Gradually, kitchen stoves, start to lose in the polarity of built-in appliances. First of all, this is due to the convenience of using the latter. To date, the built-in hob has been in great demand and is confidently taking its position in the home appliance market.
The hob has a number of distinctive features that you should pay attention to before buying a machine. What are these moments you learn from our article, on how to choose a hob or surface. Both these names refer to the same technique.
Which hob to choose: gas, electric or combined
All cooking surfaces, depending on the heating method, can be divided into:
- Gas
- Electric
- Combined
Gas cookers are very popular. Mostly because they are economical. The cost of gas, when using such equipment, will be much less than the cost of electricity.
If you have problems with the gas wiring, then pay attention to the electric hobs. This technique, heats up faster and it is more functional. However, it is more expensive to use.
Combined technique, combines the heating of the gas and electric hob simultaneously. Those.in it, for example, two burners can run on gas, and two from electricity. If you have gas or electricity interruptions, then the combined hob is ideal for you.
What can be the material of the
cooking surface Depending on the material of the manufacturer, the hobs can be divided into:
- Enamelled
- Glass ceramic
- Metallic
The enamelled technique is time-tested, has a low price and is available in a wide range of colors. Its drawbacks are that such material is poorly cleaned, unstable to chips and prone to scratches. Glass-ceramic products attract buyers primarily with their appearance. They look very nice and easy enough to care for. Such a surface is perfectly flat, therefore, it will not be cleaned up, nor any difficulties.
If you wish to purchase an electric hob. Then know that the products of glass ceramics are very quickly heated, and the heating does not go beyond the boundaries of the heating zones. Such electrical panels, the most economical. The disadvantage of glass-ceramic is its fragility. It can easily come into disrepair from the impact of an object more than 2 kilograms. Also such a surface can deteriorate and because of pinpoint strokes( impact with the edge of the knife blade).
In case you spilled sugar on such surface, it is better to remove it as soon as possible. Since it is not possible to wash away the burnt sugar from the glass ceramic surface. Wash this technique with gentle cleansers( foam sponge, etc.).
The bottom in the dishes that you will use on the glass ceramic hob must be flat, and in diameter it should not exceed the dimensions of the burners. Otherwise, in places where the dishes went outside the heating zones, on the glass, dark spots may appear.
Metal hobs are made of stainless steel or aluminum. The technique of stainless steel will be more expensive. Both these materials are resistant to thermal loads. They are very durable and durable. Disadvantages of metal surfaces, is that they are left with stains and fingerprints. Another disadvantage is the susceptibility to scratches. But this applies only to aluminum products. Therefore, when cleaning them, do not use abrasive products.
Stainless steel hobs can be matt and polished. Matt products are virtually devoid of the defect of maintaining divorces and fingerprints.
Burners
Burners in gas panels
Burners in gas cooktops, depending on the shape are most often:
- Round( classic)
- Oval( ideal for preparing dishes in the mattress)
- Double( designed for large saucepans)
The dimensions of the burners can vary. Typically, the gas cooktop often consists of four burners, of various sizes. Think about what burners you will use the bowl. Proceeding from this, choose the technique in which the burners you need for frequent use are located closer to the front edge.
Burners in electric hobs
As for burners in electrical appliances, the material from which the surface is made is of great importance here. In metal and enamel cooktops, the surface is in the form of a plate in the form of a pancake. Inside this surface there is a heating element. The disadvantage of this technique is the long heating time. And from here and the big expenses for the electric power. In addition, these very pancakes are very difficult to clean, because they will quickly take on a "gloomy" appearance.
As for the electrical surfaces, the burners in them can be:
- Rapid
The simplest in this technique. The rate of their heating and cooling, varies within 10-12 seconds. This is much faster than heating in enamel and metal hobs. Such burners are a spiral that generates heat when heated. - Halogen
Such burners have the same spiral as the rapid ones. Only to this very spiral there is an addition in the form of a powerful halogen lamp. When working, this burner emits much more heat, because it is more efficient. - Hi-light
These burners are heated for a few seconds faster than halogen. Adjustment in them is carried out steplessly. Thanks to this, it is possible to select the necessary temperature with greater accuracy. - Induction
Such burners are the most economical. Due to their special design, the hotplate itself will not heat up, and only the bottom of the cookware will heat up. What is the reason for saving energy. For such a hotplate, you need dishes that have a magnetizable bottom.
What additional features and functions can be provided with the
hob. Gas panels can have the possibility of electric ignition. That is, the flame will be ignited by an electric spark. The electric ignition can be done by turning the regulating flame switch( automatic) or by pressing the button( mechanical).If the gas surface has a gas control function. Then in it, if the flame goes out, the gas supply will automatically stop.
A sound signal can be used in the gas hobs to notify you when the specified operating time has elapsed. With such a function as "write to memory", you will have the opportunity to program, the most frequently repeated actions.
Among the functions that serve for user safety can be identified:
- Protection from children - locking controls.
- Overfill protection - if, for example, water runs out of the pan, the appliance will reduce the heating power or turn off automatically.
- Safety shutdown - if this function is enabled, the technician automatically turns off in case of overheating.
- If there is a residual heat indicator, you will always know the degree of heating of the burner.
If you have chosen an induction hob, it will be great if it is equipped with the "dish size recognition" function. In the presence of this function, the heating of the burners will only occur if the dishes are placed in the center of the heating zone.
What else to look for when choosing a hob
Note the dimensions of the hob. Perhaps the permissible size of your kitchen, will not allow the use of some models of this technique. Find out what distance the technique can be built into the countertop. As a rule, this value can be in the range from 30 to 70 mm. The gas panel must be located at least 10 cm away from the wall, and at least 4 cm in electrical space.
If you plan to place a cabinet under the hob, for storing kitchen utensils. Then take care, about the presence in this locker of a special decorative grill, providing a flow of fresh air. As the bottom of the hob is heated during operation.
The control panel in this technique is mechanical and sensory. Sensory costs are more expensive, but they allow you to make more accurate temperature adjustments, and are easy to care for.
With regard to the grilles in the hobs, they can be in three variations:
- Integral
- Consist of two parts
- Of several parts near each burner
If you have a solid grill, then in order to wash the hob, you will have to remove the grateentirely. The other two variations are without this drawback.
Grids themselves can be made of cast iron or steel. The cast iron product is less prone to deformation during use.
