Induction cooking is becoming more popular as people move away from gas hobs for various reasons. These can include the style or look of induction hobs and how easy it is to clean them. Especially with 4-zone induction hobs being the perfect size for most households.

Induction hobs can also be more environmentally friendly, as they are electric and can be powered by renewable energy, avoiding reliance on fossil fuels such as gas.

With an increase in popularity comes an increase in choice for customers. With so many different options available now, however, it can seem a little daunting trying to find the right induction hob.

In this post, I’m narrowing down the vast choice and focusing on the best 4-zone induction hobs.

In a hurry? Check out my top picks table below:

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Benefits of induction hobs:

• Energy efficient
• Easy to clean
• Modern and stylish
• Quick to heat up and adjust temperatures
• Safe to touch (only heats what is in contact with the pan)
• Lots of extra features like flexible cooking zones, timers and child safety locks
• Ideal if the house isn’t on mains gas supply
• Precise settings

The Best 4-Zone Induction Hobs

Below are my six favourite 4-zone induction hobs. I have either personally used these hobs (at home or in the showroom during cooking demonstrations) or get great feedback on them from customers.

In price order, starting with the least expensive:

NEFF N30 T36FB41X0G Induction Hob

• Approx. price – £349
• Control type – Touch
• Flexi-zone – No
• Residual heat indicator – Yes
• Automatic safety shut off – Yes
• Timer – Yes

This entry-level 4-zone induction hob from Neff is a fantastic choice if you need something that runs off a standard 13-amp plug.

Not many bells and whistles with this one, meaning no flexi-zones – just the 4-zones you see marked out. Don’t be afraid of the touch controls as they can take some time to get used to, but once mastered are quick and easy to use.

An attractive choice for those seeking a 13amp induction hob as well as a great price considering the good build quality Neff appliances have.

Pros

• Low price
• 13 amp connection
• Boost mode

Cons

• No flexi-zone
• Limited functions

Check out the latest price at:
AO.com

AEG IKB64401FB Induction Hob

• Approx. price – £379
• Control type – Touch
• Flexi-zone – No
• Residual heat indicator – Yes
• Automatic safety shut off – Yes
• Timer – Yes

This is one of AEG’s more entry-level 4-zone induction hobs but is an incredibly popular choice. At just 28 mm thick, it looks sleek and minimalist.

This hob has the usual boost mode for speedy heating and comes with Hood2Hob technology. It even has AEG’s Stop&Go function, which allows you to pause your cooking.

This means if you need to step away, the hob turns everything down to a low simmer. When you’re ready to resume cooking, simply un-pause and everything goes back to the cooking settings you had before. Great if the doorbell suddenly rings!

With 32 amps, it’s more powerful than the previous Neff model but will require an electrician to install it.

Pros

• Low price
• Boost mode
• Stop&Go mode
• Hood2Hob

Cons

• No flexi-zone
• Requires professional installation

Check out the latest price at:
AO.com

AEG IKE64450FB Induction Hob

• Approx. price – £499
• Control type – Touch
• Flexi-zone – Yes
• Residual heat indicator – Yes
• Automatic safety shut off – Yes
• Timer – Yes

Moving up to the next level in AEG’s range is the IKE64450FB. This comes with all the same great features as the previous model but adds the luxury of flexi-zones.

The IKE64450FB comes with double flexi-zones (bridge function), meaning that you can create two large cooking zones on either side of the hob. This is perfect if you have larger pans or dishes that wouldn’t normally fit in a single zone.

Its touch control system is another customer favourite, with a sliding scale to quickly and easily select the power setting you want rather than having to keep tapping the + or – buttons to move up and down the power settings.

Pros

• Double flexi-zones
• Boost mode
• Stop&Go mode

Cons

• Requires professional installation

Check out the latest price at:
AO.com

Siemens IQ-700 EX651FEC1E Induction Hob

• Approx. price – £577
• Control type – Touch
• Flexi-zone – Yes
• Residual heat indicator – Yes
• Automatic safety shut off – Yes
• Timer – Yes

This IQ-700 model comes with one flexi-zone to allow some versatility with your cooking, catering for different sized pots and pans.

Breaking away from Neff and AEG, we come to this mid-range Siemens induction hob. Siemens is known for its good build quality and innovative technology.

With Siemens’ boost function, you can heat zones up to 35% faster, so you can get that pasta on the boil fast and get cooking quicker! This model also has Siemens’ own version of AEG’s Stop&Go feature, called ‘Re-start’.

While the boost is a great added feature, there are fewer extra functions for the price with this model. But you get what you pay for with Siemens – namely, quality.

Pros

• Flexi-zone
• Re-start function
• Boost mode

Cons

• Requires professional installation
• Fewer extra functions for the price

Check out the latest price at:
AO.com

AEG IPE64551FB Induction Hob

• Approx. price – £750
• Control type – Touch
• Flexi-zone – Yes
• Residual heat indicator – Yes
• Automatic safety shut off – Yes
• Timer – Yes

This hob is a top of the range AEG 4-zone induction hobs. The HK674400FB not only comes with the same great features as the other AEG models I’ve talked about (such as the two flexi-zones and Stop&Go mode), it also has the added bonus of sleek styling.

When the hob is switched off you get a pure black glass top. There are no white markings on show, just a very discrete, sleek and modern looking induction hob – perfect if you want something to seamlessly blend into your worktop.

Along with the minimalist styling of the hob, the power controls have also been modified to give an almost sports car like speedometer look. If you’re looking for super sleek minimalist induction hob, this is the one for you!

Glamorous styling and more functions come at greater expense, however. But if you’re a home chef or just love to cook, it’s worth investing in a hob you’ll love.

Pros

• Boost mode
• Stop&Go mode
• Dual flexi-zones
• Sleek pure black glass – no markings

Cons

• Higher price
• Requires professional installation

Check out the latest price at:
AO.com

NEFF N70 T56FT60X0 Induction Hob

• Approx. price – £830
• Control type – Twistpad
• Flexi-zone – Yes
• Residual heat indicator – Yes
• Automatic safety shut off – Yes
• Timer – Yes

This T56FT60XO is one of Neff’s top of the range 4-zone induction hobs and one of my personal favourites. Not only does it look great with its sleek modern design, but it also comes with two flexi-zones for the ultimate freedom cooking.

If that isn’t enough, this induction hob comes with what Neff calls a TwistPad – and let me tell you, it’s all about the twist pad! This magnetic disc controls the hob and makes selecting zones and controlling the power setting both incredibly easy and fun.

Pros

• Boost mode
• Dual flexi-zones
• TwistPad control

Cons

• Requires professional installation
• Higher price

Check out the latest price at:
AO.com

For a quick demo of the TwistPad check out this video:

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FAQ:

What Is Induction Cooking?

Underneath each zone of the induction hob is a tightly wound copper coil. The electricity flows through this coil when the hob is switched on. This creates something called a high frequency alternating magnetic field.

This magnetic field will create a reaction between the induction zone on the hob and the bottom of the pan. Only induction-compatible pans will cause this reaction.

When a pan is placed on the hob, the electromagnetic field flows into the pan and generates a current inside of it. It is this current inside the pan that generates heat. The heat generated in the pan then transfers to the food or water so you can cook your meal.

If you would like to know about induction cooking in more detail, check out my post Pros and Cons of Induction Hobs

What To Look For When Buying 4-Zone Induction Hobs

There are a couple of important factors to take into consideration when buying an induction hob. Price and the build quality are usually the top priorities and often go hand-in-hand.

It is essential, therefore, to you know what your budget is first. Once you have your price range you can start to compare the different factors below.

Power Requirements

As induction hobs are electric, they run on your home’s power supply. Some induction hobs are ‘plug and play’, meaning they can just be plugged into the wall and don’t require more power. Others have greater power requirements and will need an electrician to set up new wiring.

The first of these hobs, the ‘plug and play’, is known as a 13 amp induction hob. These hobs can use a regular plug for power, just like any other appliances in your kitchen.

Some may come with a plug already, while others will require you to purchase and add a new one. These induction hobs can be great if you don’t have a bigger cable in place and don’t want the cost and potential upheaval of installing one.

The other option is a hob that requires more power, meaning it will need to be hard-wired. This is done by running a large cable from the fuse box to an isolating switch, which is in turn connected to the hob.

This extra power means that you can have a larger hob or one with more functions and more power. You will need an electrician to install this kind of induction hob.

Control Type

The control type is the physical method used to control the setting of the hob. The most common these days are touch control.

Other options are knobs, similar to the ones you would see on gas hobs, and (my personal favourite) Neff’s TwistPad. The TwistPad combines touch and a physical knob that you can twist to raise or lower the power settings.

Functions

Induction hobs are always being developed and coming up with new functions. These can everything from flexi- or bridging zones to having a full-colour display built in.

Here are some of the more popular functions and ones that are worth knowing about when looking at which hob to buy:

Flexi-zone – This allows the hob to combine two or more zones to create a larger cooking zone for bigger pans, baking dishes or griddles.

Boost – A boost mode will increase the power to a particular zone, essentially going to level 11. This speeds up the heating process, making boiling or temperature increases much quicker – perfect if you’ve got some pasta to cook.

Residual heat indicator – Though induction hobs only really work with compatible pans, there is some heat trapped in the glass during and just after cooking. This feature indicates when the hob is holding residual heat, using an ‘H’.

Hood2Hob – Some induction hob models can pair with the same brand cooker hood and talk to one another. When you start cooking, the hood will automatically turn on and will adjust its power setting depending on how many zones are running and at what power level. 

Powerslide – This function creates different power settings across two zones of the hob. A higher (hotter) zone at one end which then gradually turns into a low (cooler) zone at the other, with a medium section in between.

This is perfect if you need to give something a blast of heat or leave to simmer without fiddling with the touch controls and settings. You simply push the pan away or pull it closer to change the cooking temperature. This function may be called different names from different brands, such as PowerMove.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=39&v=kEHpK_Kbjl0

Final Thoughts…

I hope this post has helped explain what an induction hob is and given you some great options if you are looking at buying a 4-zone induction hob. They are all great products – which one you choose will ultimately be up to your needs and budget.

If you’d like to learn more about how induction hobs work and which one would be right for you, check out my post Induction Hob Pros And Cons

If you are just starting your new kitchen renovation and are wondering where to begin, I’d recommend my post How to Start Planning a New Kitchen.

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