The Best Hob Awards: The Most, Worst, And Weirdest Things We've Ever Seen
Choosing the Best Hob The ideal hob for your needs depends on the type of worktop and the space available. Choosing the right hob also requires a look at the type of worktop you have as well as the location of your extractor hood. If you opt for a brand-name model, a basic gas-on glass hob will cost less than PS100. They are easier to clean and come with various safety features, including an indicator that glows red when they are hot. 1. Flexibility A versatile hob can assist you in achieving your goals, whether that's perfecting your pancake recipe or making a quick meal for midweek. The best hobs offer precise heat control, two wok burners, and a large cooking surface. They are ideal for a wide range of recipes. They can also be used in a range of kitchens thanks to their sleek designs and easy-to-clean surfaces. Additionally, many have the option of 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 heat. It's no wonder they are so popular. However, they need regular cleaning to ensure you aren't putting yourself at risk by carbon build-up on your hob or a fire bursting out. Plus, they can often take longer to boil water than induction models. Induction hobs heat the cooking pan itself instead of the cooktop surface They are, therefore, easier to keep clean. However, they are more expensive than gas hobs, as their glossy surfaces can reveal fingerprints and scratches more easily. Hybrid hobs bring the benefits of both gas and induction cooking in one unit, allowing you to switch between modes depending on the type of food you're making. They are perfect for those who want to test their culinary abilities, but aren't looking to invest in a new kitchen. This electric hob is a great model that offers flexibility in both style and functionality. Its dual flex zone can be combined to accommodate larger pots and pans and its controls come with an option for locking children that prevents children from changing the settings. It's also designed to connect to a smart hub so that you can control the features using your smartphone. Smeg's induction cooktop is a high-end model that is connected to your home WiFI network. It comes with a variety of features that make cooking easier and quicker, including automatic pan detection, PowerBoost, a timer and a pause feature. It's also simple to use thanks to control buttons that respond instantly to changes you make and a sleek modern design. 2. Energy efficiency The best hobs use as little energy as possible when you're simmering soup or bringing water to a boiling point. This makes them ideal for those who want to cut down on their energy bills. Induction hobs are the most efficient employing electromagnetic fields to directly heat the pan to ensure that the glass remains cool. Induction hobs are the safest choice as they protect against accidental burns. But while gas hobs aren't as efficient, they tend to be less expensive to run than electric ones. Our top pick is the Miele I-Flex 90cm induction hob, comes with plenty of flexibility because of its 'IFlex' zone, which lets you merge two cooking zones into one large space, allowing you to cook with big pans and pots. Its touch controls have an option for children to lock the controls so that children can't switch off the stove or alter settings this is a great option for households with young children. Although the ceramic glass has a matte surface, it's easy to keep clean with just a little wipe. Another great feature of this hob is its “Pan detection” function, which automatically turns off the heating zone when you take your pan off. It's not the only hob with this feature however it's an excellent addition that makes your life easier when you're cooking a lot of meals for your family or group of friends. This is a smart hob that connects to internet to allow you to manage it through an app on your tablet or smartphone. It can also notify you when food is ready so that you don't overcook it. It took only four minutes to boil our test pan of water with this model, which is a lot for an induction hob. It comes with flexible cooking zones which you can combine and an “Stop & Go' button that reduces all cooking zones to the lowest setting so it's simple to turn off. This compact induction cooker is ideal for camping and for trips to the university. It's the thinnest and lightest hob in our tests, but still has a full set of cooking options and a responsive touch slider. It also has an integrated 'VaryCook' feature which lets you vary the temperature by moving the pan upwards and downwards on the hob's surface, which is perfect for making caramel sauces or sauces. 3. Convenience You'll want to consider how the hob will fit in your kitchen and what it can do to improve your home's functionality. This will help you narrow down your options so that you can select a model that's ideal for your family as well as your home. It is also advisable to review reviews to learn what other people think about the appliance. This can help you better understand its strengths and weaknesses. Certain hob brands are famous for their innovative technology, which makes them the ideal choice for those who want to control their cooking using their smartphones. Samsung's models, for instance come with electronic timers that allow you to set precise timeframes and avoid overcooking. This is especially helpful for those with busy lifestyles because you can use the timer to make sure that meals are ready at the right time without needing to keep an watch over them. Gas hobs are a great choice for those who want traditional style, since they can be used with a variety of cookware styles and sizes. It is possible to use non-flat bottomed pots and saucepans on gas hobs. Plus, gas hobs often offer a range of settings, meaning you can alter the heat to fit your recipe or pan type. Induction hobs, which are more energy-efficient than gas models and provide faster heating times and are an option for 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 unit. A child lock is an additional option to look for. It allows you to block controls on a stove and safeguards children from kitchen accidents. This is particularly important for families with young children, as it will help prevent burns and other injuries. Induction hobs often include a feature that permits you to link two zones, creating more cooking space. This is useful for large pans. 4. Safety A good hob has a number safety features. ovens and hobs uk will alert you when the surface of the hob is hot. This will help avoid accidents in the cooking area. Some hobs will also have a child lock that can stop children from turning the stove on or altering its settings. Some models will come with a function that allows you to combine two cooking zones into one larger zone so that you can cook in a larger pan. This is a fantastic feature for family households and it can help ensure everyone's safety in the kitchen. It works by monitoring the heat of the hob. If it detects that the pan hasn't been properly placed, or if there is a fire on the hob it will turn off the burner. This is a great way to ensure your home is safe and is something you should consider when you shop for. There are many different types of hobs you can pick from, including gas, electric and induction. A gas hob makes use of a flame to heat your pans while an electric hob has electric rings that you are able to control by pressing the button. There is also the induction hob that uses an electric field to heat your pans and won't turn on unless you place a magnetizable metal pan on it. It is a very efficient hob, and will cool quickly when the pan has been removed. This type of hob saves space since it doesn't require an extractor fan. You can therefore have a more streamlined kitchen design. It is more expensive than other types of hobs but it's a great option for any household. It can also be used to remove smoke and steam from the kitchen, which will aid in improving the air quality of your home. This is a fantastic choice for families as it is easy to clean and guards against burns. When choosing a hob there are many choices to take into consideration. It is important to study them all before making a decision.