A stove, as you know, consists of two parts: a hob and an oven. This allows you to harmoniously fit it into space. Today, the market has a huge assortment of kitchen sets.
Custom furniture is very popular. In this case, in accordance with the preferences of the consumer, a headset equipped with household appliances is manufactured. However, many have the need to purchase a separate hob for incorporation into existing furniture. Kitchen sets and appliances should be in harmony. Next, we will figure out how to choose a hob.
General information
Before choosing a hob and oven, you should know what they are. There are two large groups. Cooktops, which are installed above the ovens and have common control with the lower part, are called dependent. Those elements that are mounted separately and equipped with an autonomous system are called independent. At the dependent panel, appliances and handles are located on the oven.
In an autonomous construction - on it itself. The choice of oven depends on the intended tasks that it will perform. Designs with large cameras are designed for cooking for a large family. For rooms whose area is not very large, narrow ovens are suitable. Their width is from 45 cm.
How to choose a built-in hob: highlights
Such designs are rectangular and hexagonal. The first have a width of 25 to 90 cm, a depth of about 60. Hexagonal panels are also called honeycomb. This is due to the appearance - they look like a honeycomb. Rectangular constructions equipped with two burners look like domino knuckles.
Before choosing a hob, you should decide on the tasks that it will perform. For the preparation of simple dishes for a small number of people, simple designs are suitable. When choosing, the type of communications in the house also matters.
It should be said that the use of modules allows you to collect work surfaces of various sizes and configurations. It all depends in this case on your imagination and the area of the room. Rectangular modules can be placed across or along the working surface. The heating areas can be placed in a garland, snake, flower, corner or compact polygon.
On one of the modules can be a control system for the remaining elements. It has a touchpad and LEDs. They inform about the status of each zone. Speaking about how to choose a hob, it should be said that the main criteria are functional characteristics, durability, reliability. Equally important are safety and ease of use.
Classification
Hobs may be electric. These designs have their pros and cons. Gas and combination panels are also available. In the manufacture of cases used carbon steel. It is covered with special enamel. Stainless steel can also be used as the material for the case. Its surface can be either matte or glossy. Glass ceramic hob is quite popular.How to choose the best option? To determine, you should get acquainted with the technical characteristics of each type of design.
Fast cooking
Some consumers do not know how to choose a hob. Gas seek to acquire those who care about the speed of cooking. In such surfaces, quite flexible control of heating. In this case, the required temperature is almost instantly achieved, due to the fact that the fire has no inertia.
On gas, the pan is heated evenly, and the water boils much faster. Products are less susceptible to heat, due to which they retain their taste. After turning off, boiling stops almost immediately. Many consumers do not wonder how to choose a hob. The gas construction is also acquired by those buyers who value operating efficiency.
What to look for when buying?
How to choose a gas hob? When buying, you need to pay attention to the burners. They must be made so that the flame is distributed evenly along the bottom of the dishes, without going to the side walls. In this case, fuel consumption will not only be reduced. The life of dishes and burners will also increase.
In addition, this reduces the cooking time. Protruding burners can cause the dishes to tip and contaminate the surface. In this case, there will also be difficulties during cleaning. And outwardly such burners do not look very nice. Not protruding above the panel, even elements fit snugly to the surface. In this case, the tipping of the pan, for example, will not happen. In addition, the dirt does not penetrate into the gaps, which greatly facilitates cleaning.
Burner molds
Manufacturers produce panels with elements of different configurations. In addition to the usual round, there are burners of non-traditional forms. For triangular elements, there is no need to install gratings. The cookware can be placed directly on the flat, flat plate of the burner. A triangular chain of flames provides uniform heating of the bottom.
In addition, surfaces with these burners are easier to clean. For oval dishes, it is more convenient to use burners of the same shape. Panels are produced where the hobs are equipped with two nozzles. Oval-shaped rotatable double burners allow you to cook any dish in different dishes. Two 1.5 kW burners can be used together or separately. This is convenient, for example, when cooking large fish. Also in this case it will be convenient to use a pan of large diameter or oval-shaped bottom.
You can take two small round containers for cooking two dishes at the same time. In this case, separate heating control systems are used.
Burner designs
Speaking about how to choose a built-in gas hob, it is necessary to say about the speed with which heat is distributed, and power. For very fast cooking, the best option is constructions equipped with multi-level burners. They create 2 or more rings of flame. Such designs are considered the best in speed, with which heat is distributed, and power. In this case, the heating of the dishes occurs evenly. In this case, the food does not burn, and the water quickly boils.
Many owners of apartments, in which more families live or often visit guests, experience some difficulties in deciding how to choose a gas hob. As a rule, you have to cook regularly and a lot. Multi-circuit burners are perfect for cooking different dishes, steaming, stewing, smoking, frying. They are intended for cooking at maximum temperature.Double-circuit burners equipped with an independent flame control system for each circuit are used for cooking in large pots and frying potatoes. These burners can also make coffee over low heat. The power of these burners is adjustable from 0.4 to 5 kW.
Special burners for cooking over low heat allow stewing vegetables and meat, making delicate sauces. In this case, the flame is completely hidden under the cover of the burner. This ensures an even distribution of heat along the bottom of the dishes. Food is heated on such burners without burning. In addition, in this case boiling away and the need for frequent cleaning are excluded.
Experts, answering the question of how to choose a gas hob, recommend paying attention to four-burner progressive designs. They are equipped with burners of different capacities and purposes. So, for example, designs can be equipped with high-temperature elements with a triple or double flame. The most powerful burner can be 3 kW. The indicator for the element for quick heating is slightly lower. In addition, an auxiliary burner is present on the surface. Its power is about 1 kW.
Security
Many consumers choose electric hobs. And it is quite justified. Such panels are easy to maintain, have a more attractive appearance, and are safe. In addition, during operation, no combustion products are formed. These panels are more expensive than gas, but they significantly benefit in their characteristics. They are used in the preparation of both exquisite and simple dishes. The power consumed by electrical panels is more than 9 kW.
Burners
Heating zones on electric panels differ in power, size, types of components used. The usual four-burner design can be equipped with elements of high, medium and low power. Their diameter is up to 21 cm, and power - up to 3 kW. The glass-ceramic panel can be equipped with halogen, tape, spiral and induction elements. Large burners are great for cooking for the future (for example, compote or jam).
Double-circuit and dual elements
Those who do not know very well how to choose a hob, experts recommend paying attention to designs in which these burners are present. Double and double-circuit burners allow you to increase the heating zone so that it covers the entire bottom of the dishes. When cooking in a small container, just turn on the inside of the concentric zone.
When using a large pan, the outer ring is additionally connected. With the simultaneous inclusion of two zones located nearby, you can cook in an oval dish. Some panels are equipped with rectangular heating areas. An additional circuit can be connected manually. To do this, just turn the knob. Also, the connection can be automatic in accordance with the size of the dishes used. There is an autofocus (AF) function for this.
Quick heat rings
These elements are characterized by high power - from 1.5 to 3 kW. They create the most accurately directed and uniform heat flow. These burners can be of different sizes. This allows you to use in the preparation of various dishes.
Vendors and manufacturers use the terms Hight-Ligh, HiLight, SuperQuick, express burner instead of the name "quick heating burner". In accordance with the size of the elements, dishes are also selected. If, for example, the diameter of the bottom of the pan is smaller than that of the burner, then the latter will wear out faster, and its useful life will be reduced accordingly. If the pan is larger than the burner, the heating efficiency will decrease.
Standard items
These burners are made in the form of discs made of cast iron with tape or spiral heating elements. People call them “pancakes”. Their diameter is 180, 220 and 145 mm. The power of such rings is 1; 1.5; 2 kW A corrugated narrow tape or electric spiral can be laid with snakes, concentric circles and radial straight rays. The maximum intensity during heating depends on the density of the element. Power control is carried out using the handle. When it is rotated, part of the element sections are disconnected or an additional connection is made. Double rings are equipped with external and internal circuits.
Cast iron elements
These burners heat up and cool slowly. Inside there are spiral elements. The standard hotplate is heated for 20 seconds. Manufacturers equip panels and elements of accelerated heating. In this case, the required temperature is reached within 8-10 seconds. In quick heating rings, the corrugated tape is laid more tightly. Thanks to this, heating takes place in 3 seconds. Such burners are close to gas ones in speed of reaching the desired temperature.
Halogen elements
They are a combination of a heater and a halogen lamp. Such burners are installed under glass-ceramic and glass panels. They are marked with the letter "H". The halogen burner heats up for 1 second. On panels equipped with such elements, you can quickly cook dishes that require strong heating.
In this case, heat spreads along the bottom of the dishes with high intensity. Due to the high heating rate, energy is significantly saved. When turned off, the heat supply stops immediately. Among the disadvantages of such elements should be highlighted fragility. To increase the service life, a lamp and a belt heater with separate control are inserted into the halogen burners.
In this case, the first component only works during the warm-up period, and then turns off. Cooking is carried out using a tape element. In the switched on state, tape, spiral elements and halogen lamps glow under the glass-ceramic surface. The radiation intensity corresponds to the heating force. The glow tells which zones are on and ready to go. In addition, it prevents accidental burns.
How to choose an induction hob?
Reviews from many consumers speak in favor of these models. Such designs are considered relatively new. Talking about how to choose an induction hob, It should be said about security. Only objects made of magnetic metal are heated, the diameter of which is more than 12 cm.
For example, a spoon accidentally falling on the stove does not change its temperature. Such burners are located under the glass ceramic panels only. The design is heated by the dishes. The burners themselves are essentially inductors. Due to it, electromagnetic waves are excited in the bottom of the dishes.
Burners
Many consumers do not wonder how to choose a hob. The induction design is acquired by those who are interested in the efficiency of heating at its high speed. On such a stove, water boils very quickly. So, for example, 1.5 liters can be boiled in 3.2 minutes. The same amount can be brought to a boil on a regular electric burner in 14 minutes.
Cooling is also fast enough. In terms of cooking speed, the induction panel is close to the microwave. The undoubted advantage of the designs is the possibility of smooth power adjustment and accurate setting of the heating mode. Before choosing an electric induction hob, you should evaluate your budget. Such designs are quite expensive.
Plate manufacturers
Often, consumers get lost in the wide range of products presented and wonder which hob to choose? To begin with, it should be noted that the first designs were released in Germany. The production of hobs in this country took up the company AEG. In the Russian market, products of such companies as Gaggenau, Brandt, Miele, Bosch-Siemens are popular.
