology.

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

Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency does not leave out flexibility too This hob is designed to reduce power consumption by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking needs. Eco-Logic advanced mode enables you to reduce energy consumption by reducing power output to as little as 2.4kW.


The user-friendly interface of this hob impressed testers, with its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan's contours along the edges of it. The color scheme of the control panel helps you quickly identify the operational status of each zone, and the  Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are plenty of useful features, such as four cooking presets that automatically cook (melting boiling, melting slow cooking, and keeping warm) and a Power Boost for quick results.

In  hobs and ovens  comes with an 'FlameSensor' feature that alerts you when there is a risk of a fire or food that has been burned. There are other safety features, like a residual heat indicator as well as an auto switch-off if the surface is too hot.

It's also hard-wearing with an anti-corrosive CleanProtect coating to help it resist hard staining and cooking marks. This model has nine power levels as well as an 'FlexiDuo feature' that is perfect to accommodate large pans and is simple to set up. There are some additional features, such as lockable controls, and an emergency fuse to stop accidental button pressing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create an electric field when the pan is placed on the top. This means that they can reach a temperature more quickly than gas hobs and can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only is heated when you turn on a pan. They're generally less expensive than gas and are simpler to clean, which makes them a popular option.

This induction hob by Indesit is packed with features that make it easy to create your own ideas in the kitchen. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a rapid booster zone to quickly bring water to a boil. Push&Go, for example, lets you cook flawlessly at the touch one button. Nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for five minutes, can be easily selected with the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow the pans.

The controls are also simple to use and have a modern, minimalist design that's perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests it quickly heated up a pan once we placed it on the Booster Zone and boiling pasta water. It took a while to cool down after we turned off the hob, and the testers were unable to determine the exact temperature on the control panel.

In addition to the Dual Zone and Push&Go, the Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to fit larger pans. It has a child lock, an overheating block and an automatic shut-off mechanism that prevents the hob from operating when it becomes too hot. Our testers appreciated the fact that there were no visible flames or flammable substances and the glass was easy to wipe clean. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw steam and smoke from the pan out of the room by a duct on the surface. Our experts thought that the duct on this hob was easy to clean, though it required two people to lift the filter out and change it.

4. GE Induction Hob

When selecting a hob take a look at how it fits into your kitchen's design and layout, and also your cooking style and your lifestyle. Induction hobs are an excellent choice for cooking with children or the elderly in mind. They have safety features such as automatic shut-offs and a cool-to-touch surface. If you value efficiency and speed an electric hob that has a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is a great choice. Gas hobs are a great option for those who live in areas prone to power outages.