How to Choose the best ovens uk Hob

There are a lot of aspects to consider when choosing the best hob, from the price to energy efficiency. Choose the features that are the most important.

A basic ceramic electric hob costs less than PS100. However you'll need to pay more for a model that comes with many features. Gas hobs, which are also well-known and offer excellent temperature control but are more expensive, are another alternative.

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 fastest tests to boil water, taking less than four minutes. It's child-safe and comes with an option to pause the process, so you can stop the process without having to mess around with controls.

Its design is sleek, contemporary, and works well with modern kitchens. It is usually made of glass (which is shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic. The controls are touch-sensitive, and they sit in a flush position on the countertop.

The controls are simple to use and we liked the clear display which tells you the current power settings, ovens and hobs uk which of the five zones are in use. The 'Boost' feature generates high-powered heat for just a short period of time, and is ideal for stir-frying or bringing pans of boiling water to a boil fast. The hot hob light and automatic shutdown are useful safety features, too.

It's not as responsive as the other hobs we tested in this test. We found that it took nine presses of the control to attain the highest temperature compared with six or seven on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may need to alter settings multiple times before your pan is ready to cook at the proper temperature.

This model is 60cm long and has four cooking zones. One of it is a half-flex zone that allows two zones to easily be joined to accommodate larger pans or pots. It comes with a dual-ring design that can operate on both 'normal and boost power levels. It is perfect for cooking, searing meat or bringing pots of water to a rapid boiling point.

It is fully integrated with the hOn app and includes 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 different programmes divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It has an intuitive multislider interface and a 'lockable' control panel, plus it will automatically recognize the kind of pan you're using and set up the right cooking mode. It also works with hOn pans from third-party manufacturers and comes with a variety of security features, including the control panel that can be locked and boil-dry protection.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

Whether you're having work done in your kitchen, or seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming more popular. Prices have dropped in the last few years, with basic four-zone models starting at less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth paying a bit more.

This sleek-looking model from Smeg boasts the latest induction technology to make your cooking efficient and easy. The innovative Auto-pot detection system automatically detects the location of pots with minimum diameters of 9cm, allowing you to activate the appropriate zone without having to manually select it.

Smeg's attention to energy savings doesn't overlook flexibility either This hob is designed to reduce power consumption by setting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to meet your cooking needs. There are options to save even more energy by using the Eco-Logic advance mode that reduces the power output from 11.1 kW to as little as 2.4 4 kW.

The user-friendly interface of this hob was a hit with testers, thanks to its easy-to-use sliding controls that follow your pan along the edge of it. The color scheme of the control panel allows you to quickly determine the status of each zone, and the 'Flexi Duo' function allows you to connect two zones together to cater for larger pans. There are many useful functions including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking, and keeping warm.

The best oven also comes with a FlameSensor that can alert you in the event of a food item being burned or a fire. There are many safety features such as a residual heat sensor and an automatic switch-off when the surface is too hot.

It is also resistant to tough stains, and has an anti-smudge coating called CleanProtect. This hob is easy to install and comes with nine power levels, as well as a handy 'FlexiDuo' feature that allows catering for large pans. There are some additional features, such as control locks, as well as a safety fuse to protect against accidental button pushing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Electricity is the primary source of power, rather than gas, induction hobs make use of copper plates that create an electromagnetic field when a pan is placed on top. This means that they can reach temperatures faster than gas hobs, and also save energy as the cooking zone only heats up when you turn on a pan. They're generally cheaper to run than gas, and they're easier to wipe clean too and that's why they're an extremely popular choice.

Indesit's induction cooktop is packed of features to help you develop your cooking ideas. It has two separate zones which can be combined into a Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, and a rapid booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. Push&Go, for example, allows you to cook with perfection at the touch the button. The controls are simple to operate and let you select nine power modes including the P boost option which gives the highest power in each zone for five minutes.

The controls are also easy to operate and feature a modern, minimalist design that is perfect for a modern kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a flash and was quick to heat up when we put a pan on the Booster zone. It took some time to cool down after turning off the hob, and the testers could not determine the exact temperature on the control panel.

As well as having a Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob also has a bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to accommodate larger pans. It comes with a child lock and an overheating block as well as an automatic switch-off feature that stops the hob from working when it gets too hot. Ceramic glass is easy to clean and has no visible flames. Our testers liked that. Unlike a traditional extractor hood, vented hobs draw steam and smoke out of the pan and out of the room through a duct in the surface. Our experts thought that this hob's duct was easy to clean, even though it required two people to lift the filter to change it.

4. Induction Hob manufactured by GE

When selecting a kitchen appliance, consider how it fits to your kitchen's style and layout, and also your cooking style and life. For instance, if you often cook with small children or elderly people in mind, safety features like automatic shut-off and cool to the touch surface may make an induction stove an ideal choice. If you value speed and efficiency an electric hob that has a clean ceramic glass facia is a great choice. Gas hobs are a good option for those who live in areas that are susceptible to power outages.