Hob

Everyone knows that the hob is built-in kitchen appliances. It is presented in the form of a flat panel, which is used to fix the heating elements. For the installation of such a system, an opening in the countertop is designed, so in general the solution is very ergonomic. How to choose it correctly? And what are they, hobs?

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Differences in the hobs

There are several varieties of hobs:

• Electric;
• Gas;
• Combined.

On how to choose an electric hob, it is most often necessary to think of those who do not have a gas pipeline in the dwelling. And in the presence of gas, it is better to stay on the gas model.

The perfect option is to purchase a combined panel, which uses both electrical and gas power. It is very convenient to use if you can connect gas cylinders. At the end of the gas, you can use electricity.

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Material

Various materials are used for manufacturing the panel surface. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages.

Enamel

This variant of the panel is quite budgetary. In this case, on the enameled panel there are spiral or cast iron burners. They are familiar and traditional, slightly protruding above the surface.

Enamel benefits:

• Such material is distinguished by its durability and practicality.
• Thanks to its wide range of colors, it is possible to choose a panel that is ideally suited to the interior.

Traditional hotplates - pancakes and spirals can easily be replaced in case of breakage.

Disadvantages of the enamel:

• It's hard to remove fat.
• The surface is easily scratched.
• Heating and cooling of burners - long enough.
• Operation can be unsafe.

Stainless steel

The stainless steel surface is also very comfortable and practical. It is easy to clean, but not all means, only sparing.

Pros of stainless steel:

• More modern appearance.
• Strength.
• Affordable price.

Minus stainless steel:

• There is no variety of colors.

Glass-ceramics

Before choosing a hob of this type, it should be borne in mind that in the glass-ceramic hobs are located somewhat differently - above the surface they are not visible.

Important! The main advantage lies in the rapid heating and cooling of the burners. In addition, the heat distribution occurs evenly.

Care instructions:

• You can not use abrasives for cleaning, so scratches may appear on the surface.
• Glass ceramics are quickly covered with water stains and fingerprints, which does not look aesthetically pleasing.
• Surface is covered with scratches, even if just sprinkle sugar.

Induction hob

For those who are looking for which electric hobs are better, close attention should be paid to the induction panel. The main advantage is that only the dishes are heated on the burner, it remains cold.

Principle of operation

The main difference is in the copper coil located on the surface. The utensils are used special, in which the bottom is magnetized. As a result, a magnetic field will pass through the dishes, due to what the container is heated.

Important! In the induction panel, there is no heating of the hob and the walls of the dishes, since no current flows through them. The electromagnetic principle of heating makes the operation of the panels safe, efficient and economical.

Advantages:

• Less time is spent preparing food, as heating takes place quickly.
• The amount of consumed electricity is reduced.
• Complete safety - the heating surface does not heat up, and the burners are switched on only if they are placed on them.
• Much easier to care for the panel.

Disadvantages:

• Not all utensils can be used. Do not use glass, aluminum and copper utensils.
• It is not proven that induction cookers are completely safe for human health.
• The price so far is quite high, because the technology is relatively new.

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Control system

Of course, the choice of the hob depends on the control system. In this technique, electronic or electromechanical elements are used.

Electronic control

This type of control is typical for slabs in which functions are involved in a large number. There is automatic shutdown or boiling, the possibility of temperature adjustment, programs with the function of memorization, etc.

Important! In electronic hobs, the heating power can be adjusted. More modes - more features.

Thanks to modern control mechanisms, cooking time is reduced as much as possible, in addition, the process itself does not need to be controlled.

Important! It is possible to automatically turn off the burners after the dish is ready, or the heating power can be reduced. If the soup or milk "runs away" from the pan, there will also be an automatic shutdown.

In some electric burners, it is possible to read information about the size of the dishes and adjust the power and heating area according to its characteristics.

Sensor electrical control

In this case, there is usually a display on which the process is displayed. That is, you can see the information about the time before the end of cooking, about the set mode and the temperature of heating the burners.

Electron-mechanical control

In this case, the device is equipped with sensory mechanisms, electric burners, as well as handles for manual adjustment of the burners. This is very convenient, because the modes switch quickly and easily.

Important! If you have a small child, pay attention to the models, in the equipment of which there are security key lock.

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Burners

There are several common electric heaters, consider them more closely:

• Cast iron pancakes are presented in the form of hollow shells, inside filled with conventional heaters. Despite the fact that such heaters do not have high efficiency or aesthetic appeal, they are used quite often, since they are inexpensive and very reliable. Burners made of cast iron are most often installed on metal casings.

Important! The main drawback is that the rust is quickly formed on the heating elements due to excessive moisture.

• Rapid heating element can often be found on the glass ceramic hob. A distinctive feature of this heater is a high rate of heating and cooling, but there is a minus - a large consumption of electricity.
• The induction heater has a high efficiency. Thanks to it, the contents of the container are heated, but the basic panel is not heated. In addition, these burners are economical, since their shutdown occurs immediately after the dishes are removed. Due to this property, it is possible to avoid accidental burns.
• The belt heating elements have a long service life and a high electrical resistance, so they can be heated up to the maximum temperature of the burner in a few seconds.

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A variety of additional functions

Of course, when choosing a hob, you should pay close attention to the availability of additional options:

• Child lock. If necessary, all major controls are blocked.
• In the presence of protection against overflows, the system instantly responds to the temperature drop, which usually occurs when the burner is flooded with liquid. As a result, the device switches off immediately from electricity.
• Protection of heating elements against overheating. In this case the burners automatically switch off if the temperature exceeds the critical temperature.
• Memory functions will help in maintaining the temperature regimes necessary for preparing a variety of recipes.
• Basic functions are represented by the timer, high-speed heating, defrosting, etc.
• If there is a boiling sensor, the capacity of the burner automatically decreases when the liquid reaches a temperature of 100 degrees.

As you can see, choosing a hob for the kitchen is not so simple. A number of parameters and conditions must be observed. We are sure that we were able to clarify all the most necessary characteristics for your right choice.