Today, more and more housewives are thinking about whether to buy them a combined stove for the kitchen. Indeed, why not? Having overpaid about 10-15% of the total cost, instead of the usual gas or electric one, you will get 2 in 1. It is safe to say that combined stoves have a lot of advantages over conventional ones, we will definitely talk about this in this article. But the most important thing is to make the right choice. For this, there are several criteria that must be followed during the acquisition of such equipment.
About combination cookers in general
As you already understood, there are gas and electric hobs. Until recently, gas stoves were very popular. Later, a combined model was developed, where the oven was electric and the hob was gas. But over time they did something different. The cooking surface for 4 burners was made mixed. For example, two places were gas and two were electric. The oven, depending on the manufacturer, could be any. So it turned out that today almost every one of us has combined stoves. What is the main advantage of such a solution, you ask? If you often turn off the electricity or gas, this will not be a problem for you, as you can always cook yourself a hot meal. But let's talk about everything in order, and first, let's deal with the most important nuances.
Oven: electric or gas
It should be noted that in the traditional version, the oven is gas-fired. There are several undeniable advantages of such a solution, the main one being cost-effectiveness. In our country, gas is much cheaper than electricity. But there is also a significant drawback - the release of combustion products of fuel. This leads to air pollution and increased humidity in the kitchen. To partially eliminate such a minus, you can use the hood.
Well, now it's worth saying a few words about electric ovens, which are much less popular in the Russian Federation due to the high cost of electricity. But there are several undeniable advantages. For example, the possibility of precise temperature control and several heating elements for a more even distribution of heat in the chamber. In addition, the catalytic and pyrolysis cleaning system allows you to easily and simply wash the remains of the dish. Basically,a combined stove, reviews of which depend on the manufacturer, is always good and efficient. Let's see what consumers are actually saying and whether they are happy with this solution.
Combination stove: customer reviews
If you are going to make such a purchase, then first read what consumers write. So, most say that it is best to buy a combined version in which the hob will be mixed. If you are not a fan of baking, etc., then an electric oven is not at all necessary, because you can also make something tasty on gas. But consumers note the significant disadvantages of cast iron heating elements, which are their high energy consumption. However, many are helped out by an electric hob when there is no gas. Despite all this, it is advised to purchase stoves with two gas and two electric burners. The oven is a separate conversation, since here the opinions of consumers agree that if you are a fan of daily baking, then gas is better, since it is much cheaper, in other cases, give preference to electric options.
Based on this, we can conclude that a combined stove, reviews of which depend on the specific needs of the consumer and his financial capabilities, can be any. But about 70% of buyers prefer gas stoves.
A little about the dimensions of the product
Whether you prefer to cook on gas or electricity, you have to figure it outfirst with dimensions. So, traditional or combined stoves are produced according to GOST and have strictly designated standard sizes: height - 85 cm, width - 50-60 cm. These are small models for the corresponding kitchen and a small family. As a rule, such plates have either two large burners, or 3 small ones and one large one. As for the depth of standard plates, it is 50-60 centimeters. But it is worth paying your attention to the fact that there are also great options. As a rule, the height in this case, just like the depth, does not change, but the width can increase up to 90 centimeters. The number of burners increases to 6 pieces. But such models are most often bought for industrial purposes, as they are highly productive. For example, the combined stove Gorenje K 67438 AW with dimensions of 60 x 60 x 85 has four gas burners and an electric oven. This is the perfect solution for a medium sized kitchen.
Hob: gas or electric?
Let's say we decide that we need a stove combined with an electric oven. It remains to decide what kind of hob will be. There are several options: combined, gas or electric. "Which is better?" - you ask. It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question. But you can talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each solution.
In principle, everything is very clear with gas - simple and economical. In addition, you can cook or heat up a dish on gas rather quickly, which cannot be said about cast ironburners that take a long time to heat up. But a large number of harmful combustion products, as well as the mere thought that there may be a gas leak, are alarming. However, no one has canceled the elementary safety rules yet. As for the cast iron burners, for their normal operation you will need to run a separate wire and it is desirable to make a ground connection.
Combined gas stove with cast iron burners
There are several undeniable advantages of this solution. The main one is that the cast-iron hob is very easy to change. Plus, it's pretty cheap. But along with this, there are also disadvantages, which are as follows. Firstly, a significant amount of electricity is spent only on heating the carrier. Secondly, the service life of such a hob is minimal. It is also reduced because the metal will oxidize due to moisture entering the surface. Along with this, heat transfer deteriorates. However, most of us are familiar with cast iron burners, as their price is publicly available, and some of the disadvantages during operation turn out to be not so significant.
Ceramic glass hobs
This kind of burners have a number of significant advantages. One of them is beautiful appearance. Such a plate will adequately fit into any interior of the room. Of course, glass-ceramic costs a lot, but it is a very popular material. Firstly, you do not need to spend a lot of electricity to heat up the panel, as it has good thermal conductivity. Secondly, suchthe surface is perfectly cleaned and does not lose its attractive appearance over many years of operation.
In principle, any combined gas stove with a glass-ceramic hob has its drawbacks. So, you can not put a pan taken from the refrigerator on such a panel, as it does not tolerate temperature changes. In principle, this is a good solution if you need a high-quality electric stove combined with a gas oven.
Pay attention to the brand
Even a sleek looking multi-functional combo cooker won't give you the satisfaction it deserves if its build quality is poor. For this simple reason, it is highly recommended to give preference to well-known manufacturers. It can be Burning, Indesit, Hansa and others.
If we talk specifically about combined stoves, the Gorenie company is especially popular with consumers. Many say that the build quality here is at the highest level, so you can buy such a product for yourself with peace of mind. Of course, the most important thing is the durability, quality and functionality of the combined stove. But for this it is necessary to have at least a general idea about the product of a particular manufacturer. Only after that you will be able to understand whether you need a stove combined with an electric or gas oven, with a glass-ceramic or cast-iron hob, etc. Let's do itsmall review.
Combination cooker Hansa FCMS 58224
This model is inexpensive and has a gas hob and an electric oven with a volume of 65 liters. By the way, there are several useful functions, such as convection and grill, which will make the process of cooking in the oven much more interesting and easier. There is no need to ignite the burners manually, as there is an electric ignition function. It is worth saying a few words about the dimensions. In this case, we have a standard product 85 x 50 x 60 cm. Therefore, Hansa FCMS 58224 is suitable even for a small kitchen. The power of the unit as a whole is 2.9 kW, with two kilowatts going directly to the grill. It is also worth noting that the oven has a defrost and express heating function, which is extremely useful when you need to quickly cook a dish. Hansa is a manufacturer that has a wide variety of combination cookers. The price of products ranges from 16,000 rubles and reaches 50,000 rubles, and even higher.
Small review of GEFEST 6102-03 K
This kind of purchase will cost you about 35-40 thousand rubles. It is difficult to say what caused such a high cost, but let's deal with this model in more detail. We have 4 gas burners and mechanical control with electric ignition function. There is also a multifunctional electric small oven (volume 52 l). The kit comes with a spit for the grill. The chamber is equipped with a fan for even distribution of heat, as well as an electronic timer and a barbecue grill. You can put the dish by setting the temperature,turn on the timer and go about your business.
Most users speak very positively about this model, but there are some complaints about the high cost of the product.
Conclusion
Combined stoves, "Hephaestus" or "Gorenie", have their own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. But since the purchase costs good money, this is a very crucial moment. You will have to spend your own money, but in return, of course, you want to get something worthwhile. If you follow these tips, you can get yourself a reliable and responsible assistant in the kitchen. If you are going to purchase a combined stove, give preference to a combined hob and an electric oven. In any case, if the light is turned off, you will do without baking, but you will have to heat something on gas. The main thing is to approach the issue with all responsibility and not rush to make a choice, because you can make a rash purchase, and the prices for household appliances today are not small, and it’s a pity for the spent nerves.
