The main types of electric stoves for the home
Choosing an electric stove for the kitchen is not always an easy task. The buyer is faced with a huge choice when choosing an electric stove. The types of electric stoves are divided into several categories, in order to find the right option, you need to understand a little about this issue..
The choice of an electric stove must be approached with all seriousness..
How to choose an electric stove
Today it is impossible to find a single detailed classification of electric stoves. However, whatever the electric stove is, the first step is to prepare a special outlet for this household appliance. All electric stoves are connected to a single unified power source. The wiring in the house must fully match the electrical appliances, withstanding the load of the stove.
The appearance of the hotplates can be as follows:
- protruding cast iron pancakes;
- glass ceramic heating surface.
There are plates with two types of comforts.
It is quite simple to distinguish between them. Cast-iron pancakes protruding upward rise on small pedestals, and the latter have a smooth glass surface.
Classification by type of installation
All electric cookers can be divided into three large categories according to their structural type:
- Portable. Usually small tiles have one or more heating zones. Most often used as temporary solutions in summer cottages, or during repairs.
- Built-in hobs. They integrate well with any kitchen set. They look very impressive and modern.
- Classic cookers come with the oven, have a massive appearance and are heavy in weight.
The size of the electric stove will depend on the number of combs..
The number of hotplates affects the size of the appliance. Standard cookers can have from three to eight burners. Classic electric stoves can be full-sized or narrow. It should be well understood: the smaller the hob area, the fewer heating zones (burners) there will be..
Varieties of electric stoves
The modern household appliances market offers electric cookers with various functions, unique designs, individual colors or sizes. In order for the stove to delight guests with delicious dishes or aromatic pastries for a long time, you must make the right choice. What kind of slabs are there in terms of their design features? Consider further.
Standard
An important electrical appliance in a house without a gas pipeline. A huge number of different models will allow you to make a choice that suits any homeowner.
Electric cooker standard.
Electric current flows through the tubular electric heaters. Electric heaters are located under each hotplate and generate heat energy. In other words, the Spirals under the hotplates are heated by an electric current. Heat is evenly distributed to all nearby objects.
In classic slabs, current flows through a high-resistance conductor, at which time the conductor generates heat..
Glass ceramics
The glass ceramic work surface is smooth, mirrored and looks very stylish. In such stoves, the burners are marked with a special contour..
The heating element acts as a transmission link, heats up instantly and also cools down quickly. Heat heats up the cookware by passing through the glass surface of the stove. Glass-ceramic has a unique property and has the best thermal conductivity in the vertical position. Thanks to this property, dishes heats up better than a glass surface..
Glass ceramic hob.
Advantages of glass-ceramic plates:
- The glass has an attractive design and high strength. Can handle containers up to 70 liters.
- Changing the size and shape of the burners, in some models, makes cooking much easier.
- An even supply of heat in the oven is ensured by placing several heaters along the inner perimeter.
- The absence of irrational heat losses makes this technique economical.
Main disadvantages:
- It is better to select dishes with a dark, smooth matte bottom without bends and potholes..
- The low sides of the glass-ceramic plates will not be able to prevent the “escaped” liquid. You will have to remove such liquid from the floor..
- On impact, a crack is formed and the hob is damaged..
- Such plates require special care. It is forbidden to wash food leftovers with metal sponges or other objects, with the exception of a special scraper..
The glass-ceramic hob does not take up much space and can be combined with any design.
When choosing glass ceramics, it is important to consider the following points:
- The ranges can be equipped with three types of burners: halogen, induction or rapid. Induction by right are the best.
- Different cooking zone powers save energy better. Consequently, only the required amount of energy is expended for each diameter of the burner..
- Reinforced sealing of ovens prevents heat loss. And some of them can even cleanse themselves..
- It will be convenient to have useful functions such as programming specific dishes, timer, boiling control in automatic mode..
Halogen
The spiral tubes inserted into the hob surface and filled with halogen vapors heat up the hotplate almost instantly. Halogen vapors emit infrared radiation that heats the cookware when an electric current passes through it. With such plates, you can use absolutely any dish..
Halogen hob with one bezel.
The burners in these ranges emit a soft red light. The chef can easily change the power of each burner separately during cooking.
However, such plates have some features during operation:
- Surface scratches can cause the entire device to malfunction.
- The surface is afraid of sugar and other bulk materials.
- The plate is not protected against point damage. Cracks that appear immediately cause the entire slab to malfunction.
- Do not wash the halogen surface with a dirty cloth.
- Hard rags and scouring pads can damage the hob.
- It is strictly forbidden to turn on the stove without dishes..
- Before preparing food, make sure that the bottom of the pan is absolutely clean..
Induction
Such plates are gaining more and more popularity in Europe. They will fit beautifully into any interior, their ease of use greatly facilitates food preparation. A wide range of models, from small-sized models for one burner to full-fledged large stoves, opens up space for choice even for the most sophisticated buyer.
Induction hob in the kitchen.
Eddy induction currents are generated by a high-frequency magnetic field and heat the cookware. This approach to heating dishes eliminates heat leakage, which makes these stoves as economical as possible..
Such heating reduces energy consumption by quickly heating the dishes without losing additional heat to heat the hob.
The main advantages of such a device include the following features:
- Intelligent features make this device practical and durable.
- Energy saving occurs not only due to the heating of specific dishes, but also due to the automatic shutdown of the hob after removing the dishes.
- Such plates have increased safety. It is impossible to get injured or burned, because induction currents only heat the bottom of the cookware.
- Dust does not adhere to the panel, which makes it easier to maintain the stove and does not require special devices to keep such a device clean.
For the induction hob, you need to purchase a special ceramic paste so that the surface is not scratched.
The main disadvantages of an induction hob include the following factors:
- Together with such a stove, only special dishes should be used. The burner will not react to porcelain, brass, glass, copper and ceramics.
- Refrigeration equipment nearby adversely affects the operation of the stove..
- Models with one common frequency generator will lose power if multiple cooking zones are used at the same time.
- Working from the mains, the stove creates a high load on the wires. Dangerous in houses with old wiring.
When choosing an induction hob, you should pay attention to the following points:
- The required number of modes for power adjustment.
- If there are small children in the house, you should choose a model with a control panel lock.
- Be sure to test and choose a convenient way to control the stove for yourself: magnetic, slider or touch.
- Determine in advance the size and location of the burners.
An induction hob is a great option for families with children.
Heating surface material
When choosing an electric stove, you need to pay special attention to the material of the heating surface. It is the type of heater that will determine energy consumption, cooking speed and types of utensils for cooking..
Cast iron
Together with spiral heating elements, models with pancakes burners are often equipped with cast iron pancakes. Such installations always rise above the main surface of the slab. These elevations can create some inconvenience: overturning of dishes, difficulties during cleaning. Also, such elements are not famous for their durability, because a point mechanical shock can easily split cast iron, which is not famous for its high strength..
Electric hob with cast iron heating surface.
However, cast iron is unpretentious to the dishes used. No matter what material you use for cooking, the result will always be the same.
Cast iron electric stoves belong to a low price category, and can be sold significantly lower than other models. But the power consumption of such stoves is the highest. They cannot be called economical..
Hi-Light
The tape heater is made of a special alloy with good thermal conductivity. Using too much energy, such a device will quickly heat the bottom of the pan. The advanced technology has not received widespread distribution and is strongly inferior to induction panels..
Electric cooker with hi-light surface.
Halogen
Halogen heaters are the fastest heaters of all types. They have an average power consumption. Sufficiently reliable heating devices have a minimum number of complaints from users.
Halogen Heating Stove.
Induction
Induction heating elements differ from their competitors in a completely different principle of operation. In other stoves, the teng transfers heat to the hotplate, which heats the dishes. The induction heating element, using a magnetic field, heats the bottom of the cookware directly, bypassing the hob. This approach has brought out two main advantages: economical energy consumption, as well as a sufficiently cold hob during cooking..
Today induction hobs are very popular..
However, only a special magnetic cookware will help to cook food on such a stove. In this case, the main distinguishing fact is that the entire bottom should be magnetised. Such plates have the highest price tag among their competitors..
Combined heaters
Taking apart in detail all types of electric stoves, the combined hobs cannot be missed. Completely different types of heating can be combined. An electric stove may also have a gas burner. Typically, these slabs are divided into two zones. Each zone has its own type of heating.
Combined heat cooker.
Such models gain their popularity due to their versatility. The most common option is to combine ceramic hobs with an induction hob. Induction hobs are characterized by low consumption and safety, plus fast heating. The ceramic hob, although hot, can be used with any cookware. Thanks to which you do not have to immediately change all the dishes.
By type of oven
All ovens, regardless of design features, are divided into two broad categories: electric and gas. Current trends dictate the market trend for an electric oven. Does this mean that gas is a thing of the past??
By the type of oven, two types of electric stoves differ.
First of all, you need to understand that regardless of the source of heating energy, the oven is a metal chamber with ventilation holes. The distance between the chamber and the cabinet walls is filled with a heat insulator.
Any oven transfers heat from the energy source to the object being processed in a non-contact way. All ovens are distinguished by the type and number of heaters that can be placed at the top, bottom, sides, and sometimes everywhere at the same time.
With electric oven
The electric oven is heated by electric heating elements, which can be located anywhere around the perimeter of the oven. There may be several tens. This type of oven is easy to operate and maintain, relatively inexpensive and most common among users. As a rule, most electric combi cookers are equipped with an electric oven..
Stove with electric oven.
Combined
A gas oven uses flammable gas. By changing the gas flow, you can change the temperature inside the oven. A constant flow of air is required for good functioning. Air combines with gas, resulting in a flame.
Some manufacturers have begun to understand the benefits of combining gas and electricity, so they equip their ovens with several heating options at once. For example, a gas grill is more difficult to operate, but it greatly affects the taste of the prepared dish for the better..
Stove with combination oven.
These options are more expensive and more difficult to maintain, but provide more room for creativity for the chef..
Form and design
Modern technologies make it possible to produce electric stoves with an impeccable appearance. Smooth surfaces, lack of unnecessary details, beautiful and modern shapes – all this allows you to embed plates in almost any design interior of the kitchen.
The glass ceramic hob can be painted in any color, and the ability to paint a unique pattern on it gives it a unique style.
The slab should match the overall interior design.
Classic stoves do not stand out for their shapes or design, however, with their neat appearance they can decorate any cozy kitchen, and even a Hi-Tech interior..
Stationary slabs are not at all creative, their use in the modern world fades into the background.
Helpful tips for choosing
Choose an electric stove after a completely finished kitchen interior. Only in this order is it possible to guarantee the complete and beautiful embedding of the future electrical appliance into the interior of the room..
When choosing an electric stove, first of all, decide what type it will be: built-in, classic or glass-ceramic?
Pay particular attention to the heating element. Induction heating elements are gaining more and more popularity, however, they will require a complete replacement of the dishes. In this case, cookers with a combined heating element are the best alternative..
Modern options for electric stoves can withstand up to 70 liters.
It is also better not to ignore the structure and material of the hob. For example, cast iron hobs have hobs on a hill. This arrangement is not very convenient when cooking: the pan may turn over or the cast iron may crack if used carelessly..
When choosing glass or glass ceramics, check the maximum weight that can be placed on the surface. Modern slabs can hold volumes up to 70 liters. However, it is better to check this question with the seller..
The period of warranty service, as well as the cost of post-warranty service, is an important factor when choosing an electric stove..