Electric hob: features of work, characteristics, which one is better to choose

The hobs have different advantages over classic hobs. First of all, it is compact size and excellent performance. Retail chains offer a large selection of such products, but electric hobs are especially popular. They differ not only in size, but also in capabilities. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to choose a stove that is optimal in terms of parameters.

Types of surfaces

In practice, the kitchen surface is the top of a classic gas stove. There are two types of it: free-standing and built-in. The first type is a device separate from the oven that can be placed anywhere, and the second is designed to work together with the oven.

Hobs are divided according to the type of energy carrier used into gas and electrical devices. The latter, in turn, can be: traditional, induction and gas. There are also devices of combined action. In addition, kitchen surfaces are distinguished by the number of burners and the material of manufacture. In the production of panels, metal alloys, tempered glass, glass ceramics and stainless steel are used.

Gas stove

In such a device, gas is used as a heat carrier. Gas hobs are simpler in design than other types of stoves and have a high heating rate. They can be connected both to cylinders and to gas pipes. Their operation is associated with increased fire hazard, therefore there are certain requirements for the placement of the device. For example, it is impossible to place equipment under hanging boxes, it is necessary to organize additional ventilation of the room.

Gas hobs can have from one to six burners. They consist of the following basic elements:

• hard case;
• working surface;
• burner gas burners;
• gas flow control mechanism;
• gas regulators.

All elements of the plate are made of heat-resistant materials, and the outer casing of the working surface is coated with enamel or made of stainless steel.

When you turn the knob (gas regulator), the damper opens, and gas begins to flow through the gas distribution system into the burner burner nozzle. The more the knob is turned, the more the damper opens, which means that the flow of outgoing gas increases.

The energy carrier can be ignited manually or automatically. For manual ignition, an open flame is brought to the burner bowl, and in the automated method, piezoelectric is used. All modern burners are equipped with gas leakage protection. This is monitored by a special gas control, which turns off the supply of energy in the absence of ignition.

Induction panel

The operation of an induction cooker is based on the property of a high-frequency magnetic field to create induction eddy currents when interacting with metal, therefore, only metal is used for heating on such a panel dishes. The best material for cookware is steel. This is due to its resistivity and high magnetic permeability.

By their appearance, induction devices are glass-ceramic surfaces. Usually it is a smooth flat-looking body, under which the main heating element is located - the induction coil. In addition to her, the main parts of the stove include:

• glass-ceramic work surface;
• insulating layer;
• a frequency converter;
• electronics unit.

The work of the stove is carried out as follows: when it is connected to the electrical network, a current begins to flow through the induction coil. It is characterized by a high frequency, of the order of 20-50 kHz. When a metal product is installed on a coil, a high-frequency magnetic field appears, as a result of which a current arises on the installed object. There is a transformation of electrical energy into heat. As soon as the object is removed from the stove, the electromagnetic field disappears.

Thus, heat is not transferred from the hob, but is generated directly in the cookware. Therefore, the essence of the device can be represented in the form of a transformer device, in which the primary winding is the plate, and the secondary is the dishes.

There are certain requirements for the installation of such a surface, which consist in creating conditions for the removal of heated air, and in the case of the built-in version - the organization of ventilation clearances. At the same time, induction panels have increased requirements for the cross-section of the input cable, since their power can reach six or more kilowatts, so you will need to provide a reliable supply electricity.

Electrical device

The principle of operation of a classic electric stove is based on the release of heat when an electric current passes through a conductor. The latter is a high resistive heating element. This guide folds out in the form of a spiral when open or under the burner lid.

The power is regulated by a step type or using a thermostat. In the first case, the device contains several spiral circuits, which are connected to each other in series or in parallel using a switch. In the second, a bimetallic thermostat is used.

By design, electric stoves are divided into several types:

• with an open spiral in ceramic channels;
• with a hidden spiral under glass ceramics;
• with an open heater in a metal burner.

There are certain requirements for the connection and the electric cooktop. This is a mandatory grounding or installation of a residual current device, as well as the use of a cable of the required cross section.

Main characteristics

Like any device, hobs are characterized by a number of parameters that ultimately determine the price of the product. They are conventionally divided into general and technical. The first are characterized by a qualitative component. It is she who determines the ergonomics of the device and the durability of its operation. Therefore, when choosing, it is important to pay attention to the build quality, which directly depends on the panel manufacturer.

Specifications indicate what functionality the cooking panel has. The main parameters include:

1. Location. The electric stove can be made as a separate or built-in type in kitchen furniture. At the same time, by design, there are independent devices and working in conjunction with the oven.
2. Number of cooking zones. Their number can range from one to six. The standard amount is considered to be four.
3. Control type. By the type of power adjustment of the burners, the kitchen panel can be produced with different types of switches: rotary, touch or even remote.
4. Surface coating. There are three main types of coatings: glass ceramics, steel, and enamel.
5. Cooking zone power. This parameter is related to the size of the hotplate. Usually, products are equipped with burners with different powers. In classic models, one of them is the largest. Its capacity is about three kilowatts. The other two have an average capacity of up to 1.5 kW, and the fourth does not exceed one kilowatt.
6. Highest electrical power. For the operation of modern panels, it is necessary to provide a connection power of 3 to 10 kW. This parameter depends on the number of hotplates and their overall performance.
7. Additional features. This parameter is primarily characterized by security features. It can consist in automatic shutdown of heating when a certain temperature is reached, blocking of control, protection from children (blocking the working surface), setting an on and off timer, boiling control and others opportunities.

Product manufacturers

When deciding which electric hobs are best to buy, attention is not least paid to the brand name. There is a fairly large list of different manufacturers, which can be quite difficult to choose from. At the same time, there are often models that are the same in their parameters, but quite different in price. This is due to the quality of the assembly and the elements used in the design, as well as the manufacturer's warranty obligations.

It is important to note that when buying an electrical panel manufactured under the name of a well-known brand, you can be sure that the actual characteristics are in line with the declared ones. And also count on high-quality warranty and post-warranty service.

Of the many manufacturers of hobs, the following companies have received good reviews lately:

1. Bosch. A German company that is a leader in the production of kitchen appliances. All of their models are equipped with HighSpeed ​​glass ceramics. Although their products are not the cheapest, they are the best company in Germany in terms of reliability.
2. AB Electrolux. The products of the world's leading manufacturer of household and professional appliances combine sleek design and high functionality. Their patented "Stop + Go" technology improves cooking comfort, and the locking of controls ensures safety when using the device.
3. Gorenje. The company's products from Slovenia stand out for their optimal price-quality ratio. Their proprietary SuperPower technology allows you to activate the boost heating function on all hotplates at the same time, which can significantly save cooking time.
4. Samsung. The South Korean corporation has its own research centers that allow introducing the latest technologies into its products. Their lineup contains both budget and professional quality surfaces. A distinctive feature is the convenience and safety of use.
5. Whirlpool. Proprietary 6 Sense Technology (Sixth Sense) takes cooking to the next level. Thus, during cooking, the hob automatically controls the surface temperature of the container and adjusts the level of energy consumption separately for each heating field.

Selection Tips

When deciding which hob to choose, first you should pay attention to what type of electrical wiring is laid in the apartment. It can be single-phase or three-phase. Any surface of a slab base has certain advantages and disadvantages, but what they have in common is that they are equally prone to scratching. The stainless steel surface is durable, the enamelled one is less resistant to abrasive materials, but easier to clean. When buying a product from a glass-ceramic base, its thickness should be taken into account, since a thin plate can crack, and chips are easily formed on it.

The kitchen hob can be dependent or independent from the oven. In the case of the first option, it is installed on top of the oven. An independent hob can be placed anywhere, which is very important for a kitchen with a small working area.

When choosing a matte or glossy surface, it should be borne in mind that the gloss looks brighter, but fingerprints remain on it. When deciding on a color, you should know that, as practice shows, beige or grayish-white shades are the most non-marking, and black is the most impractical.

The choice of burners and their number is important. So, on small diameters with a capacity of up to a kilowatt, it is convenient to make coffee or stew meat, and on large diameters, quickly bring water to a boil. Some products have a function for combining cooking zones., which is convenient when cooking on an oblong dish. Such burners are called double-circuit or twin.

The total power of an electric hob depends on the number and size of the cooking zones. It is most convenient to use a cooker with 4-6 circuits with high performance. This will allow you to quickly heat up any kind of cookware, shortening the cooking time. However, when choosing a kitchen surface, you should also take into account the possibilities of wiring.

Of the useful additional functions, the most frequently requested ones are:

1. Cooking zone timer. Allows you to set the time after which the heating of the hotplate will automatically turn off.
2. Auto shutdown. Turns off the operation of the device in case of overheating.
3. Heat indicator. It can easily determine the degree of heating of the burner.

Thus, having decided on the necessary functions, installation options, and the design of the future device, you can safely go to buy it.