TOP 5 hobs with Hi-Light burners

The representative of the iQ100 line of the Siemens brand in the corporate hierarchy belongs to the initial solutions. Although if we analyze the market as a whole, the model can be attributed to the middle price segment.

Despite its economical status, Siemens ET 61RBEA1E provides premium glass ceramics produced by Schott Ceran. This is a high-quality material with increased resistance to scratches and other influences (for example, intense thermal).

With standard dimensions for installation (560x490 mm), the hob has 4 Hi-Light burners. On the left front and right rear are two small (14.5 cm) 1.2 kW zones. They are suitable for heating food and preparing food for children. On the left rear there is a medium (18 cm) 2000-watt universal burner. And on the right in front is the largest and most powerful (21 cm and 2.2 kW, respectively) for quick heating.

The touch panel helps control the operation of the device. Among other things, it provides flexible power settings - 9 main and 8 intermediate values, that is, as many as 17 variations, among which there will certainly be an optimal one for a specific culinary task.

The model's features include a number of useful options that are not limited to automatic shutdown when idle or child protection. For example, the 2-level residual heat indicator for each zone shows when the cooking zone is hot enough to melt butter or chocolate, and when it is just warm. There is also a quick restart: if the device is accidentally turned off but turned on immediately, then all previously specified settings will be restored.

But for some reason they forgot about the timer, which is a disadvantage of the model. Otherwise, Siemens ET 61RBEA1E is a good hob from a reputable brand.

The model from the Italian manufacturer Indesit impresses, first of all, with its affordable price, but in fact this is not its only advantage. The hob has all the necessary functions for quick and safe cooking. 4 burners with a total power of 6.2 kW have different diameters for large and small dishes - from 145 to 210 mm. True, their location is quite controversial - on the right there are two small zones with a diameter of 145 mm, on the left - large ones with a diameter of 210 and 180 mm. As a result, the circles do not look symmetrical, and large dishes are crowded on one side. In addition, there is no contour burner that allows you to increase or decrease the heating zone.

There are 9 power levels available for each burner, which are set using the touch panel in the lower right corner. Due to the lack of a large number of functions, the controls are quite simple and straightforward: turn on/off, select a heating zone, set the power and lock the stove so that curious children and pets don’t get into mischief. And so that you don’t have to constantly stand at the stove, there is a convenient timer with the ability to set the time up to 99 minutes for each burner. As soon as the set time has passed, the device will sound a beep and automatically turn off the heating. That is, you can cook without even being at home - the main thing is to correctly calculate the power and time.

Like most modern hobs, the device is safe and prevents overheating thanks to the auto-shut-off function, which is activated after prolonged use at the same power level - for example, after about 1 hour at maximum power. And after turning off, the residual heat indicator is activated, which lights until the temperature drops to a safe level.

In general, Indesit turned out to be a good model, albeit with some nuances. It also has an attractive design (deep black color and frameless panel) + Schott Ceran glass ceramics, which is not only easy to clean, but also highly durable. The dimensions of the device are quite standard - 58x51 cm.

The Bosch electric hob is a representative of the brand's Serie 6 line for 2022. The device is positioned by the manufacturer as a comfort-class solution. Convenient controls and additional options confirm this status.

Thus, the Bosch PKF 631 FP3E not only offers 17 heating power levels, but also received a DirectSelect touch panel, with which you can select the desired intensity in one click. In addition to the timer and child lock, there are ReStart and Cleaning-pause functions. The first will restore the specified settings if the device is accidentally turned off, and the second will allow you to wipe the surface from stains during operation (and not disrupt the operating parameters).

There is also an energy consumption indicator: when the model is turned off, the total electricity consumption for the last session is displayed on the display for 10 seconds.

In addition to two conventional small (diameter 14.5 cm) 1200-watt Hi-Light zones, one contour burner is offered - the rear left one. It can accommodate both small dishes (bottom 12 cm) and large utensils (21 cm). And the peak power changes accordingly from 750 to 2200 W. Plus, the fourth zone (front, right) at 18 cm is also suitable for quick heating. It supports the PowerBoost mode, which temporarily increases the power from 2 to 2.3 kW.

The entire “four” burners have a 2-level residual heat indication. This increases operational safety and helps to use the device more rationally (for example, maintaining the temperature of just cooked dishes without unnecessary energy consumption). The heaters are hidden under stylish, perfectly smooth glass ceramics from the reputable manufacturer Schott Ceran. This is another argument in favor of the Bosch PKF 631 FP3E - a practical, functional and reliable hob.

The hob from the famous Slovenian brand Gorenje will become not just a reliable assistant, but also a decoration for your kitchen. The black glass-ceramic coating makes the model stand out from its classic white competitors, but keep in mind that such a panel requires constant care. It’s strange, but the surface of dark colors is more easily soiled than light ones: fingerprints, small scratches, even dust are clearly visible on it. So if you want to maintain its original appearance, you cannot do without daily thorough cleaning.

Under the glass there are four circles that indicate heating zones, and in front there is a touch control panel. The buttons instantly respond to pressing, accompanying the actions with sound signals, and most importantly, they do not heat up. Moreover, the control itself is quite simple and understandable, although it is still better to read the instructions before using it for the first time.

Despite the low price tag, Gorenje ECT 644 BCSC has useful features that will definitely appeal to users who value their time and convenience. First of all, the surface can accommodate dishes of almost any size. For small pots and pans there are two regular burners with a diameter of 14.5 cm and a power of 1.2 kW. But the most interesting are the two expandable zones: the first by 12 or 21 cm (0.8/2.2 kW), the second by 12 or 18 cm (0.7/1.7 kW). You don’t have to measure anything, because the circles indicate the required diameter of the bottom; they’re just paired in contour burners.

Finally, let's move directly to the functionality of the device. There is an indication of residual heat for each burner, child protection and a countdown timer that automatically turns off the heating. Of course, no one belittles their usefulness, but most models are equipped with such a set. Less common, but no less useful, are automatic boiling, which first turns on maximum power and then switches to lower speeds, StayWarm heating, which keeps the food temperature at 70 degrees for those who are late for a family dinner, as well as StopGo pause, which pauses the cooking process for a while (for example, to clean dirt on the stove) and resumes work with the saved settings.

The built-in hob of the Samsung brand can be classified as a strong “middle peasant” of the market. It uses a high-quality glass-ceramic surface produced by EuroKera. The material looks impressive, is easy to clean from dirt, is not scratched by dishes, and resists shock and high temperatures better than its non-name counterparts.

Sensors will help control the operation of the Samsung NZ64T3516AK. With their help, it is easy to select one of the 9 available heating power levels and set a timer for any of the burners. The controls can be easily locked to keep children safe. Also, for safety reasons, there is an indication of residual heat and automatic shutdown of the device when inactive.

Users have four Hi-Light burners at their disposal. And this set is very versatile in relation to both utensils and the tasks pursued in the kitchen - be it heating, slowly simmering dishes or quickly boiling water. The front right and rear left heating zones are the same. Their diameter is 14.8 cm, and the maximum power is 1200 W.

On the front left is an expandable (contour) burner with a capacity of 2200 W. It is ready to “accept” both small ladles (diameter 12.9 cm) and large pots or pans (21.5 cm). The fourth burner (rear right) is also expandable, but if necessary, it turns into an oval burner of 26.5 cm and 2400 W. This form factor is perfect for ducklings and other elongated dishes.

Samsung NZ64T3516AK is an interesting hob with a balanced set of heating zones.