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Best ceramic hobs 2024: tested and reviewed by experts
Discover which electric ceramic hobs aced our stringent lab tests to become Best Buys, plus advice on how to use and clean a ceramic hob
Our expert buying advice and Best Buy recommendations will help you choose the best ceramic hob for your kitchen – one that heats quickly, simmers gently and is easy to use and clean.
We test ceramic hobs thoroughly and measure how long they take to heat and how effectively that heat is distributed. Our experts also assess how easy the controls are to use and how much of a job cleaning the hob is.
To see all our hob recommendations, head to our hob reviews.
Best ceramic hobs for 2024
These are best ceramic hobs we've tested in our lab recently.
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Ceramic hobs by type
Ceramic hobs by price
Why you can trust our ceramic hob reviews
At Which?, we buy every hob we test – we don't accept freebies from manufacturers. As a result, you can have complete trust in our verdict, including Best Buy and Great Value recommendations.
To uncover the best models for your budget, we put hobs through their paces. Our tests reveal that the best hobs take less than four minutes to heat 1.5 litres of water, while the worst take closer to 11 minutes to do the same job - you can see how a tardy hob could quickly become annoying.
Our ceramic hob tests reveal:
- How well the hob heats up – in the lab, we time how long it takes to heat a pan of water from room temperature to 90°C. Our experts also record how much energy the appliance uses in the process.
- How energy efficient the hob is – we examine how much energy a zone consumes when raising the temperature of a pan of water by 75°C. Based on this, we work out how much energy is successfully directed at the base of the pan rather than escaping into the atmosphere.
- How easy it is to clean the hob – we heat cooking oil and allow it to splatter on the burners, and we also allow a pan of rice to boil over. The grimy hobs are left to dry overnight, after which we try to clean them using washing-up liquid and a sponge.
Our in-depth reviews will help you choose the perfect ceramic hob for your needs.
Read more about how we test hobs.
Where to buy a ceramic hob
Popular online retailers that sell ceramic hobs include:
- Currys sells ceramic hobs from brands including AEG, Beko and Russell Hobbs. Expect to spend at least £100.
- John Lewis has a selection of ceramic hobs, with prices starting at around £180. It names the Bosch Series 2 PKE611CA3E as one of its most popular models.
- Argos has a small selection of ceramic hobs between £150 and £250. Listed brands include Beko, Bosch and Hisense.
- AO.com stocks ceramic hobs starting at around £140. The Zanussi ZHRN641K is named as one of the popular picks.
Buying a ceramic hob: key questions
It's worth asking yourself a few questions before deciding whether an electric ceramic hob is the best choice for your kitchen:
- Do you want low running costs? Electric ceramic hobs are pricier to run than induction hobs because they're not as energy efficient. Gas hobs have even lower running costs, but this is simply because gas is cheaper than electricity, not because the hob type is more efficient.
- Is safety a top priority for you? Ceramic hobs have residual-heat indicators – lights that tell you if a heating zone is still warm – for good reason. After switching off, they take a while to cool down. This makes them a poor choice if children could touch the hob.
- How robust do you need your hob to be? While the glass surface is shatterproof, it's more prone to scrapes and superficial damage than the sturdy cast-iron pan supports you get on gas hobs.
- Is instant heat adjustment important? Both gas and induction hobs respond instantly if you turn the power up or down, but there's a slight time lag with ceramic hobs.
- Do you need a hob that's easy to clean? The smooth glass surface means there's nowhere for cooking grime to lurk, unlike gas hobs which have nooks and crannies galore.
Not sure if a ceramic hob is for you? Find out more about the best induction hobs and best gas hobs.
Ceramic vs induction hobs
An electric ceramic hob consists of a tough, shatterproof glass surface with heating coils beneath. When you turn on the power, the coils produce heat and the cooking zone warms up.
Ceramic hobs and induction hobs look similar but there are big differences in the way they work.
Ceramic hobs | Induction hobs | |
| Heating | A flow of electrical current heats up the elements (usually coils) below the glass and the cooking zone glows red. Heat transfers to the glass and then to the pan and the food. | An alternating electrical current passes through coils below the glass, creating a magnetic field. When a pan containing magnetic material, such as iron, is placed on the hob, a current is induced. This creates heat, which transfers from the pan to the food. |
| Speed | Heat up fairly quickly, but not as fast as gas and induction. Also slower to respond to setting changes, so if you turn off the heat, your food continues to cook unless you remove the pan. | The fastest hob type to heat and quick to respond when you adjust the settings. When you turn off the hob, heat transference stops. The glass surface gets hot, but this is only because the pan transfers heat back to it. |
| Efficiency | Like gas hobs, they are not terribly efficient because not all of the heat goes into the pan. Some is lost in the air before it reaches your food. | The most efficient hob type because all of the heat goes into the pan. |
How to clean a ceramic hob
One of the joys of electric hobs, whether electric ceramic or induction, is that they have a flat surface. This means keeping them clean can be as simple as a quick wipe with a damp cloth.
Some ceramic hobs have knobs or dials, which can be fiddly to clean around, but if you go for a model with touch controls, then cleaning is even easier.
If something spills, the heat can cause it to encrust on the surface. Deal with this as soon as the hob has cooled down. You can buy glass-cleaning tools and specialised ceramic-hob cleaners, but washing-up liquid and a non-scratch cloth can do as good a job (although it might take a little longer).
Pots for ceramic hobs
If you buy a ceramic electric hob, the pots and pans you already own should all work.
Many modern pans are made of stainless steel or aluminium, but if you also have a favourite heavyweight cast-iron pan, this will work on your ceramic hob. Be gentle, though – although the glass is specially strengthened, it can still be damaged if you drop something heavy on it.
Find out if any budget brands match up to the priciest by heading to the best non-stick frying pans and best saucepans.
Are electric ceramic hobs repairable?
Every year, we ask owners of hobs if they've had any problems and what they are.
Compared with other appliances, hobs are very reliable and rarely break down. But if they do, the main issues are:
- an electrical fault
- one of the heating zones stops working
- damage to the hob surface.
If the glass surface gets seriously damaged, then it's time for a new hob as this cannot be repaired.
For advice on hob guarantees and hob repairs, see our guide to reliable hob brands.
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