Test Bosch Series 6 induction hob: it has everything to please!

Convenience of use

Nothing is more like a hob than another hob, and it's not the Bosch Series 6 PIX63SHC1F that's likely to be a game-changer. We are therefore entitled to the classic black plate measuring 59 cm wide by 52 cm deep, completely smooth (in our comparison, only the Smeg PI964N had a few rough edges) to facilitate cleaning.

On the glass surface, some screen prints provide information, notably the locations of the cooking zones. And if some manufacturers play the originality card by choosing crosses or other very impractical shapes, Bosch prefers efficiency with circles and squares (for the left-hand linkable zones) which really help to properly place the utensils on the inductors.

Other screen prints are used on the control panel, but you have to turn on the Series 6 for it to light up and give access to all the cooking setting keys, including temperature adjustment. The manufacturer has chosen a slider system that is traditionally a little less practical than the “plus” and “minus” keys. However, on this plate, the slider measures 17.5 cm, and despite the 18 power levels provided, it is very easy to choose the right setting. The light bar which indicates the chosen level is not very meaningful, fortunately the numerical indicator is much more practical.

Obviously, this large strip requires space and this means that only one slider is provided on the cooking plate. Therefore, the settings are not directly accessible and, before modifying the power deployed, you must select the cooking zone to carry out the operation. All this necessarily harms responsiveness and can play tricks, especially in complicated moments, when you are managing several delicate cooking operations at the same time. Fortunately, the four displays (one per home) allow you to know at a glance which level has been chosen for each inductor.

In the absence of “plus” and “minus” keys, setting a cooking time also involves the sliderwhich is not that common. However, the operation is not insurmountable since you just need to enter the number of hours (up to 9), then minutes (up to 59) by touching the slider.

However, the 18 power levels are a real asset for the Series 6 PIX63SHC1F, because demanding chefs will be able to modulate the temperature at the bottom of the pans with great precision – more in any case than with a plate with 9 or 14 levels as we comes across a lot of them. This variety is also found in the size of the inductors and their powers. If the two hearths on the left (which are also the combinable zones) are strictly identical, we benefit from a large, very powerful inductor (21 cm in circumference and 3700 W in boost mode) and a small inductor perfect for gentle cooking (14.5 cm in circumference and 2200 W pushed to its limits) on the right part. The pairable zone adds another string to the Series 6's bow and all you have to do is press the dedicated button to activate this function.

All Series 6 functions can of course be used via the HomeConnect app. Pairing between the smartphone and the plate does not present any insurmountable difficulty, but you will have to follow the connection instructions carefully. As usual, everything remains very dispensable and we find the classic remote control panels, instructions for use, access to simplified after-sales service…

The only originality comes from the presence of a “favorite” button: once your plate has been set from A to Z, even with different powers on the hotplates and varied cooking times, you can save this configuration to use it later. Once again, this option can simplify life, but we do just fine without it.

Cooking

The cooking performance of the Bosch Series 6 hob is very satisfactory. It only needs 5 min 15 s to bring 3 liters of water from 25°C to 95°C. Certainly, some models were a little faster, but pasta lovers will not starve while waiting for the water to be at the right temperature. Let us specify that 100°C is reached 30 s after this first level.

And if it knows how to perform a great start, the Series 6 PIX63SHC1F also masters low powers brilliantly. Indeed, at the lowest level on the smallest inducer, our oil bath does not exceed 48°C. Note that chocolate maintains an ideal texture for baking at 55°C, so you can leave it on the stove without it burning.

The thermal images show good uniformity of temperature within the utensils. When using the large inductor, the entire surface of the pan diffuses, more or less, the same temperature. All the hazelnut potatoes will therefore be cooked evenly, even without stirring the utensil too much. Obviously, using the small inductor, we notice temperature disparities. This highlights the importance of selecting the right container so that it fits the size of the cooking area.

As is often the case, the use of the twinable zone is much more open to question. There are big differences between the hottest areas and the coldest areas. It is therefore recommended to use a utensil with a very thick bottom to take full advantage of this functionality.