Verdict
decease beyond the basic feature that most portable hobs render , the Smeg PIC01BLMUK has automatise preparation modes and a temperature probe for precision cooking . For those who need special hob space in the kitchen or want tractableness , such as for outside cookery , it ’s a great pick . It is an expensive elicitation pixy , though .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Whether you desire to increase the amount of hob space in your kitchen or have a portable gimmick you could take outdoors to help cooking in warmer conditions , the SMEG PIC01BLMUK is a streamlined and sinewy option .
Going beyond the standard of basic power mood , this model has dedicate modes for frying and BBQing , while its temperature sensor adds preciseness cooking . It ’s expensive , but if you want more selection , it ’s a great portable hob .
Design and Features
As I ’ve come to expect from Smeg , the PIC01BLMUK is a lot more attractive than most of the basic competition . With its brushed metal front and curved body , this hob looks silky and fashionable and plugs into a received UK power socket .
This portable hobgoblin has a undivided geographical zone only , and is designed for Pan with a diameter of between 12 cm and 24 cm . That covers most received frying pans and saucepans .
As is common with inductive reasoning hob , the SMEG PIC01BLMUK has cooking pan detection construct - in , and the controls wo n’t work on unless a compatible pan is located on the burner .
At its simple , the hob has a simple tycoon excerption dial , execute between 1 and 9 , plus a boost modal value , labelled P , which run for a maximum of five proceedings and is designed for quickly boiling body of water . control are all touch - sensitive and are a niggling finicky to operate .
In its regular mode , the SMEG PIC01BLMUK has a timer ; once the timekeeper break away out , world power is trim off mechanically .
Beyond veritable use , the SMEG PIC01BLMUK has some additional automated modes , BBQ and Fry , with a choice of three plan for each . They sound exciting , but both modes work in a similar way ; they run a pre - fit heat - up form for a set time and then unload down to a lower cookery mode when you start to cook .
For deterrent example , BBQ modality B1 wake at power degree 9 for two minute of arc before dropping down to big businessman level 8 ; Fry mode F1 heats at ability level 9 for nine minutes before dropping down to powerfulness layer 8 . A full list of what each mode does is available in the manual of arms .
As you may see , the main difference between the modes is the heating system - up metre , with the Fry mode hot up the pan for longer , leave a hotter surface to fix on . As a quick direction to get started and have the hob get your pans ready for cooking , the modes might be utilitarian , but they ’re not quite as exciting as they might first sound .
For full automated cooking , Smeg provides a temperature sensor in the box . This spark plug into the side and should then be fully inserted into the nutrient you want to monitor . With the probe inserted , you have manual control condition over the cooking power but can set a target temperature , with the hob turn off mechanically when reached .
That ’s very useful and helps foreclose overcooking food , but it would be more useful if the hob had some preset option , such as crybaby or steak ( with a choice of preparation floor ) , as with the similar feature on theNinja Woodfire Pro Connect XL Electric BBQ & Smoker OG901UK . Instead , you take to manually jell the aim temperature . The manual of arms does , at least , have a tabular array of common target temperatures at the back .
There ’s an extra timer mode for the probe , too . With this change state on , the timekeeper controls how long a temperature is wield for , adjusting the hob ’s baron . For case , when cooking a curry , you could put down the probe into the sauce , and then have the SMEG PIC01BLMUK maintain its temperature .
That realise the feature a more advanced version of the integrated Keep Warm procedure , which apply low - power setting to keep nutrient warm and ready for serving .
Performance
To test the power of this hob , I ran my standard tests . I first filled a pan with 1.5 cubic decimetre of water and used the ( phosphorus ) power setting to time how rapidly it could bring the water from 20 ° C to 90 ° C . I set up that the SMEG PIC01BLMUK claim 4 chiliad 36s , which is a touch slow compared to an integrated model . That ’s because this hob draws a upper limit of 2100W , whereas a more powerful mannequin , such as theNeff N90 T66YYY4C0can draw a hatful more power .
Next , I reprise the test but with a modest cooking pan filled with 1 litre of water . Here , the result of 3 m X is effective , but there are faster selection . With my smallest cooking pan and 500ml of water , the hob complete the exam in a speedy 1 m 28s , which is fast compare to other pixie .
That ’s usually because the small-scale zones on a full - size of it induction hob are relatively low power ; here , there ’s just one geographical zone .
To test the keep fond function , I plug in the thermometer and set the temperature to 90 degree . I then filled a 500ml pan with water and placed it on the hob . I then waited for the hob to bring the body of water to temp , to which I then trip the keep warm mode . After leave the water to sit , I read the temperature of the weewee and found it had decreased and stabilise at 62 ° atomic number 6 .
To try out the Fry and BBQ functions I lightly oiled a pan and immortalise the temperature with an infrared high temperature gun . First , I tested the fry function , using the F1 typeset . After the pan was heated for nine minute of arc on major power level nine , I mensurate the pan at 296.2 ° C . I then left the cooking pan for five minutes and memorialize the temperature again , and it was at a hot , quick - to - fake temperature of 273.5 ° C .
For the BBQ function , I used the B3 setting , which is designed for steaks , burgers and the corresponding . I again oiled a pan and place it on the hob . This mode heats up for four minute of arc on power arrange eight , before neglect to magnate storey seven . After the cooking pan had finish pre - heating , I immortalise a temperature of 274.6 ° C . I again leave the pan on for five proceedings and recorded the temperature again and found it had dropped to 251.4 ° degree centigrade .
These modes are ideal for pre - heating pan , although I found it skillful to manually operate power configurations after that phase to ensure I did n’t overcook or burn my food .
I then switched to the temperature probe mode and cooked a chicken breast . This is more or less fiddly , as the probe make up it a short tricky to call on the chicken white meat over to misrepresent all side . In fact , I discover it easy to first scorch and seal the kernel , and then add the investigation .
Set to 74 ° C , the hob blockade when the wimp breast was cooked , giving me dead cooked , moist chicken , without the peril of it dry out .
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Should you buy it?
With a temperature probe and automated options , this portable induction hob is great for extra cooking space or flexibility when cooking outside .
If you just ask basic features , you could get portable generalisation hobs that are a lot tatty .
Final Thoughts
The SMEG PIC01BLMUK is a great portable hobgoblin that goes beyond basic controls , with the addition of a temperature probe for precision preparation . It ’s a little expensive but it could be deserving it if you need extra cooking infinite in your kitchen or want flexibleness while cooking outside .
If you ’re after a full - size simulation , arrest out my guide to thebest installation hobs .
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How we test
Unlike other sites , we test every trigger hob we review thoroughly over an extended period of meter . We apply standard tests to liken feature properly . We ’ll always tell you what we come up . We never , ever , take money to review a product .
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FAQs
The probe can be used to make nutrient to a target temperature , and then stop , or it can be used to hold food at a set temperature for a primed period of sentence .
