VonShef double induction hob review
4.0
This speedy induction hob brought water to the boil in no time at all, and looks attractive on the countertop too
Pros
- Very quick to boil, rings are large enough for a variety of pan sizes, looks attractive, good safety features, great value
Cons
- Expensive to run, large footprint, noisy, less reactive to reductions in temperature
VonShef double induction hob summary
Ideal for cooking larger portions, this chunky double-ring hob is suitable for a range of pan sizes and produces speedy results too – in fact, it was the fastest induction hob we tested.
To house this model you need a fair amount of countertop space – it's a wide, chunky gadget with two smooth ceramic plates and silicone feet to keep it stable. Most households would struggle to store it, though its 1-metre cable offers some flexibility around the kitchen. It's also not as heavy as it looks.
Each hob ring is slightly raised to ensure the surrounding area doesn't get hot, which is a good safety feature, though the strip of glass between them could be at risk of trapping dirt or water.
- Read our full guide to the best induction hobs
How is the VonShef double induction hob to use?
The fan powers up immediately when you switch on the induction hob and, despite staying cool during cooking, it is very noisy – particularly when using higher temperatures.
The timer took a few attempts to master, but most of the other controls are otherwise straightforward. We also liked that you can lock the temperature so the heat level can't accidentally be changed during cooking.
After switching it off, the hob ring is hot to touch but cools again after around five minutes.
Results
If it's quick results you want from your induction hob, this model definitely delivers, boiling a litre of water in just 2 minutes 20 seconds.
In our caramel test, it also melted the sugar much faster than we expected. This is ideal for confident cooks, but we recognise some people may prefer a more controlled, slower cook, especially when handling sugar.
Because it heats so quickly, the hob did struggle to react to reductions in temperature – and this meant our pan of milk boiled over in testing and made a lot of mess. Burn marks on the hob ring wipe away easily though after cooling.
How sustainable is the VonShef double induction hob?
Costing 8.84p to run one hob ring for 10 minutes (based on a variable tariff of 34p/kWh), this portable induction hob was the most expensive of those we tested. On the plus side, it has a two-year guarantee and was packaged with a modest amount of protective plastic wrapping – the rest of the packaging was all recyclable.
Conclusion
There is plenty to admire about this gadget, and its speediness is especially handy when you want results in a hurry. We also liked how easy it is to use the temperature controls and keep clean, plus it comes with some excellent safety features too, like the raised ceramic hobs and lock function.
Where it let us down was its reactiveness to temperature adjustments, plus it is a chunkier, more costly appliance to run than others like it on the market. That said, for a larger household it's certainly a worthy contender.
VonShef double induction hob specifications
Wattage: single hob 1400W, double ring 2800W
Dimensions (cm): 59 x 7 x 37
Sizes available: single and double-ring
Materials: glass, plastic
Made in: China
Guarantee: 2 years
All costs-to-run calculations were done against the variable tariff at the time of testing (34p/kWh), which may have since changed – read more on the current energy price guarantee rates.
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