How to choose a hob - expert advice

When choosing a hob, you should pay attention to its type, functionality and technical characteristics.

content

1. How to choose a hob: the main criteria
2. Types of hobs by type
3. Types and functions of electric cooktops
4. Types of hobs by design
5. Types and functions of gas hob burners
6. Features electric hobs
7. The best manufacturers of hobs
8. Hob selection video

How to choose a hob: the main criteria

The most important criteria for choosing hobs are:

1. Type (gas or electric);

2. Construction (dependent or independent type);

3. Material;

4. Performance characteristics (separate for electrical and gas surfaces);

5. Types of burners (for gas surfaces);

6. Additional characteristics.

7. The manufacturer is also important.

Types of hobs by type

There are two types of cooking surfaces according to the type of engineering communications to which they are connected - gas and electric (which, in turn, are divided into traditional electric and induction). Also sometimes you can find combined.

Gas hobs

Such cooking surfaces are nothing more than an “evolutionary development” of classic cookers. They connect to the gas supply line and heat the products on an open fire from the burners (horns).

An important disadvantage of gas cooking surfaces are safety requirements for the location of such devices. The distance to the nearest wall should be more than 10 cm, so on narrow kitchen sets such devices may simply not fit - and you will have to choose a model with a smaller number of burners.

When choosing a gas hob, you should first pay attention to the grate material, since it largely determines the practicality and durability of the device.

So, the best performance shows cast iron. It is durable, resistant to mechanical stress and durable. The only drawback of this material - burnt products, especially fat, it is very difficult to wash.

An alternative to cast iron is stainless steel. This material has a high thermal conductivity, so part of the heat from the burner will dissipate in space.But the steel grate is easier to wash, but it can also be quite thin - and at the same time retain its strength.

Types and functions of electric cooktops

By type of heating such cooking surfaces are divided into traditional electric and modern induction.

Traditional electric cooking surfaces

In such devices, a spiral is used as a heating element (in general), which is heated by the electric current passing through it. It is located under a flat panel, which can be made of glass or similar materials.

The method of heat transfer in such surfaces is natural. That is, the helix is ​​first heated, then the glass under which it is located, after this the dishes, and finally the food in it.

Fire safety - the most important advantage - makes electric burners a major competitor for gas.

Low cost electrical surfaces

In the budget version (cost up to 20 thousand rubles), electric cooking surfaces are equipped with an open heating element, externally similar to a gas cooker. It can be spiral or flat. The dishes are set right on it.

Most often, such cooking surfaces are made in a cast-iron housing and imply an independent or minimally embedded installation.

Induction hobs

In induction hobs, a coil that generates an electromagnetic field is used as a “heating element”. By acting on the atoms of the metal, it increases the temperature of the container in which the food is prepared. Thus, it is not the hotplate or the surface that is being heated, but the pan or frying pan.

The directivity of the electromagnetic field in induction surfaces makes it reasonably safe for humans. Even with a regular hair dryer, the intensity of this physical parameter is about 100 times higher.

Combined hobs

In the combined cooking surfaces both gas burners and electric heating elements are used. Therefore, they combine the merits of both these food processing methods.

Most often, the design includes four burners, one electric and three gas. But there are larger models. In them, the number of burners increased to 4-5 gas and 1-2 electric.

Combination hobs combine not only advantages, but also disadvantages of gas and electric ones. Therefore, they should be acquired only if homes often have interruptions in one or another source of energy.

Types of hobs by design

Both gas and electric cooking surfaces can be performed in one of two design options - dependent and independent.

Cooking surfaces of the dependent type consist of several embedded structural elements. In addition to the burner module itself, it can include a separate control panel and an oven. Such devices are good for creating a full-fledged cooker "from scratch" and they should be chosen during primary or major repairs.

Cooking surfaces of independent type are structurally a separate module with burners and a control panel. They can be installed or embedded anywhere. They are suitable for replacing an old stove or surface and are ideal if an oven is not required.

Hobs material

The body of the hob can be made of the following materials - various metal alloys with enamel coating, aluminum, tempered glass, stainless steel or glass-ceramic.

Gas surfaces are usually made in a metal casing. It can be aluminum, just steel or enamelled.

Aluminum surface

Aluminum is the easiest and cheapest material. Usually their low cost cooking surfaces are made.

Aluminum casing surfaces should be purchased only with a very limited budget.

Steel surface

Stainless steel without enamel coating is quite rare. This material has a good heat capacity and an attractive appearance.

Enameled surface

Glass ceramics

Glass-ceramic (as well as made of tempered glass) gas surfaces are also found. They have the most attractive appearance.

Electric cooking surfaces are usually made of glass. This material provides a good transfer of both heat and electromagnetic field (depending on the type of device). In addition, it is easy to wash.

The disadvantages and advantages of the glass panel of electrical surfaces are similar to those of a gas device.

Types and functions of gas hob burners

In the fully gas (not combined) cooking surfaces, the hobs are structurally gas horns, so there is no wide variety of types. The difference is only in size. The larger the burner, the faster it is able to warm up the dishes installed on it.

An important requirement is that the diameter of the base of the dish should be significantly larger than the size of the gas burner. This will ensure fire safety.

However, gas hob burners can vary in functionality. So, they can be equipped with:

1. The "gas control" mode determines the temperature in the burner and cuts off the flow of methane if there is no flame. A useful feature that greatly improves surface safety.

2. Automatic electric ignition generates an arc discharge (spark) when you turn the burner, and the flame flashes. Allows you to save on matches and increases the safety of the device. However, such a hob will need to connect to the home network.

3. The mechanical system of ignition of a flame is similar to the electric one, only for the appearance of a spark it is necessary to press a special button on the control panel.

4. A piezo generator creates a spark that ignites a flame without connecting the hob to the mains. Being a partially mechanical device, it will require pressing a button.

Any of the functions of automatic or automated ignition is quite practical.

Features electric hobs

The following functions and features can be implemented in both types of electric hobs:

1. Rings of special shape and purpose have a non-circular shape. It can be elongated to the oval, truncated or elongated. Such rings are designed for dishes of unusual shape.

2. Induction burners in a classic electric surface are rare and are designed to gently heat metal utensils.

3. Halogen burners are installed in electric cooking surfaces. Their main advantage - warming up to the necessary temperature in 2-3 seconds.

4. Hi-Light burners heat up even faster than halogen burners in less than 1 second.

5. And halogen, and Hi-Light burners are ideal for quick and short-term heat treatment of products - for example, when frying in the framework of oriental cuisine.

6. Auto power off makes electric cooking surfaces as safe as possible. It can be implemented both as a timer and through a temperature sensor. In any case, auto power off increases the security of the device.

7. The timer is one of the implementations of auto off.It greatly simplifies the process of cooking dishes, in the recipe of which something like “Cook for 1 hour” is written.

8. Recipe memory is a function of memorizing set temperature conditions and operating time. It is quite convenient if you often have to cook the same dishes.

9. Child protection blocks the turning on of the hob and temperature settings until a certain button (or several buttons) is pressed.

10. The “Bridge” mode combines two adjacent burners for heating large-sized cookware.

11. Heat maintenance mode is designed to warm up ready meals. In it, the burner heats up to a certain temperature, often on the order of 40-60 degrees, so that the dish remains tasty for a long time.

The above functions increase the cost of the hob, so choosing models equipped with them is based on budget or needs.

The best manufacturers of hobs

Since gas and electric cooking surfaces differ significantly from each other, the manufacturers recommended are different.

Gas

The best manufacturers of gas cooktops are:

1. Gefest, Gorenje - manufacturers of devices of the middle or budget price segment. They are known for the high quality of their gas equipment, since they specialize in the production of just such equipment;

2. Hansa, Hotpoin-Ariston - manufacturers of household appliances. Let out cooking surfaces of an average price segment;

3. MBS, Kuppersberg, Fornelli are manufacturers of embedded appliances. Their products belong to the upper price segment.

4. You can also select the company Electrolux, but only the top models for its production are worthy of attention.

Electric

The best manufacturers of electric cooktops are:

1. Hansa, Bosch, Electrolux - models of the middle and budget price segment;

2. Hotpoint-Ariston, Gorenje - models of the middle and upper price segment.

3. In the top price segment, Smeg is leading, as well as interesting solutions offered by NEFF.

Hob selection video

---

Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.