A set of various appliances in the kitchen facilitates the work of housewives and decorates the interior. The most important appliances are undoubtedly household appliances. That is why every housewife should know how to choose the right hob, taking into account its parameters, cost and user reviews.
The optimal stove will not only reduce cooking time, but also help reduce gas or electricity costs.
Types of hobs
Before choosing a hob, built-in or conventional, you should decide on their main varieties and parameters. The most popular are electric and gas cooking surfaces. Induction and combined panels are also considered common.
The latter can be made in various versions and layouts, and the ratio of burners is selected individually. For example: 2 gasand 2 electrical. Combining allows you to reduce electricity consumption (in cases where a two-tariff meter is installed). Turning on the hotplates significantly reduces oxygen consumption.
This stove will be indispensable in areas where power outages often occur.
Gas or electric hob. Features
Depending on the existing power source in the kitchen, you can decide how to choose a cooktop: gas, electric, induction or a combination.
The first ones are considered the most economical, because the heating process starts immediately after the stove is started. At the same time, electric stoves have a set of additional functions, and they are also relatively safe to use.
When selecting any surface, you should pay attention to:
- Material of production. The most common are: glass ceramics, stainless steel, aluminum. All of the above materials can be processed by enamelling. The latter have increased strength, and are also available in various colors. The main disadvantage is the difficulty in cleaning - it will take time to completely clean the enamel.
- Dependence on the oven. Habitual are stoves that are carried out at the same time with the oven (even with combined heating). Independent hobs are considered more modern (in this case, the oven and the panel itself can be picked up and placed independently). An independent hob can be installed at any height and in different parts of the kitchen.
Whatcriteria to consider when choosing a panel
Which hob to choose: electric or gas - an individual question. But before purchasing, you should consider a number of criteria:
- The shape of the surface. Depending on the area and interior of the kitchen, you can choose a variety of panels - standard rectangular, triangular and corner. The placement of burners is also presented in unusual solutions - from the classic parallel, ending with the shape of a flower or even a garland.
- Power. When it comes to the electrical surface, this parameter is one of the most important. There are small (up to 1 kW), medium (up to 3 kW) and high (up to 10 kW). Power is selected depending on the approximate amount of cooking.
- Size. This option takes into account the depth, width, and height of the surface. Compact models have a width of 26 to 48 cm, classic - up to 60 cm, non-standard - more than 61 cm.
- Control type. There are sensory and mechanical. The first one is more modern and comfortable, but is hardly suitable for the elderly.
When choosing a glass-ceramic surface, you should pay attention to the existing dishes. Such a surface does not tolerate inappropriate sizes and bottom defects.
Types of heating elements of electric panels
Before choosing a hob, you should pay attention to the heating element. Installed on electrical panels:
- Cast-iron burners. heaterat the same time, disks with electrospirals protrude. Among the advantages are high reliability and low cost. The main disadvantage is the long heating and cooling (significantly increases energy consumption).
- Hi-Light burners. For use on glass surfaces only. The heating element is presented in the form of a spiral mounted in a special base. Such elements allow you to adjust the temperature as accurately as possible.
- Halogen burners are equipped with a powerful lamp that speeds up the heating process of the stove. The key disadvantage is the heating of the entire surface area.
- Induction burners. The most modern burners are considered safe and economical.
- Rapid (high-speed) burners are characterized by an increased rate of heat transfer. Heat up and cool down in just a few seconds.
How to choose an electric built-in hob
The glass-ceramic surface is considered the most optimal and reliable. Among the advantages of the latter, a stylish design is distinguished. In addition, they:
- unpretentious care;
- acid resistant;
- does not accumulate fat and odors;
- have clear heating limits;
- heat up and cool down equally quickly.
Important! Despite their high strength, these hobs are not resistant to point impacts. Also, this material does not tolerate sweet liquids, because when heated, they are able to change the structureglass.
When selecting, consider the color of the surface. The most common are: white, black, mirror, steel, milk and other shades.
Additional features of some panels
The presence of additional functions will help you choose a hob. Which firm is an individual and secondary question. Among modern models, there are those that:
- automatically turn off by timer or if liquid gets on them;
- turn on at the appointed time;
- equipped with child lock.
Before purchasing, you should consider the need and expediency of additional modes, because the presence of each of them affects the final cost.
Dependence of parameters on the price category
Hobs can be in different price ranges:
- The most budgetary (costing up to 10 thousand rubles) are made mainly of steel with enamel coating or glass ceramics. Type of control - mechanical.
- Surfaces from the "medium" category (from 10 to 20 thousand rubles) are made of glass ceramics, have double-circuit burners, are equipped with a different number of burners.
- Among the most expensive, there is a built-in hob. How to choose the most appropriate, the description of this category will tell. The latter often contains induction burners and a set of additional functions (for example, protection against overheating, overflow or arbitrary inclusion). The price category is from 20 thousand rubles.
How to choose an induction hob
Modern cooking surface differs from primitive ones in the absence of the usual burners. Heating occurs with the help of built-in inductors (the latter create electromagnetic radiation). In this case, magnetic currents are formed only in the dishes, and the rest of the surface does not heat up.
In order to determine which hob is best to choose, you should consider:
- Manufacturer. Well-known global brands are undoubted leaders, but often the cost of their products is too high, so it is important to get acquainted with less popular, but reliable brands.
- Settings of burners. For a small family, a surface with two heating zones would be an excellent option. The function of changing the volume of the heating zone will also be a big plus in choosing a panel. The size of the burners is also very important. The most optimal are burners from 145 to 220 mm in diameter. Each of them is designed for a certain amount of dishes.
- Heat adjustment. Modern technology is equipped with, on average, 16 modes. This amount allows you to easily prepare a variety of dishes.
- Speed mode. The presence of this allows you to heat up a dish or boil water in a matter of minutes.
- Surface material. Budget options are made of glass ceramics, and more reliable ones are made of tempered glass.
- Type of control. The touch view is recognized as more convenient. When using itjust slide your finger over the indicator and change the temperature. The second type is mechanical. The latter is also convenient and reliable.
Before you choose a good hob, you should pay attention to additional features. Induction surfaces may have the following:
- saving programs;
- auto shut off when food is spilled;
- delay start;
- recognition of the material and diameter of dishes;
- cooking timer;
- maintaining temperature, etc.
Advantages and disadvantages of induction panels
Among the indisputable advantages are the following:
- fast heating dishes;
- smooth adjustment of the degree of heating;
- automation of a large number of processes;
- easy to manage and operate;
- economical (by heating a certain area, significant electricity savings are achieved);
- safety (the heating process occurs only when the surface comes into contact with special dishes, so it "does not react" to animals and people);
- Precise temperature and power control.
Also, the induction hob does not burn food residue, so the kitchen does not form unpleasant odors and is easy to clean.
The main disadvantages are:
- need to purchase special ferromagnetic (or cast iron) cookware;
- lowimpact resistance (the surface often gets scratched);
- traces of some products (for example, milk, sugar, etc.) are poorly removed from the surface;
- high repair cost.
Important! Before choosing an induction hob, you should purchase suitable cookware or a special disc that is designed to work with any materials. Already existing dishes can be checked for "compatibility" with the stove. To do this, attach a magnet to the bottom, and if it is held, the dishes can be used with an induction cooker.
The best hobs. Customer Reviews
Taking into account individual parameters, you can determine which hob to choose. Customer reviews will help simplify the selection process.
In the ranking of manufacturers, hobs are located as follows:
- First place goes to the LEX EVH 640 BL electric panel. Buyers highlight the practicality and stylish design of the electric stove. It is made of glass ceramics, unpretentious in care. A set of additional functions (for example, blocking from accidental activation) facilitate the operation process. The presence of 4 burners at once allows you to cook several different dishes at the same time. A feature of the stove is fast heating and automatic transition to the keep warm mode. Among the advantages also distinguish the absence of the usual control knobs. The main disadvantage is the high cost.
- The second place is occupied by Hansa BHGW 63111035 gas hob. This model is suitable for independent installation,has a large number of additional functions, including: control of gas supply, anti-heating of handles, etc. The grilles are made of cast iron and, accordingly, withstand high thermal and mechanical loads. A set of burners of various sizes allows you to simplify the cooking process and significantly reduce gas consumption. Among the main disadvantages, users identify: noise in operation, quick failure of the electrodes, insufficient distance between the burners.
- If the question arose of which company to choose a gas hob, you should pay attention to stainless steel appliances. The clear leader is the Bosch PCH615B90E. The panel is equipped with 4 burners, one of which is double. A set of useful features, such as gas supply control and auto ignition, make the stove safe and easy to use. Users note the rapid heating of the stove. The main disadvantages are: easily soiled surface, difficult to clean.
- The next position is occupied by Hotpoint-Ariston KRO 632 TDZ. The compact electric surface is made of durable glass-ceramic. There is a timer for each burner. Plate control - touch. This model is very economical and easy to operate. A big plus is the relatively low cost.
- Siemens ER326BB70E is ranked last. This gas hob has only 2 burners, one of which has an express heating function. The surface also features gas control and auto-ignition. Other advantages include ease of use and cleaning, impact-resistant surface. Among the disadvantages are: high cost, difficulty in cleaning individual elements.
The hob of which company is better to choose is an individual question. In any case, you should focus on reviews about a specific model of equipment, as well as take into account the parameters of the kitchen.
