The kitchen stove is the main device in the house. After the refrigerator, of course. Many housewives pay great attention to the choice of stove, because the quality of the prepared dishes largely depends on its operation. What to look for when choosing a kitchen stove - read this article.

Common parameters

Users usually have no questions about choosing a heating source for kitchen stoves. The determining factor here is the ability to connect the stove in your apartment and there are only two options - gas or electricity. But you will have to think more thoroughly about other parameters of the new kitchen appliances.

Before purchasing a stove, determine your cooking needs. Are you going to organize dinner parties every day or are you limited to scrambled eggs and bacon in the morning and rarely eat at home? This largely determines what your stove should be like.

Chefs prefer to cook over an open fire. This is due to the fact that with this method of cooking, the products are heated faster and more evenly, therefore they are less exposed to heat and, as a result, retain more taste and nutrients. The flame from the gas burner almost instantly heats the dishes in which food is cooked.

After turning off the gas burner, the effect on the food immediately stops. Thus, it is easier to control the cooking process when using an open fire. However, combustion products that fall out after using such stoves settle on the walls and kitchen furniture, which does not happen with electric stoves, which, by the way, are much easier to maintain.

All kitchen stoves have a height unified with the kitchen work surface - 85 cm. However, manufacturers equip the stoves with adjustable supports with a margin of 5 cm, taking into account possible floor unevenness.

The width of the slabs ranges from 50 to 90 cm. The depth of slabs available on the market ranges from 50 to 60 cm, but 60 cm slabs are more common. The width of the hob can be from 30 to 90 cm.

If the kitchen is small, then it is better to buy a separate gas, electric or combined gas-electric stove.

As for kitchens with built-in equipment, built-in hobs and ovens are better suited here. The work surface can simultaneously accommodate gas and electric burners, a deep fryer, a steamer, a grill or a wok frying pan.

The width of the slabs ranges from 50 to 90 cm. Small slabs are produced for small kitchens. It happens that a large frying pan on such a miniature stove takes up space immediately under 4 burners; accordingly, such dishes heat up unevenly, but only from the edge where the burning burner is located. Wide stoves - for spacious kitchens and large-sized dishes.

The depth of slabs available on the market ranges from 50 to 60 cm, but 60 cm slabs are more common.

If the kitchen is small, then it is better to buy a free-standing gas, electric or combined gas-electric stove.

As for kitchens with built-in equipment, built-in hobs and ovens are better suited here. The work surface can simultaneously accommodate gas and electric burners, a deep fryer, a steamer, a grill or a Wok frying pan.

If the organization of space in the kitchen allows the use of built-in household appliances, a separate oven with independent control can be installed in the kitchen cabinet at a user-friendly height. In accordance with safety precautions, there must be cavities around the perimeter of the oven, blown by a fan so that the furniture panels do not catch fire from excessive heat. By taking air from the room and expelling it along with vapors from the oven into the exhaust system, the fan lowers the temperature of the oven body, as well as all its parts.

Plates vary in appearance, ease of use, hygiene, and in the materials used in their production.

Hob materials

The hob has a metal or ceramic base with burners on it, which can also be made of different materials and different designs. Inexpensive hobs with burners are usually made of enameled steel, which is highly hygienic and comes in a variety of colors. However, it is quite difficult to clean enamel from traces of “escaped” soup or milk, droplets of fat and remains of burnt food. After being forced to use abrasive materials to clean such a surface, scratches appear on the enamel, and caring for it becomes even more difficult. In addition, the enamel is not resistant to chipping.

Stainless steel panels are available in polished or matte finishes. Although they are easier to care for than enamel surfaces, they can stain from fingers and require special cleaning products.

Glass ceramics look beautiful and are easy to clean, but are susceptible to the effects of sugar, which changes its structure and physical properties. Therefore, you need to be very careful when preparing dishes using products containing sugar. To prevent the formation of “sinks” on the surface from accidentally spilled liquids containing sugar, they should be removed immediately or periodically renewed films should be used. Glass ceramics should also not be cleaned with abrasive cleaning compounds or materials.

Glass ceramic surfaces are quite durable. They can withstand static loads of up to 25 kg/cm² and are superior in durability to other components and parts of the slab. To cook food on such surfaces, you can use dishes with a bottom diameter of 12 to 21 cm, except for aluminum pans, which leave marks on the surface. Glass ceramic cookware should have a smooth or slightly concave bottom.

There is also a type of hob called “gas on glass”. In this case, the surface itself is hidden behind a layer of glass ceramics or tempered glass. Typically, glass ceramics are more expensive than tempered glass, which is explained by the good thermal conductivity of this material, but in this case this parameter is not important. The gas burner already heats the dishes instantly. Therefore, it is wiser in this case to choose tempered glass. There is only one drawback to such surfaces - they scratch quickly, so you need to handle them carefully.

Gas hobs

The dimensions of the burners of gas hobs must correspond to the dimensions of the cookware. Ideally, the flames should heat only the bottom of the pan, but not the walls. Otherwise, dishes and handles suffer, especially if they are plastic. The time spent preparing food also increases.

The protruding burners of gas stoves are equipped with cast iron grates (double, which is more convenient, or single) and steel lids coated with dark enamel. The removable grate allows you to care for the stove without removing dishes from other burners or turning off the stove. Steel covers sometimes become unusable from contact with liquids, but they can always be replaced.

In general, protruding burners are not the best option, since such a stove is difficult to care for, and cookware is not installed securely on them. A flat burner, in turn, is not dangerous to place pots on, it is easy to clean and looks good.

The shapes of the burners also vary. In addition to round ones, there are oval burners. They are good for oval dishes, this also ensures even heating, which means good quality of the dish.

There are also special burners for cooking over low heat. Without them, the cook will have a difficult time, since stewing meat and vegetables, as well as preparing sauces, can only be done over such a fire, and it is almost impossible to adjust a regular burner to suit these needs. The fact is that the flame is completely hidden under the burner lid, so the heat is distributed evenly and slowly over the surface of the bottom of the pan.

Powerful multi-circuit burners for fast cooking have several levels. They create two or more heating zones, the heat from which is directed to the center and along the edges of the bottom of the pan, which ensures instant and uniform heating. These burners are very convenient and easy to use, which is why they are especially popular among housewives.

Hobs are equipped with metal or glass covers that protect the cooking surface from contamination. Glass lids are easier and more convenient to clean than metal ones. Removable roofs are preferable to those that cannot be removed. By removing the cover, the user can better clean the stove, including in the places where the cover itself is attached. It may seem that the glass lid is short-lived and can be damaged if carelessly lowered onto the stove. However, manufacturers supply such stoves with a special mechanism that ensures smooth lowering of the lid onto the hob.

Gas stoves by manufacturer:

Electric hobs

Electric stoves are more expensive than gas stoves, however, they are less fire hazardous. These stoves come with raised burners or glass-ceramic hobs. Burners under glass ceramics can be different:

• regular burners with an electric coil inside;
• halogen;
• induction;
• tape heating elements.

Since the thermal conductivity of glass ceramics is low, the surface of the stove outside the cookware remains almost cold. Heating zones can be different in both shape and size. It all depends on the volume and shape of the bottom of the dish. For example, there is an oval heating zone for ducklings; there are also rectangular zones.

Dishes must be selected precisely according to the size of the burners and with a flat bottom. Otherwise, the burners will wear out quickly. Conventional metal burners heat up slowly and cool down slowly.

The power of the burners can also be different. For example, if medium-power burners heat up in 10 minutes, then high-power burners are designed for fast heating and heat up in 7 minutes. Once the burner has heated up, it switches to low power mode. The degree of heating corresponds to the degree of glow of the burner marked in red. There are also automatic burners. They are marked with a white spot in the center and, thanks to a temperature sensor, independently determine the moment the water boils, reducing the heating power.

Radial burners with three radially arranged heating elements heat up in 8-10 seconds and provide even heat distribution, which is good for slow cooking.

Radial burners with tape heating elements (High light) heat up in 3 seconds. In terms of heating speed, they are close to gas ones.

The burner with heating element heats up in less than 20 seconds.

Halogen burners, marked with the Latin letter H (Halogen), heat up in 1 second. The heating tubes in such elements are filled with rarefied halogen vapors. Electric current causes these vapors to emit light and infrared waves. Such burners very intensely heat the entire area of ​​the bottom of the pan, instantly stopping heating when turned off. This reduces cooking time and energy consumption.

Induction burners only heat the bottom of the cookware. The hob does not heat up. When choosing cookware for induction burners, you need to adhere to certain rules. The bottom of the pan must be thick and must be made of magnetic material. The fact is that under the glass-ceramic coating there is an induction coil that interacts with the magnetic material, thereby exciting electromagnetic oscillations in it. As for the harm/benefit to health, the low-frequency electromagnetic field does not affect this factor in any way.

All electric stoves are more or less equipped with automatic control elements. Simple models are equipped with a timer and a temperature controller that controls the temperature.

More complex models have a full range of technological innovations. Touch sensors on glass ceramics allow you to turn on the stove with the touch of a finger. Indicators on the control panel indicate the status and operating modes of the stove. The timer records the start and end times of cooking.

The size of the dishes and their filling can also be adjusted automatically. Thus, additional sections of heating elements are automatically turned on if the bottom area of ​​the pan is large. Otherwise, if there are no dishes or the pan is empty and heats up too quickly, the automation will turn off the burner. A slow-heating pan will cause the heating to continue. With semi-automatic control, the heating area is increased manually - by turning the temperature control knob, pressing a button or touching the sensor.

Boiling can also be controlled automatically. The letter “A” is displayed on the control panel, indicating that the food is boiling. After boiling has occurred, the stove will automatically switch to the minimum heating mode, and then to the working mode to maintain the set temperature. Temperature sensors are located at the corners of the hob, which monitor the temperature inside the pan with high accuracy.

Many “advanced” electric stoves are equipped with a “thermal probe”, which is used to determine the degree of readiness of meat dishes - a probe that is inserted into the product. As soon as the temperature of the meat reaches the set limit, a sound signal sounds and the automation turns off the stove. In order to save energy, the automation can turn off the power supply to a heat-intensive burner before the food is completely ready. An interesting function is that it allows you to cook food when the burner is turned off using its residual heat.

Some electric stoves come with special frying pans with frying sensors, which emit sound and light signals when the set temperature is reached. The smart frying pan fries without splashing oil, so there is no risk of ignition.

Some electric stoves support an electronic memory function, which provides memory of heating modes for cooking those dishes that the user prepares most often. All that remains is to select the appropriate program. The cooking parameters will be set automatically. There are electric stoves, the systems of which contain parameters for cooking according to recipes, both installed at the factory and stored in the memory of the electronic processor of the oven using the Internet.

Electric stoves by manufacturer:

Induction hobs

Induction is a very promising area of ​​cooking surfaces, despite its high cost. Thanks to induction elements, you can very smoothly regulate the heating power and set the cooking mode with high precision. In addition, with such heating, food does not burn to the bottom of the dish. However, when using an induction hob, you should strictly avoid cookware made of non-ferrous metals and glass. To avoid breakdowns, manufacturers equip such stoves with special utensils.

The diameter of the pan should correspond to the heating zone, since this makes it easier for the panel automation to select the optimal energy-saving mode. Water boils faster on an induction hob than on any other electric or even gas hob.

The design of the induction burner allows it to heat only objects made of magnetic metal with a diameter of more than 12 cm. Therefore, a spoon dropped on the stove will not heat up. Induction cookers always have a pair of burners because they operate from a single coil. Therefore, the boiling of water on one burner can be accelerated at the expense of another.

Combined gas-electric stoves

Combined gas-electric stoves have 2 or 3 gas and 1 or 2 electric burners on the hob. These stoves combine all the advantages of gas and electric stoves.

Combined gas-electric stoves by manufacturer:

Oven

The design of the oven affects the ease of use, as well as the quality of cooking. Hot vapors during the cooking process must be discharged through an opening in the rear wall into the hood. Thanks to this feature, the oven control knobs will not heat up and fat will not bake on them, so cleaning them will be much easier.

The coating on the inner walls of the oven must be easy to clean, withstand high temperatures and be resistant to any organic acids. Oven cleaning can be traditional, pyrolytic or catalytic. Traditional cleaning is carried out in the usual way by hand using detergents and a cloth. Pyrolytic cleaning is a self-cleaning system that burns fats and other contaminants inside the oven at very high temperatures. The decomposition product - ash - is removed with a damp cloth. This is the most effective method, so plates that support this type of self-cleaning are not cheap.

When using the catalytic self-cleaning method, the side walls of the working chamber are coated with a special compound (catalyst) that absorbs fats. However, the coating loses its effectiveness after approximately 5-7 years of operation. Therefore, expensive models provide the possibility of replacing removable internal panels.

With a catalytic cleaning system, the internal surfaces of the working chamber are covered with fine-pored enamel with special catalytic properties. They accelerate the process of fat oxidation and breakdown. This method is convenient because it occurs automatically during cooking. However, it is less effective than pyrolytic, so sometimes the inner chamber of the oven has to be washed.

To prevent the inner chamber of the oven from losing heat, it must be well insulated. Housewives often complain that the oven “lies” about the temperatures it should produce. For this reason, the quality of the dishes remains unsatisfactory. You have to use trial and error to get used to how the oven works. The point here is the tightness, or rather the leakage of the door. It is important that the oven door is well sealed, or better yet, that it has double glass coated with a heat-reflecting compound.

The convenience of using the oven is created by a retractable trolley with telescopic guides, thanks to which the process of removing baking sheets becomes easier and cleaning more comfortable. In addition to all of the above, all modern oven models have lighting inside the working chamber to monitor the cooking process.

There is usually a drawer under the oven for storing dishes and kitchen utensils. In inexpensive models it does not extend. There is only the possibility of detaching the box lid, which is not very convenient during cleaning. This box is very small and low, so you can only store frying pans in it. More “advanced” models have a spacious compartment; it allows you to place large-sized dishes.

Gas stoves come with gas and electric ovens. The former are, accordingly, cheaper than the latter. The disadvantage of such stoves is that they are fire hazardous and pollute the surrounding area with organic combustion products. Therefore, when using such a stove, it is recommended to install a simple hood. Such a stove does not require special utensils; even aluminum pans will do. By the way, a pan with concentric grooves on the bottom heats up faster than the same pan with a smooth bottom, since it has a larger heating area.

Gas ovens

Gas ovens are:

• classic (without fan) with two heating modes;
• multifunctional (with fan) have up to 8 heating modes.

Classic ovens are the simplest and most inexpensive devices. At the bottom of the chamber they have a gas burner, and at the top there is a gas or electric heating element - a grill.

Some of them are not even equipped with an auto-ignition function. That is, the burner is ignited either manually using a pneumatic lighter or matches, or manual ignition is provided. This makes the oven a fire hazard, since gas continues to flow if the flame is accidentally blown out. To prevent the flame from going out, hollow burners and auto-ignition systems are installed in ovens with a fan, since the fan can easily blow out the flame. Ignition can be manual (installed in ovens without a fan) or automatic. To use the first, you need to press the ignition button and at the same time turn the gas supply knob. Automatic ignition is carried out simply by changing the position of the handle.

The volume of the oven is one of its main parameters; if you have a large family or you like to receive guests, then make sure that the oven is equipped with all kinds of additional devices, as well as a grill and spit.

Greeley

A gas grill, unfortunately, cannot be automated, although it is more economical than an electric one. An electric grill provides uniform heating and more precise step-by-step temperature control. In general, this function is rather final in cooking and is used to obtain a crispy crust at the final stage. A rotating spit is used to cook large pieces of meat, poultry and fish. The uniformity of frying or baking of a dish is ensured, of course, not by the grill, but by convection.

Electric ovens

There are electric ovens: static and multifunctional.

In a static oven, tubular electric heaters are used for heating at the top and bottom of the chamber. At the top of the chamber there may be a grill and spit. An electric grill, as we said above, although more expensive, provides more uniform heating and is easier to regulate than a gas grill.

Multifunctional electric ovens are equipped with convection, which allows you to prepare a variety of dishes by changing the heat and maintaining precise temperature conditions. These ovens use 4 heating elements (heating elements): top, bottom, side and located on the back wall around a fan, which evenly distributes hot air throughout the entire volume of the chamber, which allows you to cook food on several levels at once.

Multifunctional electric ovens can have more than 8 operating modes:

• defrosting frozen food at room temperature. Convection works;
• defrosting frozen food with warm air. The oven has a fan and a lower heating element. Used for drying mushrooms, vegetables and fruits;
• normal cooking. Top and bottom heaters are on. The mode can be used for making pies, cottage cheese, pizza;
• accelerated cooking. Two heating elements (upper and lower) and a fan are included. The mode can be used for preparing fruit pies, casseroles, roasts, fried vegetables;
• fast cooking at different levels. The fan and heating element around it work;
• “browning” dishes and baked goods. Top grill included;
• grill. The grill heating element is turned on and directs heat directly to the food. This mode is recommended for browning dishes, preparing casseroles, thin pieces of meat, fillets, fish, sandwiches and vegetables;
• grill with forced air circulation, which allows you to achieve uniform “browning” of food and the formation of a crispy crust. The heating element and fan are included. This mode is recommended for cooking large pieces of meat, shashlik, whole poultry, baked meat and grilled chicken.

Safety

There are several aspects responsible for the safe operation of kitchen stoves. Fire safety deserves special attention. Many gas stoves, except the simplest ones, are equipped with a “gas control” system, which, when the flame goes out, automatically turns off the gas supply to the burners and burners of the oven. As for stoves not equipped with this system, we recommend that you take a responsible approach to the possibility of gas leaks and prevent the occurrence of a fire.

The electrical safety of stoves, in turn, depends on the matching of the stove’s power and the capabilities of the electrical network. Before choosing stoves, make sure that the electrical network in your home can withstand such loads. However, automation protects the power grid from possible overloads. If a malfunction is detected, the alarm on the control panel of the cooker first turns on, after which the cooker automatically turns off.

To prevent the fire of built-in furniture panels, manufacturers equip the stove with temperature limiter sensors located on its surface. They turn off the power supply when the oven heats above the set limit, which, according to European fire safety requirements, is 90°C.

Mechanical safety is ensured by rounding the corners of the plate and installing removable or recessed control handles. The external parts of the stove are designed and manufactured in such a way and from such materials that a small child cannot pinch anything or get burned. Automation also warns of the danger of burns. The letter “h” on the control panel indicates that the temperature of the recently operating burner has already dropped to 60°C, but you can still get burned.

Remember that the installation of an electric stove can only be entrusted to a qualified specialist. Imported gas stoves must be adapted to the operating conditions of Russian main gas networks. In most cases, readjustment of the device is required, since electronic automation is very sensitive to voltage fluctuations and may refuse to work with large deviations.

Conclusion

We hope our article will help you in choosing a kitchen stove. Both gas and electric stoves have their advantages and disadvantages. However, the ideal option is always somewhere in the middle, so if you are an amateur cook, we advise you to pay attention to combination cookers. They have concentrated all the advantages of both types, therefore they provide all the possibilities for preparing dishes.

Currently, progress is moving at tremendous speed, and more and more new devices are constantly appearing in homes that provide comfort in everyday life. It would seem that just recently such beloved gas stoves burst into our kitchens, but today they are gradually becoming a thing of the past, and new products are taking their place. Glass-ceramic stoves are in particular demand on the market now.

Traditional types of glass-ceramic stoves include products in which kitchen utensils are placed on a smooth, glass surface for cooking. The process of heating the dishes and filling them is carried out using special elements located under the glass-ceramic layer of the surface - a spiral, halogen or ribbon type. These elements may vary in level of manufacturability and cost.

The glass-ceramic electric stove differs from other stove models in its more modern appearance and equipment. Having a lot of advantages, this product is limited by some disadvantages. For example, service life. Hers is short. For example, an average cost one will last you 7-8 years.

A modern electric panel-stove is easy to recognize by its flat, smooth surface, which has almost invisible burners. Usually the heating areas are only slightly marked with circles of different sizes and shapes.

A modern electric ceramic oven provides the following convenient features:

1. Touch buttons. Let's say no to knobs and levers, and move on to smooth surfaces that will obey the touch of your finger.
2. Residual heat indicators.
3. Booster (increasing the power of any one burner at the expense of others).
4. Programming. This function makes it possible to program the stove to cook any dish.
5. Timer. It is used for both the oven and the hob.
6. Automatic boil control. The device itself recognizes that the water has boiled and reduces power.
7. Self-cleaning oven. This is the ability to cleanse yourself.

The more features built into a device, the more expensive it will cost. You may not need some features. Then you can choose a simpler model and not pay extra money.

Glass ceramics are made by melting glass using a specific technology. As a result of this action, a new material is obtained that has the appearance of glass, but has new properties. It is characterized by high impact resistance, it is resistant to external influences and sudden temperature changes. This material is used not only in the manufacture of kitchen stoves; it is used to make countertops, counters and bar counters.

Glass-ceramic electric stoves are a type of convenient modern household appliance. Which gives convenience to a person and an aesthetically correct look to the kitchen. The process of preparing food on such a surface turns into a pleasant pastime.

Choosing an electric stove with a modern glass-ceramic surface is not very easy, although there are a lot of offers of this type of product on the market. Among them there are very inexpensive stoves with a minimal set of capabilities, but there are surfaces that cost similar to the price of a used car. But, nevertheless, these devices are in excellent demand and glass-ceramic stoves are ahead of their predecessors in terms of sales. The main thing is to make the right choice of model. An important role in the quality of the device is played by the design of the burners.

This tile often has one of the above types of burners:

1. Halogen. A type of burner that is instantly heated by a special built-in lamp, which is connected by a high-temperature spiral. During operation, these elements glow with a pleasant red light. Their power allows you to quickly heat a liquid or thoroughly fry a dish. The only drawback is that they do not last very long and consume a lot of electricity.
2. Rapid burners. This type of heating elements heats up a little slower, but they are more reliable and also economical. They contain a spiral made of a high-resistance alloy, which is capable of releasing more heat when heated.
3. Induction burners. It can heat the bottom of special dishes. They are considered the most effective and economical. But such a stove is not cheap. But you will also have to buy special dishes for it, which is, in general, a pretty decent amount.

Most often, manufacturers supply stoves with burners of different power. This is much more convenient than other options, as it allows you to use electricity more economically. It is best to choose electric stoves, all of whose burners have different diameters. In this case, you will be able to control and regulate energy consumption.

How to choose an electric stove: glass ceramics for yourself

The main feature of glass-ceramic material is its increased thermal conductivity. A conventional electric stove requires some time to warm up, but this product heats up very quickly, one might say instantly. The same applies to turning off the device. An electric burner will cool down for a long time after being turned off, while a glass-ceramic burner will cool down very quickly.

Choosing an electric stove like glass ceramics is not easy. You should focus not on the price, but on the functionality of the device.

In addition to the hob, this design has:

• Timer;
• Fan;
• Grill;
• Skewer;
• Oven;
• Backlight;
• Error table;
• Temperature regulator.

Modern electric stoves are equipped to the maximum to make people's lives more comfortable and easier.

High-quality glass-ceramic stove: which company is better

The price of an electric stove with built-in functions depends not only on the number of options available, but also on the manufacturer. Cheaper ones include stoves from the Turkish brand Beko, as well as from the Czech manufacturer Mora (Gorenje). But such manufacturers as Samsung and Eurodomo produce 2-3 inexpensive, but not inferior in quality, models.

Glass ceramic stove. Which company is better? You can learn about this from Internet sites or this article. In order to make the right choice of device, it is necessary to carefully study the offers and possible functions of the device.

To make the right choice of a high-quality glass-ceramic stove, you need to understand everything. The price often depends on the brand, but the rule “the more expensive, the better quality” applies here too. Before going to the store, study all the capabilities of the device without exception, and decide which ones you will need. Then you will be able to correctly describe to the consultant your requirements for the stove, and he will be able to help you choose the right product.

The most popular brands of glass-ceramic electric stoves:

• Electrolux;
• Bosch;
• Beko;
• Mora;
• Whirlpool;
• Zanussi;
• Samsung;
• Hansa.

Among the electric furnaces of these companies there are both very expensive and cheaper models. With the right approach to choosing a stove, you will definitely find a suitable model.

Rating of electric stoves: determining the best models

The first places are usually occupied by the following brands:

• Bosch;
• Whirlpool;
• Zanussi;
• Samsung;

If such big company names scare you, then you can look for simpler models.

Kitchen glass-ceramic stove (video)

Initially, glass-ceramic stoves were produced in the form of built-in kitchen furniture, as well as hobs. This method met the image and price needs of buyers of this kitchen appliance. But with the rapid spread of the product, traditional product models began to appear, which now make up the bulk of glass-ceramic stoves.

An electric stove is an indispensable assistant in the kitchen. It is on the stove that most dishes are prepared, and the taste of the food depends on its quality. When we talk about electric stoves, we mean free-standing stoves. If a person wants to integrate a stove into a kitchen set, the hob and oven are purchased separately.

How to choose an electric stove?

How to choose an electric stove? - video

Popular brands

Dream

Beko

Hansa

Darina

Gorenje

Bosch

Indesit

Electrolux

Number of burners

The standard number of burners on a typical electric stove is four, which is quite enough for a medium-sized family. Most often, two of them are made smaller. This allows you to save energy when cooking in small pots and pans.

• One or two. A small one- or two-burner stove is the best option for a small family or a bachelor. In addition, such a stove will certainly come in handy in the country. Usually these are compact tabletop stoves, but larger models are also available.
• Five six . Electric stoves with five or six burners will certainly come in handy for professional chefs, as well as amateur cooks who often prepare complex dishes.

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Size

Most electric stoves have standard dimensions: 60cm wide, 60cm deep and 85cm high. There are also models with a width of 50cm and 90cm, which may appeal to owners of small and spacious kitchens, respectively. In addition to floor (stationary) slabs, there are also tabletop slabs that can be easily moved from place to place.

The kitchen space will be incomplete if there is no stove in it. Residents whose homes are not connected to natural gas have little choice but to choose an electric stove. Others may decide which stove would be better for them, electric or gas. The parameters and characteristics of each model are different. Before choosing an electric stove for the kitchen, you should familiarize yourself with its main characteristics.

Types of electric stoves

There are many electric stoves for the kitchen on sale. They differ not only in appearance and functions. The main thing to distinguish is what heating principle is used in the stove. According to this parameter, several types of slabs are distinguished.

Traditional

In kitchens, the traditional type of stove appeared first. Their burners are popularly called “pancakes”. Heating occurs due to the passage of electricity through a conductor with high resistance. The burners in traditional stoves are made of cast iron, which withstands the impact of kitchen utensils. The advantages of this household appliance include:

• high reliability;
• affordable price;
• easy to use.

These qualities make traditional electric stoves very popular. Their popularity is not reduced even by such disadvantages as:

• high energy consumption;
• long warm-up time;
• It’s not easy to care for the work surface, especially near the pancakes.

Induction

A type of kitchen stove in which the bottom of a metal pan is used as a heater rather than a burner. This happens due to the induction of eddy currents into the bottom of the pot or frying pan by an inductance coil. Choosing an induction cooker offers a number of advantages:

• saving electricity;
• fast heating;
• additional safety (heating does not occur if there is no cookware on the burner);
• the ability to precisely adjust the heating level.

Induction cookers have an attractive appearance due to their working surface. This feature gives both pros and cons when using an electric stove. The surface is quite easy to clean, which is very convenient, but it is also quite easy to ruin. Accidentally dropping heavy dishes on the stove can significantly damage the surface. Also, consumers cite the high cost of an induction cooker and the need to use only cookware with ferromagnetic properties as a disadvantage.

Glass-ceramic

The operating principle of glass-ceramic stoves is similar to traditional ones. Thermal energy is created by a spiral or tape heater, which is covered with a glass-ceramic panel. It’s impossible to work at home, which is a definite plus. Other advantages include:

• the ability to smoothly change the temperature;
• You can use dishes of different diameters;
• acceptable heating speed;
• beautiful appearance of the electric stove.

Since the glass-ceramic surface is quite fragile, it can be damaged if handled carelessly. The coating does not withstand strong mechanical influences, from which it can be scratched or cracked. Therefore, it is not recommended to use dishes with a deformed or rough bottom, or to “throw” heavy pans and pots onto the surface.

There is a type of electric stove with a glass-ceramic surface that heats using halogen lamps. The high cost of halogen stoves for the kitchen makes them not very popular. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages are similar to conventional glass-ceramic stoves. Halogen ones benefit from faster heating, but are inferior in the shorter service life of the heating elements.

Main selection criteria

You can choose a good electric stove for the kitchen if you are confident in their technical characteristics. It is also better to immediately determine whether and what additional functions are needed in the stove. It is also important to take into account the characteristics of your kitchen, which largely determine the size of the stove.

Dimensions of electric stoves for the kitchen

The dimensions of the models are standardized, which greatly simplifies the choice. Widespread electric stoves with dimensions (WxD):

• 500x500 mm;
• 550x550 mm;
• 500x600 mm;
• 600x600 mm.

The height of electric stoves is usually 850 mm and can be adjusted within 20-30 mm by adjusting the support legs.

Power indicator

The power of an electric stove determines both the ease of use and the electricity consumption of the kitchen appliance. With high power, heating occurs faster and you can use more burners at the same time. Depending on the model, this figure is in the range of 1-3 kW. The most popular electric stoves are around 2-2.1 kW.

The energy consumption class of an electric stove depends on the power indicator. All models are divided into 3 classes and marked in Latin letters: A, B, C. Class A electric stoves are the most energy efficient. Energy efficiency is also influenced by the user. Using dishes with a smooth, flat bottom will increase the efficiency of the stove.

Work surface coating

You can choose the type of work surface coating if you decide to purchase a traditional type of stove. There are two options: enameled or stainless steel. Each has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Enameled coating on slabs with a low price. Its advantages: good resistance to impacts, wide range of colors. The downside of an enamel work surface is labor-intensive cleaning.

The stainless steel coating on electric stoves can be matte or glossy. The advantage of stainless steel is that it is easier to clean, but you need to use special products for this. The disadvantage of the coating is its high soilability, which quickly spoils the appearance of the stove.

Electric stove burners

The number of burners depends on the size of the electric stove. There are two- and six-burner models, but the most common are four-burner stoves. In the traditional form of electric stoves, the burners are cast iron. Depending on their purpose, they are divided into types:

• burners for everyday use that heat up within ten minutes;
• express burners, the heating time of which does not exceed seven minutes;
• burners with a temperature sensor that reduce power consumption after boiling water in the pan.

For user convenience, manufacturers mark the burners with color. Express is indicated by a red circle, burners with a built-in sensor are marked by a white circle.

Ceramic burners transfer heat to a monolithic work surface through special spirals. Ceramic ones heat up and cool down faster than cast iron ones. There are other types of burners:

• double-circuit - allows you to adjust the heating zone depending on the diameter of the dishes;
• oval - ideal for those who like to cook in various roasting pans and other utensils of non-standard shape;
• Grill burner - allows you to cook with minimal addition of oil;
• Fry-top - are characterized by good heating uniformity due to their greater thickness.

Types and features of ovens in electric stoves

Ovens in electric stoves generate heat due to electric heaters installed inside. Electric ovens cope better with culinary tasks in many ways. Additional functions, of which electric ovens can have a lot, will also be good helpers in cooking.

There are two types of ovens in electric stoves: static and multifunctional. Inexpensive models of electric stoves have a static oven. Multifunctional ones are more expensive, but provide more options when preparing dishes. Typically, static ovens have a pair of heaters installed. One is located at the top and the other at the bottom. Together, they ensure uniform heating of the oven’s interior.

For convenience, it is better to choose an electric stove whose oven is equipped with telescopic guides for extending the baking sheet. There are models with the ability to connect to a hood. By choosing this option, soot and grease fumes will settle less on the inner walls of the oven and enter the kitchen, which will significantly reduce its contamination.

Useful features

There can be many functions and capabilities in electric ovens, from simple backlighting, door locking and timer, to more interesting ones.

1. Rotisserie. Found in many electric stoves and used for cooking large pieces of fish or meat.
2. Forced convection. Convection is the natural movement of heated air masses that occurs in any oven. The forced convection oven is equipped with a fan that accelerates air circulation, which ensures better heating of the prepared food.
3. Infrared grill. Heating occurs using a halogen lamp, which allows the prepared food to retain more nutrients and qualities. Using an infrared grill additionally allows you to save electricity consumption by the oven.
4. Temperature probe. A special temperature sensor that is inserted directly into the dish being prepared and allows the oven to automatically adjust the heating level depending on the degree of readiness of the food.
5. Pre-installed baking programs (presets). Allows you to select the desired baking mode for various dishes and baked goods in one touch.

The cleaning functions make it easier to care for your oven. In inexpensive electric stoves it is also found. Each has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. In electric stoves, ovens with catalytic cleaning are covered with a special coating that absorbs grease fumes and splashes in a special way. After baking, just wipe the oven walls with a napkin to remove dirt. Pyrolysis-based cleaning works differently. Contaminants are removed from the oven walls by heating to a temperature of 500 degrees.

Best Electric Stove Manufacturers

Many manufacturers produce a wide range of electric stoves. Brands from the middle price range are more popular among consumers: Hansa, Bosch, Hotpoint-Ariston, Electrolux, Ardo, Gorenje, Whirpool, Zanussi. Among the inexpensive electric stoves that have proven themselves well are: Darina, Candy, Hephaestus, BEKO, Mechta, Indesit. It should be noted that when choosing an electric stove, you should pay attention to the manufacturer last. It is better to choose an electric stove based on the characteristics, functions and capabilities of this household appliance that you need.

All manufactured electric stoves have sufficient reliability and a long service life. Of course, the possibility of electric stove failure cannot be completely ruled out, so it is important to pay attention to the duration of warranty service.

Advantages and disadvantages of electric stoves

If your home does not have domestic gas, then there are no other options left but to choose an electric stove. If there is natural gas in the house, many do not know exactly what to choose - a gas or electric stove. You can decide if you know the main advantages and disadvantages of technology. The advantages of electric stoves include:

• good level of safety compared to gas;
• easy operation;
• a wide range of models, allowing you to find a stove that is ideal for any kitchen interior;
• special, different for the better, taste qualities of the prepared food.

The disadvantage of electric stoves is their high energy consumption. True, it is compensated by a special tariff for electricity if the house is not gasified. Therefore, if “we have gas in our apartment...”, then choosing an electric stove instead of a gas stove can significantly increase payments for electricity.

After weighing all the pros and cons of each option, you can easily determine for yourself which is best. When deciding to choose an electric stove for the kitchen, be guided by its characteristics. This approach will allow you to purchase a decent and easy-to-use model that will last a long time.

The natural desire of every housewife who is engaged in arranging and remodeling a kitchen is to choose a good stove. A lot in the house depends on this household appliance: the quality of the prepared dishes, the time needed for cooking, the safety of family members, etc. If a small child lives in the house, you should opt for an electric stove, because the degree of safety higher than that of gas stoves. Also, using such a stove, there is no open fire in the house, and oxygen is retained in the room.

Before choosing an electric stove for the kitchen, you should worry about its correct connection in advance. If we take as an example the average power of full-sized household appliances - 4-5 kW, then it is not difficult to provide a cable supply with grounding and an appropriate socket.

An electric stove is an integral part of any type of kitchen: small, medium or large. Every year more and more manufacturers of such advanced equipment are producing.

Induction hob

All new electric stoves are so diverse in their design and technical characteristics that sometimes choosing a stove is quite a big problem. On the product market you can see both traditional appliances with cast iron burners and modern designer products.

When choosing a product, you need to decide: which electric stove can you choose? What additional functions should it have? How often will it be used for its intended purpose? What is more important in an electric stove: its technical functions or its beautiful appearance?

The most important point when buying a stove for the kitchen is its size. It doesn’t matter here whether you need a gas stove with an electric oven or an electric stove model - the dimensional characteristics of all stoves are the same. Today there are standard dimensions of slabs. They are related to the standard sizes of kitchen furniture. The height of the electric stove is 85 cm, the depth is about 50-60 cm. Today, for the sake of convenience, models are made with legs that can be adjusted to the required height. Such slabs can be aligned with the size of the kitchen countertop.

compact induction hob

The width of electric stoves ranges from 50 to 90 cm. The most popular stoves today are the following sizes: 50*50 cm, 50*60 cm, 55*55 cm, 60*60 cm. Such electric stoves are perfect even for a small one-room apartment .

Hob materials and functions

• Enamel.
• Glass ceramics.

The standard option is enamel coated slabs. These coatings have been around for decades, which is why many women prefer these surfaces. Precisely because enamel slabs are much cheaper, buyers rarely pay attention to other, but no less important, details. But in vain. After all, enamel is difficult to care for and scratches appear on it over time. Although, if you wipe the stove thoroughly with the least amount of contamination, not allowing the grease to “absorb” and dry out, then you may not notice any difficulties with the enamel coating. The advantage of such a plate is that it is available in a wide range of colors.

glass ceramic hob

Today, an electric stove with a glass-ceramic surface is considered improved. It heats up quite quickly and is resistant to high temperatures overnight. Interesting: if you turn on the desired burner to warm up, then the hob, which is located a few centimeters from it, remains completely cold. The glass ceramic surface is easy to clean. Outwardly she looks very attractive.

Glass-ceramic hobs are generally equipped with electronic controls and residual heat indicators. Thus, they indicate that the burners are hot and you need to be careful not to get burned. Models of stoves in the expensive segment have burners with automatic boiling and switching them off using a timer.

glass-ceramic hob is subject to increased contamination

Additional advantages of electric stoves with glass-ceramic coating:

• On a flat stove surface, the pan will not be able to tip over;
• A huge range of burner types with different functions.

Disadvantages of stoves with glass-ceramic surfaces:

• Very low sides at the edges of the slab. They are approximately the same height as the surface of the slab itself. If something “escaped” from the pan, you will need to wash the entire stove and even the floor;
• Only dishes with a perfectly flat and smooth bottom should be placed on a stove with such a coating;
• Glass ceramics, although durable, is “afraid” of pinpoint impacts.

Types of burners

Electric stoves can be equipped with 1-6 burners. The burners differ in the type of heating. Enameled devices use flat thermoelectric heating elements. They use sporos because they are easy to use and reliable. This is due to the fact that cast iron products retain heat well, they have a high durable surface and are almost not “afraid” of mechanical damage. Cast iron burners do not require special care and do not cause any worries to the owner.

There are 3 types: standard, high power and automatic products. Express burners are used for quick heating; they are marked with a “red circle”. The advantage is that it heats up completely in 7 minutes. Standard ovens heat up within 10 minutes. Automatic models are marked with a “white circle”. They have a sensor that “can” detect temperature. The burners detect when the water boils and reduce the power so that the liquid does not spill out of the pan.

induction express burners

Glass-ceramic products are distinguished by a wide range of functional features and operation. They differ in burners (halogen, induction and standard).

Others are heated by a spiral that is mounted inside the product. Because of this, they heat up slowly and also cool down. Hi-Light devices are popular today. Their heating element is a corrugated tape. With its help, the surface heats up much faster. It takes them 3 seconds to heat up. Their power can be adjusted steplessly.

But halogen burners (Halo Light) are recognized as the most effective. This burner is based on a halogen element. It can turn on and off instantly.

Induction burners are significantly different from all the other burners already mentioned. The heating element in them immediately heats up, and only then the heating zone of the hob. And after all this, the bottom of the pan begins to heat up. Induction burners begin to heat the bottom immediately; the hob does not heat up at this time.

A special induction unit is mounted under the glass-ceramic panel. It gives off electromagnetic radiation. It passes through the bottom of the pan and heats it up. But this principle only works when the dishes have a bottom with ferromagnetic properties. To do this, you need dishes made of stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron with a ferromagnetic bottom. Cookware made of copper or heat-resistant glass is not suitable for use on induction cookers.

The shapes and heating zones of glass-ceramic surfaces are very diverse. They can be round or oval-shaped, with or without an expanding zone. The peculiarity of glass-ceramic stoves is that the bottom of the cookware must fully correspond to the size of the burners. For this purpose, manufacturers produce burners in which the working area can be changed. This allows you to use a large number of different utensils. Then for a small saucepan it is permissible to turn on only the inner part of the heating zone. For larger pans, you can use the outer part.

Burners with non-traditional shapes are also made: for example, oval. It turns on an additional part of the heating element. This is how the burner turns from round to oval. These comfortable oval burners are great for cooking in roasting pans and fish dishes.

Today's improved burners allow you to cook food safely, quickly, using utensils of different shapes. Modern burners allow you to adapt to one or another dish.

A special feature of glass-ceramic burners is that the bottom of the cookware used must clearly fit the size of the burner.

The presence of an oven with its technical characteristics plays a vital role when choosing a stove, despite the fact that a stand-alone oven is easy to find on the modern appliance market.

Classification of ovens:

• multifunctional;
• static.

Static plates have low cost, but also fewer functions for the user. Therefore, it is worth choosing a stove based on the optimal ratio of price and functions of the device. Pay attention to the heating elements when choosing and their location in the device. They ensure uniform browning of food.

static oven

Multifunction ovens have a completely different operating principle. In such an oven, hot air is evenly distributed over the entire area using a built-in fan. Now you don’t have to worry about the dough products being raw inside and fried on top. In these ovens, like in a microwave oven, you can defrost food, as well as prepare steamed dishes, pizza and grill.

Not so long ago, when baking products in the oven, housewives had to endlessly turn the baking sheet so that nothing would burn. Today this is no longer necessary, because new ovens are equipped with a convection function.

The “grill” is the top heating element of the oven. It helps to prepare products and products with a beautiful golden crust. When a spit is provided in the kit, you can cook chicken evenly fried on all sides.

"Smart" technology

Many models are equipped with an electronic control type. There are also high-tech options with a built-in LCD display and sufficient memory. With such a stove, you just need to put in all the products, enter their weight and determine what dish you need to cook. Enter all data into the memory menu. The oven will do the rest itself. It will track the temperature, duration and degree of readiness of the dish. If you still have doubts, you can use a probe and check the temperature inside the food being prepared.

When choosing a stove, you should pay attention to how to clean the oven if it gets dirty. Mid-priced equipment considers catalytic oven cleaning and pyrolysis. The essence of catalytic cleaning is that the walls of the oven are covered with enamel, which absorbs fats. After cooking the food, you can simply wipe the oven with a cloth to clean it.

This is how you clean a dirty oven surface using pyrolysis: heat the surface to 500 degrees and the dirt will burn off on its own.

Slab design options

Many manufacturers are developing interesting models that interest buyers with unusual requirements. For example, a compact version of a stove with an oven, comparable in size to a microwave oven. Such a baby is quite easy to move if necessary, and can be taken to the dacha in the summer.

For small-sized apartments, the most thoughtful manufacturers have developed household appliances for the kitchen, which combine three functions: a hob, an oven and a small dishwasher.

Energy consumption of stoves

Economical energy consumption is very important for electric stoves. Class A models work economically, despite the intense heating mode, and allow you not to worry about electricity bills. Moreover, class A electric stoves are more productive: they heat up and cool down quickly, without spending a lot of energy on the heating process.

Electric stove safety

Many modern models of electric stoves have a child safety feature. She turns off the stove when no adults are home. Ovens have a safety feature. They have doors with double or triple glass, so the outer glass does not heat up, and the inhabitants of the house are protected from possible burns.

Childproofing for electric stoves

Additional functions

• Backlight. Needed to watch the cooking process;
• With the steam removal function, the control knobs do not get dirty and do not heat up;
• The tightness of the door is necessary so that less heat evaporates outside the oven itself;
• Pull-out cart for convenience;
• A timer is needed to turn the oven on and off at the designated time. Also signals the end of the process;
• Memory for remembering aspects of the preparation of certain products (cooking time, temperature conditions);
• The heat indicator will remain illuminated until the oven has cooled to a certain (safe) temperature;
• Automatic detection of metal utensils. The burner will only be able to heat the pot or pan standing on it;
• Water boiling control. In this case, the “technique” will ensure that the liquid does not spill onto the stove when boiling.

Nuances of choosing a slab:

• Determine the size of the electric stove;
• Determine the optimal price for yourself;
• Decide between enamel and glass ceramics;
• When choosing the type of hob, decide on the burners;
• Decide on the type and necessary functions of the electric stove;
• Decide whether you will buy additional cookware specifically for the stove.

Which electric stove should you buy so that the choice does not disappoint?

Modern stoves, of course, surprise with their design and variety. But in this difficult matter there is no need to be guided purely by the desire to decorate your kitchen with a red, green or mother-of-pearl novelty. It is much more important that the new stove is easy to use, durable and has the necessary set of characteristics that will allow you to realize your desires, and housewives will be able to surprise and bring joy to their household with their favorite culinary masterpieces.