To find the ideal electric cooker for you, we will review the main features and details that deserve your attention in the selection process.
Before buying a plate, try to decide which parameters will be most important for you, what you are going to cook on it, and whether the interior task of the plate is important for you. Now let's look at the differences and equipment of the plates.
Choose the size of
Most often, slabs are produced in a standard size, which fit into the typical dimensions of modern kitchen. The most popular sizes of cooking surfaces are 50X60, 60X60 and 55X55 centimeters. The height of the plate will be 85 cm, and the width will be from 50 to 60 centimeters. There are models for small kitchens - with a surface dimension of 50x50 cm.
Note the models with adjustable legs - you will be easier to install and align on the height of your kitchen table.
We choose the material of the hob
The electric models of the plates can have an enamel or glass-ceramic panel. Let's see how they differ, and what advantages each material has.
| Enameled surface | Ceramic surface |
|---|---|
| Available in price | Withstands high temperature conditions( up to 600 degrees) |
| Features high strength | Equipped with a special heat indicator |
| Can be made in white, black, cream, cherry color | Equipped with electronic control |
| Poorly cleanable, washing, fat removal | Has an anisotropic surface( the heating zone heats up very quickly, and outside the heating zone the plate will remain hollow |
| With time, chips or scratches may appear on the surface | High cost of |
At first glance, the choice in favor of glass ceramics is obvious - such a surface will be able to retain its original appearance for a long time, please with special control and "temperature aging".Models with enameled surfaces are more popular due to their accessibility, besides, they are checked by the hostesses and are trustworthy.
Selecting the hotplates
The electric cooker can have both two and six burners - you can choose the right amount yourself. But to get acquainted with the differences of the burners you will be useful. One plate model differs from the other type of heating element.
Enameled models use flat round heating elements, which are placed in a cast-iron case. Plates with such burners are distinguished by affordable cost and simplicity.
- Cast iron has high strength and it's difficult to spoil it
- Cast iron keeps heat
- It's easy to care for hot plates and to clean such a plate
There are several types of burners in these plates:
- Express burner, which is used for rapid heating( marked with a red ring).The hotplate is heated for 7 minutes.
- The standard cooking zone, which is designed for daily cooking. It is heated for 10 minutes.
- Automatic cooking zone, which is equipped with a special sensor for determining the temperature of the dishes. The burner will determine when the water in the dishes begins to boil, and then self-reset the power to prevent the liquid from pouring out. The burner is labeled with a white circle.
Models of plates with ceramic glass ceramic can be equipped with conventional, induction and Hi-Light burners.
- A conventional burner is heated thanks to a metal spiral that is located inside. This hotplate is heated slowly and also slowly cools.
- Hi-Light is heated by a corrugated ribbon( it is also located inside) and reaches a high temperature in just 3 seconds.
- Induction hotplate is fundamentally different from all other types. It heats not the surface of the plate, but only the bottom of the dishes, but the hob itself remains cold. In such plates below the panel there is an induction unit that generates electromagnetic radiation - it also heats the bottom of the dishes.
To use such a plate you need to get a special dish, for example, stainless with a magnetic bottom. Not suitable for induction cookers are ordinary glassware, aluminum or ceramic.
The size and heating zone of the burners can be varied - with a round shape and an expansion zone or oval burners without an expansion zone. Models with glass-ceramic surfaces are distinguished by the fact that the bottom of your dishes should match the size of the burner.
If you choose just such a plate( with glass-ceramic), pay attention to those models where you can change the diameter of the working area. You will not need to pick up special dishes - for a small saucepan you will only include the inside of the heating element, and for large pans - the outer ring.
There are models of plates that convert the circular shape of the ring into an oval one - this function is useful for cooking in forms( fish or ducks in large forms for baking).
Let's take a look at the oven
It's hard to imagine a modern electric stove without an oven. All models of plates are divided into two representatives - with a static and multi-function oven.
| Static oven | Multifunctional oven |
|---|---|
| Equipped with two heating elements | Equipped with a heating element and a fan |
| Products are prepared by frying from all sides | The cooking process is due to the even distribution of hot air |
| Can be equipped with a grill pan | You can defrost food, cook pizza orsteamed dishes |
| Differs in affordable value | Differs in high cost |
Pay attention to thethe cleaning of your future oven. Typically, most of the models are equipped with a catalytic cleaning method - the walls of such a cabinet are covered with enamel, which absorbs accumulated fats. After cooking, it will be enough to wipe the oven with a napkin.
Other models are equipped with pyrolysis cleaning, when the oven is heated to 500 degrees, and all the grease with dirt on the walls will just burn out.
Additional joys
Let's look at the additional functions and equipment of the cooker, which will make the cooking process as comfortable and convenient as possible.
Information display
In simple models it will display cooking time, in complex models it will display the cooking program
Built-in "memory"
The model with this function will be able to memorize parameters for certain dishes - temperature, time, heating mode. It will be easier for you to cook the usual dishes. Some plates already have in their memory a couple of cooking programs.
Oven lighting
Required part for preparing dishes
Presence of
timer In simple models there can be a mechanical timer that will notify you when the cooking process is over. In more expensive plates, the timer will be automatic and it will be able to turn on or turn off the oven
Presence of the instant cooking mode
This cooker will be able to prepare the dish yourself - you will only need to load the product and set the cooking time
"Clever" recognition of metal dishes
With this function, the cooker starts to bask, only if the cooker is on the cooker, if the clever assistant does not detect the presence of a pot or frying pan, it simply will not turn on. Some models are able to detect empty or full dishes - for example, if the saucepan heats up quickly, the cooker will determine that it is empty and turn off the hotplate.
Knowing all the subtleties, choosing an electric stove will be easy for you - decide on the size, look at the hobs, choose an oven with all the joys and functions necessary for you, beat the budget - and you are ready to buy.
