Grabbing one of the best induction hobs is an excellent way of bringing your kitchen up-to-date, providing a more eco-friendly way of cooking, and faster heat-up times.
Knowing exactly what to get though is where things get a little fiddly. While hobs may seem simple, there’s a lot to consider in terms of how powerful they need to be, and what additional features they may have, such as heat-control sliders and pause buttons.
Well, to help you out, our team of experts has tested a wide range of hobs, keeping an eye on key indicators such as their design, build quality and size, as well as how well they function in a range of tests, including how quickly they boil a pan of water. We’ve used them for an extended period of time, so we can best assess their strengths and weaknesses and provide an honest verdict.
If you can’t find an induction hob you like at the moment, be sure to bookmark this page as we’ll be adding more worthy contenders as they pass through our Trusted Labs.
Best induction hobs at a glance
How we test
Unlike other sites, we test every induction hob we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
We test how long it takes to bring pans of water from 20C to 90C: we measure times for 1.5-litres of water in a large pan, 1-litre in a medium pan and 500ml in a small pan. We use the most appropriate sized burner for each hob.
We also test how long the large pan takes to heat up, while all other burners are in use. This helps us see if there are any power-sharing options going on, where only one burner can be run on maximum power.
We test a hob’s usability features: any auto-cooking features, such as chocolate melting; how timers work; and any smart features. By cooking on each hob, we can also tell you what each model is like to use, and how easy they are to clean.
Hotpoint PVH 92 B K
Best overall hob
Pros
- Great value
- Intuitive controls
- Powerful cooking
- Automated extractor
Cons
- Lacks automated cooking modes
Though it may lack some of the features found on other standalone models, the Hotpoint PVH 92 B K remains a powerful and easy-to-use hob with a built-in extractor.
The grease filter does need to be cleaned monthly but Hotpoint makes this as hassle-free as possible. Not only is the filter dishwasher-safe, but a light will automatically turn on when it needs to be cleaned, removing any guesswork from the process.
At 83cm, the PVH 92 B K is slightly wider than your typical hob, meaning it’s more likely to be bought as part of a kitchen refurb, as opposed to a direct replacement for an older hob.
There are four individual burners on the hob itself, with the two on the left bridged to create one zone for larger pans and griddles, while the two on the right are individual.
Controlling the hob is straightforward, with a slider that allows you to select the power mode from between one to nine, and a Power Boost (P) button for rapidly boiling water. You’ll also find timer controls with buttons for hour, ten minute and second increments which makes setting the PVH 92 B K much quicker.
Unlike the Hotpoint TS6477CCPNE, the PVH 92 B K doesn’t have a CleanProtect covering, so it will require slightly more elbow grease to clean efficiently.
We found that getting 1.5 litres of water to boil took just three minutes and 51 seconds which is as good as a kettle, albeit certainly not the fastest hob we’ve tested. If you’d prefer a faster hob then try Neff T66YYY4C0.
The extraction also proved to be powerful and was capable of drawing away any steam or cooking gases coming off the pan. Thanks to its placement in the cupboard underneath, we found the extraction wasn’t too noisy or distracting, either.
Overall the Hotpoint PVH 92 B K is a great value hob that’s admirably simple to use. It may lack extra tools such as CleanProtect, but it’s still a great choice for everyday use.
Full review: Hotpoint PVH 92 B K
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Neff N90 T66YYY4C0
Best hob for ease of use
Pros
- Brilliant Flex Pad Flex control
- Precision temperature sensor
- Smart app
If you want an easy to use and stylish hob that offers you precision and control over your cooking then the Neff N90 T66YYY4C0 is a great option.
Available in a range of trim colours including bronze, black, silver and grey, the Neff N90 T66YYY4C0 isn’t just stylish but practical too as the trims magnetically connect to the clips on the side of the hob. This means you can easily change the colour, if you ever want to, but it also means they can be removed for hassle-free cleaning.
The Neff T66YYY4C0 has a few unique features that help make it easier to use. Firstly, the Neff doesn’t use traditional zone or burner markings, instead the hob is split into left and right zones. This is an incredibly useful feature, as it means pots and pans can be spread across the hob and aren’t limited to certain sized burners.
The Neff T66YYY4C0 is also controlled by the Twist Pad Flex, which we found makes this the most accessible hob we’ve ever tested. As opposed to typical touch controls, the Twist Pad Flex magnetically attaches to the centre of the hob and can be pressed in four directions to select and set the power for any of the four nominal burners.
Not only is it easy to use but it also offers precise temperature control and speedy performance. In our tests we found that it took just 2.5 minutes to boil 1L of water, which is some of the fastest speeds we’ve seen on an induction hob.
As a smart hob, the Neff T66YYY4C0 can also be operated through the Home Connect app, although we found it much easier to just use the Twist Pad Flex. The app however allows you to set the hob’s power modes, receive notifications about cooking activities and download firmware updates.
Whether you’re a true kitchen novice or an aspiring head chef, the Neff T66YYY4C0 is an easy to use induction hob that allows you to have total control of your cooking.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Neff N90 T66YYY4C0
Belling IHL773
Best 77cm wide induction hob
Pros
- Great value
- Easy to use
- Quick heat-up times
Cons
- Changes power when selecting a burner
- Very limited power to one burner when Boost mode is used
If you have larger pots and pans and want the flexibility of a wider hob, then the generously sized 77cm Belling IHL773 is a great value option.
As an average hob is around 60cm, the Belling IHL773 can easily accommodate larger pans and offers much more room around the burners than a traditional model.
Each of the four burners are controlled by a dedicated slider control at the bottom. While the two round burners are controlled individually, the flexible bridge zone can be used as either two individual burners or combined into one higher-power zone via a simple swipe.
To assess how evenly the hob heated, we used a thermal camera and checked how each of the burners worked. We found that all individual burners, and the flexible bridge zone, heated evenly without one side getting hotter than the other.
We also tested the basic performance and power of the hob and concluded that this is one of the fastest hobs around. While smaller pans of water took comparatively similar times to reach 90°C as other hobs, the largest 1.5L of water took only 3 minutes and 24 seconds to reach 90°C, which is unbelievably speedy.
It’s worth noting that the Belling IHL773 does lack some smart features that are found on other induction hobs and it doesn’t have dedicated cooking modes, such as melting or boiling. If, however, you need a wide hob that works quickly and heats evenly then you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option than this.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Belling IHL773
Hotpoint CleanProtect TS6477CCPNE
Easiest to clean
Pros
- Excellent value
- Simple controls
- CleanProtect surface makes the hob easy to clean
Cons
- Selecting a zone changes its power
The Hotpoint CleanProtect makes both cooking and the dreaded clean-up that much easier, which is perfect if you love to cook but hate the mess.
One of the standout features for the Hotpoint is its CleanProtect glass surface. Boasting a special nano coating, the Hotpoint is durable and much easier to clean just by using water, in fact the company states that for any marks on the hob, all you need to do is saturate the area with water for up to five minutes and simply wipe it clean with a cloth.
Measuring at 77cm, the Hotpoint Clean Protect also offers you extra space and flexibility while making dinner. Although it only has four burners (which is the usual amount for an induction hob), each burner offers numerous cooking options and programs.
Each burner gets its own touch-slider control, with 18 individual settings, a power boost setting and automatic chef-mode programs including boil, keep warm, slow cook and melt. We were wowed by the automatic cooking programs, especially with the melt option which allowed us to melt a lump of butter perfectly without stirring or any trace of burning.
All burners can also be used simultaneously on maximum power settings, which is incredibly useful if you’re cooking a meal of many components.
This hob is incredibly capable and boasts numerous features but it’s worth noting that this is definitely not the fastest available. For example, we found it took just over five minutes to bring 1.5-litres of water from 20°C to 90°C, which although is still a good result, it’s definitely not the quickest turnaround. However, if you aren’t fussed about super speedy performance then this is something that can be looked past.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Hotpoint CleanProtect TS6477CCPNE
AEG IAE84851FB
Best 80cm wide hob
Pros
- Clever PowerSlide
- Intuitive touch controls
- SenseFry makes cooking automatic
Cons
- Not much more cooking space than a 60cm hob
The AEG IAE84851FB is a hob that offers some especially clever cooking modes, and a whole lot of versatility.
At 80cm, it’s a fraction wider than most four-zone induction hobs and also features an LCD display for control, which we found to be especially useful. In addition, each of the cooking zones is activated automatically when a pan is placed on it, but there are nine power modes available for proper control, as well as a power boost option for rapidly boiling water in a matter of minutes. You can also expand the left-hand induction area so it offers a range of three sizes as opposed to being used as two separate areas. This AEG hob also offers a clever function known as PowerSlide, which separates the zone into three areas with different power levels, which you can change with a simple slide of the pan between zones to change power: just by sliding the pan, you can move from boil to simmer to keep warm. It makes this hob a joy to use, as power modes can be changed without touching any buttons.
This AEG candidate also proved to be a speedy customer, with a 1.5 litre pan of water being heated to 90 degrees in a touch over 3 minutes in the flexible zone. Over the standard rings, it also managed to boil a small 500ml pan in 90 seconds or so, offering an especially fast time that’s largely thanks to the fact this AEG hob drew 2800W of power. It also offered consistent heating over the flexible zone.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: AEG IAE84851FB
Indesit IB 88B60 NE
Best mid-range hob
Pros
- Flexible
- Simple to use
- Clever Push&Go settings
Cons
- Not very fast
- Only two timers
If it’s flexibility you’re after, the Indesit IB 88B60 NE should be a more than capable choice.
It’s a hob that doesn’t feature more traditional distinct burner rings, but instead offers a pair of Flex Zones that can also be combined to offer a single, much larger zone that’s ideal for square dishes and larger grill plates. The controls on offer are along the bottom edge, with plus and minus symbols for cycling through the nine power zones. In addition, this Indesit hob also comes with buttons to turn off a zone as well as putting one into max power for 5 minutes to help boil water. The IB 88B60 NE also comes with some clever Push&Go modes for this purpose – Push&Boil brings water to the boil and keeps it rolling, while the Push&Warm function is used for keeping food warm or gently reducing liquid.
In testing, it offered okay speeds for boiling water, but this Indesit hob proves that speed isn’t everything. To this end, it’s a consistent performer with the ability to have max power in all zones without siphoning power off from elsewhere. This helps to make it a star when it comes to power management. The automatic modes also performed decently, with consistent near-100 degree temps for the Push&Boil mode, while Push&Warm offered a consistent temperature of 72 degrees, which is ideal for keeping food warm without drying out.
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full review: Indesit IB 88B60 NE
Samsung Infinite Range CombiHob NZ84T9747VK/UR
Pros
- Powerful extraction
- Fast heat-up times
- Useful automatic programmes
Cons
- Controls not always that intuitive
- Expensive
Who wants an ugly extractor hood ruining the look of their kitchen? With the Samsung Infinite Range CombiHob NZ84T9747VK/UR, you get extraction built into the hob, sucking away moisture and other elements from cooking. You have to give up a bit of cupboard space below, but if you’ve got a big enough kitchen, it’s a sacrifice worth making.
There are four identical burners on this hob, each running at 2.1kW per burner, plus a boost mode that increases power to 3.7kW. You can run the boost mode on one burner on the left, and one on the right; the remaining burners are limited to power mode 5. Still, that’s quite flexible, as you can fast-boil two pans of water simultaneously. This is a fast hob: 2m 48s to bring 1.5-litres of water to 90°C.
The two burners on the left (or the two on the right) can be combined into one large zone for bigger pans. This is good for flexibility, but the option to do this is a little confusing, requiring both power mode controls to be selected; a dedicated linking button would have made life easier. Likewise, it’s not immediately obvious how to resume cooking after hitting the pause button.
There are timers for each burner, plus automatic cooking controls that use a temperature sensor to control power: melt, warm and simmer. If you want a high-quality fast hob with built in extraction, this is a great choice.
Full review: Samsung Infinite Range CombiHob NZ84T9747VK/UR
Reviewer: David Ludlow
Smeg HOBD382MB2
Best for power
Pros
- Gorgeous matte black finish
- Built-in extractor fan
- Multizone for larger pots and pans
Cons
- Limited automatic cooking modes.
Easy-to-use, powerful and stylish, the Smeg HOBD382MB2 may be one of the more expensive induction hobs on the list but we found it brilliant to cook on.
As it needs space for its extractor, the HOBD382MB2 is quite large at 80cm wide. The extractor is thoughtfully designed too as it sits flush with the hob, making it easier to move a pan from one side to the other.
Underneath the extractor is a built-in washable grease trap that’s topped with charcoal traps, both of which help filter out any odours. Once you begin cooking, the extractor will start in Auto mode and adjust its power automatically. We found this to work well and will likely be the only mode you’ll need, however there is the option to take manual control if you ever feel the need to.
There are four zones on the HOBD382MB2, however both the left and right-hand sides can respectively be combined to create two larger zones to accommodate pots and pans of greater size.
The HOBD382MB2 is controlled via an LCD panel with power options from 0 (off) to 9, alongside a P mode for power boost.
Unlike other induction hobs, this hob only sports one cooking programme for melting, which means you miss out on extra functions such as ‘keep warm’ which is found on AEG IAE84851FB, or temperature control offered by the Neff N90 T66YYY4C0.
Having said that, the melting mode does work fantastically well. We put butter on the hob and found that it melted slowly and consistently and even after leaving it for 15 minutes, the butter didn’t burn.
Otherwise, the HOBD382MB2 is seriously powerful, with each of the four burners able to run at a maximum of 2.1kW or 3kW when power (P) boost is enabled. Combining two zones allows one multizone to use 3.7kW.
We found a 1.5-litre pan of water took just three minutes and 50 seconds to boil with power boost on, while a smaller 500ml equivalent took just one minute and 41 seconds.
Full review: Smeg HOBD382MB2
Reviewer: Joshkun Salih
SMEG PIC01BLMUK
Best portable induction hob
Pros
- Temperature probe
- Automatic cooking times
- Powerful and portable
If you need an additional cooking space in your kitchen then the Smeg PIC01BLMUK is a useful portable induction hob.
In true Smeg fashion, the PIC01BLMUK boasts a more stylish design than standard portable induction hobs, thanks to its brushed metal front, curved body and retro finish.
A plug-in hob with a single zone, the PIC01BLMUK is designed for just one pan with a diameter of between 12cm and 24cm, which covers most frying pans and saucepans.
Just note that, much like a full-sized induction hob, the PIC01BLMUK has built-in pan detection which means its controls won’t work unless a compatible pan is located on the burner.
The PIC01BLMUK sports all the expected features that induction hobs should provide, including nine power levels and a residual heat indicator, alongside dedicated modes for frying and barbequing.
Both the BBQ and Fry mode come with a choice of three programmes which run a pre-set heat-up phase for a set time and then drops to a lower power mode once you start cooking.
Otherwise, the hob has a simple power selection dial for choosing between the nine heat levels and a boost mode, labelled P, which runs for five minutes and is designed for quickly boiling water. These controls are touch-sensitive for ease but we did find them a bit tricky to operate.
Smeg also provides a temperature sensor with the PIC01BLMUK, which plugs into the hob’s side and should then be fully inserted into the food you want to monitor. This is a useful addition that allows you control over the cooking power however we did note that it’s slightly fiddly to cook with.
Overall we found the PIC01BLMUK to be slightly slower than an integrated induction hob, however this is perhaps unsurprising considering it draws a maximum power of 2100W.
For anyone who needs additional cooking space in their kitchen, then the Smeg PIC01BLMUK is a fantastic, albeit slightly pricey choice.
Full review: Smeg PIC01BLMUK
Reviewer: Joshkun Salih
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FAQs
Gas hobs are cheaper to run, but induction hobs are more efficient, heat faster, respond to controls faster and have more features, such as being able to cut off power when a timer goes off. They’re a far better way of cooking and they’re more eco-friendly than gas models.
This of course depends on how careful you are with the hob, but given the glass surface that most induction hobs feature, they can be somewhat prone to scratching if you aren’t that careful.
You can run all four burners at the same time. Most hobs have power management, so running one burner on maximum may reduce the power of the other burners. The settings vary by burner, but our reviews tell you all.
In most cases, no. Most induction hobs require a dedicated 32A circuit. There are some models designed for a 13A plug, but they are much more restrictive in use, as you can only use one or two burners on maximum power. Think of plug-in hobs as an upgrade option for situations where you can’t run a new circuit.
Most hobs are (nominally) 60cm wide, so should fit into a standard worktop cutout, even replacing a gas hob. There are wider 80cm hobs, too.
Trusted Reviews test data
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