A set of different 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 hob, taking into account its parameters, cost and user reviews.
An optimal stove will not only reduce cooking time, but also help reduce waste on gas or electricity.
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 combination panels are also considered common.
The latter can be made in various versions and layouts, and the ratio of the burners is selected individually. For example: 2 gas and 2 electric. Combination allows to reduce electricity consumption (in cases when a two-tariff meter is installed). When you turn on the hotplates, oxygen consumption is significantly reduced.
Such a stove will become indispensable in an area where power outages often occur.
Gas or electric surface. Features
Depending on the existing power source in the kitchen, you can decide how to choose a hob: gas, electric, induction or combined.
The first are considered the most economical, because the heating process begins immediately after the launch of the stove. 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:
- The material of manufacture. The most common are: glass ceramics, stainless steel, aluminum. All of these materials can be enameled. The latter have increased strength, and are also performed in various colors. The main disadvantage is the difficulty in cleaning - it takes time to completely clean the enamel.
- Dependence on the oven. Familiar are the stoves, which are carried out in conjunction with the oven (even with combined heating). Independent cooking surfaces are considered more modern (in this case, the oven and the panel itself can be picked up and placed independently). An independent stove can be installed at any height and in different parts of the kitchen.
What criteria should be considered when selecting a panel
Which hob to choose: electric or gas is an individual question. But before the acquisition should take into account a number of criteria:
- Surface shape. Depending on the area and interior of the kitchen, you can choose a variety of panels - standard rectangular, triangular and corner. The arrangement of burners is also presented in unusual solutions - starting from the classic parallel, ending with the shape of a flower or even a garland.
- Power. If we are talking about an electric surface, this parameter is one of the most important. Distinguish between 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.
- The size. When choosing this option, the depth, width and height of the surface are taken into account. Compact models have a width of 26 to 48 cm, classic - up to 60 cm, non-standard - more than 61 cm.
- Type of management. Distinguish between touch and mechanical. The first is more modern and convenient, but hardly suitable for people of advanced age.
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, pay attention to the heating element. On electrical panels are installed:
- Cast iron burners. In this case, electric spiral disks act as a heater. Among the advantages of high reliability and low cost. The main disadvantage is long heating and cooling (significantly increases energy consumption).
- Hi-light burners. Used only on glass surfaces. The heating element is presented in the form of a spiral mounted in a special base. Such elements allow you to most accurately adjust the temperature.
- Halogen burners are equipped with a powerful lamp that speeds up the process of heating the stove. A key disadvantage is the heating of the entire surface area.
- Induction hobs. Most modern burners are considered safe and economical.
- Rapid (high-speed) burners are characterized by an increased rate of heat transfer. Heating and cooling occur in just a few seconds.
How to choose an electric recessed hob
The most optimal and reliable is a glass-ceramic surface. Among the advantages of the latter stand out stylish design. In addition, they:
- unpretentious in leaving;
- acid resistant;
- do not accumulate fat and unpleasant odors;
- have clear heating boundaries;
- equally quickly heat up and cool down.
Important! Despite their high strength, these hobs are unstable to point impacts. Also, this material does not tolerate sweet liquids, because when heated, they are able to change the structure of glass.
In the selection should take into account the surface color. 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 company is an individual and secondary issue. Among modern models, there are those that:
- automatically turn off by timer or in case of liquid spills on them;
- Included at the appointed time;
- equipped with a child lock.
Before purchasing, one should take into account the necessity and expediency of additional modes, because the presence of each of them affects the final cost.
Price dependence of parameters
Cooking surfaces can be in various price ranges:
- The most budgetary ones (worth up to 10 thousand rubles) are mainly made of steel with enamelled coating or glass ceramics. Type of control - mechanical.
- Surfaces from the "middle" 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, a built-in hob is distinguished. How to choose the most suitable, the description of this category will tell. The latter often has induction hobs and a set of additional functions (for example, protection against overheating, overflow or arbitrary switching on). The price category is from 20 thousand rubles.
How to choose an induction hob
The modern cooking surface differs from the primitive ones by the absence of familiar burners. Heating takes place 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 better to choose, you should consider:
- The manufacturer. Well-known world brands use the undoubted leadership, but often the cost of their products is too high, so it is important to get acquainted with less popular, but reliable brands.
- Burner parameters. For a small family, a surface with two heating zones will 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 burners from 145 to 220 mm in diameter are considered the most optimal. Each of them is designed for a certain volume of dishes.
- Heating adjustment. Modern technology is equipped, on average, with 16 modes. This amount allows you to easily cook a variety of dishes.
- Speed mode. The presence of this allows you to reheat the dish or boil water in a matter of minutes.
- Surface material. Budget options are made of glass ceramics, and more reliable - tempered glass.
- Type of management. More convenient recognized touch view. When using it, you just have to drag your finger along the indicator and change the temperature. The second type is mechanical. The latter is also convenient and reliable.
Before choosing a good hob, you should pay attention to additional functions. Induction surfaces may have the following:
- saving programs;
- automatic shutdown when spilling food;
- delayed start;
- recognition of the material and diameter of the dishes;
- cooking timer;
- maintaining temperature, etc.
Advantages and disadvantages of induction panels
Among the indisputable advantages are the following:
- quick heating of dishes;
- smooth adjustment of the degree of heating;
- automation of a large number of processes;
- simplicity in management and operation;
- profitability (by heating a certain area, significant savings in electricity are achieved);
- safety (the heating process occurs only when the surface comes in contact with special dishes, so it "does not react" to animals and people);
- precise control of temperature and power.
Also, food residues do not stick on the induction stove, so unpleasant odors do not form in the kitchen and it is easy to clean.
The main disadvantages are:
- the need to purchase special ferromagnetic (or cast-iron) utensils;
- low impact resistance (scratches often form on the surface);
- traces of some products (for example, milk, sugar, etc.) are poorly removed from the surface;
- high cost of repair.
Important! Before choosing an induction hob, you should purchase a suitable cookware or special disc that is designed to work with any materials. Existing dishes can be checked for "compatibility" with the stove. To do this, attach the magnet to the bottom, and if it is held - the dishes can be used with an induction stove.
The best cooking surfaces. Customer reviews
Given the individual parameters, you can determine which hob to choose. Customer reviews will help simplify the selection process.
In the ranking of manufacturers, hobs are arranged as follows:
- The first place is occupied by the electric panel LEX EVH 640 BL. Customers 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 switching on) facilitate the operation process. The presence of 4 rings at once allows you to cook several different dishes at the same time. A feature of the stove is quick heating and automatic transition to heat maintenance mode. Among the advantages also highlight the lack of familiar control knobs. The main disadvantage is the high cost.
- The second place is occupied by the Hansa BHGW 63111035 gas panel. This model is suitable for independent installation, has a large number of additional functions, including: gas flow control, handle anti-heating, etc. Lattices are made of cast iron and, therefore, can withstand heavy thermal and mechanical loads. A set of burners of various sizes can simplify the cooking process and significantly reduce gas consumption. Among the main disadvantages, users distinguish: noise in the work, quick failure of the electrodes, insufficient distance between the rings.
- If the question arose which company to choose a gas hob, you should pay attention to stainless steel technology. The undisputed leader is the Bosch PCH615B90E. The panel is equipped with 4 rings, one of which is double. A set of useful features, such as gas flow control and auto ignition, make the stove safe and easy to operate. Users note a quick heating of the stove. The main disadvantages are: easily soiled surface, difficulty in cleaning.
- The next item is Hotpoint-Ariston KRO 632 TDZ. The compact electrical surface is made of durable glass-ceramic. A work timer is provided 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 the last in the ranking. In this gas surface there are only 2 rings, one of which has the function of express heating. The surface also has gas control and auto-ignition functions. Among other advantages - ease of operation and cleaning, shockproof surface. Among the disadvantages are: high cost, the difficulty in cleaning individual elements.
The hob of which company is better to choose - an individual question. In any case, you should focus on reviews about a particular model of equipment, as well as take into account the parameters of the kitchen.