How to Choose the Best Hob

When deciding on the best hob there are a variety of factors to take into account. From price to energy efficiency. So deciding what features are essential is vital.

A basic electric ceramic stove could cost as low as PS100 However, you'll need to shell out more for a feature-packed model. Gas hobs are another popular choice, and offer great temperature control, but they're more expensive.

1. Haier I-Flex Induction Hob

With four cooking zones and stove three 'Push&Go' functions, this stove from Haier can assist you in making quick meals. It was also among the most efficient tests to boil water, taking just under four minutes. It comes with an child lock and an pause feature, so you can stop the process in a snap without having to mess with controls.

Its style is sleek and contemporary and blends well with modern kitchens. It's usually made from glass (shatterproof and heatproof) or ceramic, and has touch controls that sit flush with the worktop to make it easy to use.

The controls are intuitive 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 high-powered heat for a brief period of time. It is ideal for stir-frying, or bringing pots of water to a boil fast. Safety features like the hot hob light and automatic shutoff are beneficial.

However it's not as responsive to touch as some other hobs in this test. We found that it took nine presses on the control to attain the highest temperature in contrast to six or seven on other models. It also takes longer to respond when you alter the cooking temperature, meaning you may have to change settings several 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, where two areas can easily be joined to accommodate larger pots or pans. Dual-ring design permits it to be operated at both "normal" and "boost" power levels. The Boost is ideal for cooking meat, searing it or quickly making water come to a quick boil.

It is fully integrated with the hOn app and includes 100's of recipes, guided cooking, and 30 different programs that are divided into different food categories and types of preparation. It features a multislider controls panel with a "lockable interface' that detects the type of pan you're using to determine the appropriate cooking mode. It's also compatible with hOn pans made by third-party manufacturers and comes with a number of security features, including the ability to lock the panel and boil-dry prevention.

2. Smeg I-Flex Induction Hob

If you're working in your kitchen or seeking a better alternative to gas induction hobs, induction hobs are becoming increasingly popular. Prices have slashed dramatically over the last few years. The basic four-zone models can be found for less than PS100. If you want the latest induction technology, it's worth the extra cost.

This sleek-looking model from Smeg features the latest induction tech to keep your cooking efficient and easy. The revolutionary Auto-pot detection technology automatically recognises the position of pots with a minimum diameter of 9cm, allowing you to select the correct zone without having to manually select it.

Smeg's emphasis on energy efficiency doesn't overlook flexibility either - this hob is designed to reduce power consumption by adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the zones to suit your cooking preferences. There are other options to save 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 stove impressed testers, thanks to its intuitive sliding controls that follow your pan along the edges of it. The control panel's colour scheme lets you quickly see the operational status of each zone, while the Flexi Duo function allows you to connect two zones to cater for larger pans. There are numerous useful features, including four automatic cooking presets: melting boiling, slow-cooking and keeping warm.

In addition to this the hob comes with a 'FlameSensor' that warns you if there is any risk of fire or food that has been burned. There are also several safety features, like a residual heat indicator ovens and hobs an auto shut-off feature if the surface gets too hot.

It is also resistant to hard stains and comes with a protective coating of CleanProtect. The stove is simple to install and comes with nine power levels, as well as an excellent 'FlexiDuo' feature for catering to large pans. There are some additional features such as control locks, as well as a safety fuse to prevent accidental button pressing.

3. Indesit I-Flex Induction Hob

Powered by electricity rather than gas, induction stoves utilize copper plates that create a magnetic field when a pan is placed on the top. This means they can reach a temperature faster than gas hobs. They can also reduce energy consumption since the cooking area only heats up when you turn on the pan. They are generally less expensive to run than gas, and they are also less difficult to clean.

Indesit's induction stove is packed full of features that will allow you to get creative in the cooking. It comes with two distinct zones that can be combined into the Dual Zone to accommodate larger pans, as well as a rapid booster zone to quickly bring the water to a boil. For instance, the Push&Go allows you to cook with perfection at the touch a button. Nine power modes that include a 'P boost setting that gives each zone maximum power for 5 minutes, can be easily selected using the controls, which move along the bottom edge of the cooktop to follow your pans.

The controls are also easy to operate and feature a modern, minimalist design that's ideal for a contemporary kitchen. In our tests, it boiled pasta water in a snap ovens and hobs was quick to heat up once we placed a pan on the Booster zone. However, it took an extended time to cool down once we shut off the hob. Our test participants were unable to pinpoint the exact temperature on the control panel.

As well as the Dual Zone and Push&Go feature, this Indesit hob has a useful bridge function that lets you connect two cooking zones to suit larger pans. It has a child lock as well as an overheating block. It also has an automatic switch-off system which prevents the hob from working when it gets too hot. Our testers appreciated the fact that there weren't any messy, visible flames and the ceramic glass was easy to clean. Ventilated hobs, unlike traditional extractors, draw steam and smoke from the pan and out of the room through a duct on the surface. The vent on this hob was easy to clean, however it required two people to remove the filter.

4. Induction Hob from GE

Consider how the stove will fit into your kitchen's layout and design as well as what your cooking style is. For instance, if frequently cook with children or elderly people in mind, safety features such as automatic shut-off and an icy to the touch surface could make an induction stove an ideal choice. For those who value efficiency and speed, an electric stove with a wipe-clean ceramic glass fascia is the best oven choice. Gas hobs are a good choice for those who live in areas prone to power outages.