How to choose a hob

What is a hob? This is a flat case (its thickness usually does not exceed 6 cm), on which gas or electric burners are installed. The hob cuts into the top of the countertop like a kitchen sink. But when you place it, you must observe certain conditions: The gas panel must be separated from the wall or furniture by at least 10-15 cm, the electric panel by 4 cm.

So, how to choose a hob? First you need to decide on the most important - type. Depending on the heating element, the hobs are divided into gas, electric and combined (gas burners + electric heating element). Here the choice depends on your preferences, as is the case with a conventional cooker.

Also, you need to decide whether you want to choose a hob of a dependent or independent type. Dependent hobs are sold complete with oven, panelThere is only one control in these kits, and it is on the cabinet. That is, the panel will not work separately. Such a kit should be chosen if you need a full-fledged gas stove, simply built-in kitchen furniture.

Please note that You need to choose the panel and oven of one firm, equipment of different firms can bethe other is incompatible. Moreover, the components of the same manufacturer are also not always compatible, so manufacturers issue special compatibility tables, which indicate which panels with which ovens can be combined.

Independent hob has its own control panel (controlcan be carried out with the help of knobs or touch buttons). Then, if you want, you can buy an independent oven and install it anywhere in the kitchen, no matter where the hob is located.

If you decide to choose a hob with gas burners, you need to pay attention to a number of features. It is desirable that it be equipped with the function "Gas control", Automatically stopping the supply of gas, if accidentally extinguishing the flame. Another convenient feature - electric ignition, it can be mechanical or automatic.

Also on the gas hob may be different types of hotplates: conventional, auxiliary (smaller diameter andpower), ultrafast (larger diameter and high power), as well as burners with a "double crown" (they have increased power due to two rows of flames, the diameter may be small).

Surface of gas hob can be made of enamel coating, stainless steel, aluminum or glass ceramics, with such a variety of materials you can always choose a hob to your liking.

If you decide to choose a hob with electric burners, you will need to choose from two main types: traditional panels and glass-ceramic. Burners traditional model are a cast-iron "pancake", insidewhich has a heating element. Externally, these hobs are similar to a conventional stove. They are cheap, but they heat up very much and cool down for a long time.

Much more common electric glass ceramic hobs with absolutely flat surface. Their advantage is that such panels are not afraid of accidental falling of heavy objects, their smooth surface is easy to clean (but special means are needed for this).

Such panels differ in their type of heating element. In fast-cooking rings it is a spiral, in halogen- a spiral in combination with a halogen lamp, in Hi-Light burners - a belt-shaped heating element. The highest speed of heating and cooling in the High-Light burners, slightly less - for halogen, the smallest - for rapid. But at the same time, rapid heating all the same heat and cool much faster than cast iron.

The most modern and expensive option is induction burners. In such burners an induction unit is installed,which heats the bottom of the dishes, while the hotplate itself remains cold. They provide high cooking speed and temperature control accuracy, but you can cook on them only in special utensils with a magnetized bottom.

Please note that glass ceramics are afraid of pinpoint strokes, as well as sugar: if the glass-ceramic surface has gotsomething sugar-containing, you need to remove it immediately with a special scraper, otherwise you will not remove it. On glass-ceramic panels it is necessary to cook in a bowl with a smooth and even bottom 4-6 mm thick for stainless steel dishes and 2-3 mm for enameled dishes.

You can choose a hob from one of three categories. The first category - high-end expensive high-tech equipment. These are firms such as Miele, AEG, Kuppersbusch, Gaggenau. The second - middle class technology, the optimal ratio of price and quality, a wide range of models, from modest to "advanced". Companies - Whirlpool, Zanussi, Gorenje, Siemens, Bosch, Electrolux and others. Budget Technology has a low price and a limited set of functions. Firms - Ardo, Ariston, Hansa, etc. By the way, the word "budget" is not synonymous with the word "substandard".

Now you know how to choose a hob. We hope your choice will be successful!