Home appliances play a crucial role in the kitchen. Previously, the choice of instrument was not great, so their appearance and compatibility with harmonious interiors nobody attached no importance. Now the situation has changed, and customers access to a wide range of goods, various functions and designs. One of the leading places in the kitchen holds a plate or hob. The most popular are the gas and electric models, but the second option is considered to be the most functional and easy to use, as evidenced by the numerous reviews. Electric cookers have their pros and cons, features and diverse design that is easy to pick up for any style: modern, hi-tech, retro, country, etc.
A choice of plates is influenced by many factors. Firstly, it is the presence or absence of gas in the house. Second, if the main requirement is the reliability and fire safety, then, by all means, you should pay attention on the electric model. But also has its own electrical characteristics, for example, you must determine the type of surface (with cast iron hobs, ceramic glass or induction) to prepare the connection cable and the socket and etc.
Content
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Specifications
- Dimensions
- Energy consumption
- Control
- surface material
- types of burners
- ovens
- Hook Up Special Features
Advantages and disadvantages
Electric plate is convenient in operation, it is ideal for cooking various degrees of complexity, from daily meals to culinary delicacy. Before you make a choice in favor of it, should examine opinions about popular models and learn the advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
- No need for pipeline connection. Too many modern high-rise buildings do not have in stock the pipeline, so the only way out is to use an electric cooker.
- health safety. Electric is safer than gas, by removing the need to use gas. In addition, when working she does not burn oxygen, which means that a person will not experience headaches, even if you include all four burners. The presence of such plates allows the use of less powerful extract.
- Convenient and practical oven. Reviews indicate that, unlike gas models in the electric stove oven more functional and comfortable. In addition, it is much easier to clean.
- Easy to adjust temperature. The big advantage is no need to constantly monitor the displayed temperature. This process is supported automatically. Dish warms evenly, giving it more fast and efficient cooking.
Minuses:
- Cutlery and utensils. Electric plates require acquisition of special cookware with thick flat bottom (this applies to the glass-ceramic and induction patterns). Thus, less power is consumed because the relief of the bottom is heated much longer and, consequently, the cooking delayed.
- Not an easy installation. If you do not have experience in this matter, the self-produce an electric cooker installation is unlikely. Where you need the help of a specialist. In addition, it will be necessary beforehand to hold a special cable wiring and mount the socket, suitable for high load.
- The outage. Probably at least once in life, each faced with a sudden power outage. And if it happened at the wrong time, for example during cooking, there is a risk of going hungry.
- The cost of electricity. Gas in our country worth several times cheaper than electricity. Utility bills will rise significantly after installing appliance.
- Strict adherence to the rules of operation. Since such a plate - quite a serious instrument, requires more energy, when you work with it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions. This once again proves that the installation of plates, cables and sockets must engage a specialist, otherwise an incorrect installation may happen a fire or electric shock.
Specifications
When buying a home electric stove it is important to study the pre-reviews and ratings as well as get acquainted with the basic specifications and choose the most appropriate model for themselves. The first step is to determine the size, class power and control type.
Dimensions
Dimensions cookers selected depending on the number of persons in the family, as well as the size of the kitchen. Externally, it must meet the interior styles, from retro to high-tech, and well integrated into the kitchen.
First of all, you should pay attention to the width. It varies typically from 180 to 1900 mm. But standard sizes are considered to 500-600 mm. For lovers of cooking in large quantities, you can choose a model of 900 mm or more.
The next important parameter is the depth. Normally, it is equal to the depth of kitchen bollards - 600 mm. Thus, the technique will not stand out from the general type of cooking and organically fit into the surrounding space. There are also less deep plate, for compact spaces. Their size is 500 mm or even less.
The standard height of electric plates is 850 mm, but there are models both above and below this parameter. Each chooses a model, depending on convenience, focusing on their own growth.
Energy consumption
Electric stove can be called one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the kitchen. Typically, all models are divided into three classes, which are designated by letters - A, B, C. The most efficient appliances are labeled A.
Tip! To spend less energy and spend it more effectively, should acquire utensils for cooking with a perfectly flat bottom.
Control
Management type of electric ovens are divided into mechanical and electronic. Mechanical models retro accustomed for many buyers, as evidenced by reviews. Control Panel assumes that the rotary switches, with which you can enable or disable the device, adjust the temperature, set the power to set the time of operation, etc.
Electronic control type is not as common as mechanical, but it is considered to be more functional. Thanks to him, the cost of the plate will be slightly higher than the mechanical models. The panel has a screen that displays the selected parameters and the operating mode. Management can be a touch or use the arrow buttons. In fact, the operation of such devices is simple enough, but before using better read the instructions in detail.
surface material
Hob on which the burners, also plays an important role in the selection boards. There are three main types of material: enamel, steel, ceramic.
- Enamelled. This surface is the least expensive compared to others. It is strong enough and has different color schemes that allow you to pick the right model in any environment, including the retro style.
But numerous reviews except pros reveal significant drawbacks. For example, for enamel surfaces adhere well various contaminants that may be difficult to clean up. Over time it formed small scratches and some places even chipped, making it more difficult cleaning.
- Steel. Stainless steel is becoming increasingly popular in modern interiors. Most people like to surround themselves with things high-tech and functional furniture, and, therefore, high-tech style fits them perfectly. Plates with stainless surfaces are ideally suited to this style, they can be matte or glossy.
Steel model is much easier to clean than the versions with enameled surface, but also require regular cleaning, as they can see handprints. In addition, there will have to buy special detergents for plates made of stainless steel, which may or may not be cheaper.
- Ceramic. The most attractive and stylish surface of all of the above. Hobs of this material has long been proven in kitchens. Now, if you believe in the reviews, are gaining popularity detached slab of glass ceramics. They attract buyers for its design, perfectly flat and smooth surface, easy to care for.
The main function of ceramic burners is even and rapid heating, which means that the food is cooked much faster than plates made of stainless steel and enamel. The disadvantages are the high cost and the need to use special cookware with perfectly smooth bottom. Also unlike a metal surface, ceramic afraid blows and other mechanical damage.
types of burners
It is necessary to pay attention to themselves burners. It is important to take into account the number, type and variety. Burners are:
- Cast iron. It is the most common type of burners, preferably a round shape. They are usually used on enameled cooking surfaces, including on the plates in a retro style. Heating occurs through a spiral of nichrome, and to reach the desired temperature burners takes approximately forty seconds.
- Halogen. These burners operate at the expense of high-temperature spiral halogen lamp. When switched on, they glow red, heated instantly and cools down quickly. Cooker with halogen hob is not cheap, moreover, is not as common as the model with cast iron pancakes.
- Induction. The operating principle of the burners is the formation of vortex field in the induction coil. These boards are considered to be the safest of all, because in the process is heated not the surface itself, and only the dishes. If the stove is turned on and a pan or frying pan on it is missing, the burners will not heat up. Opting for induction hob, will have to buy a special dish that could be magnetized to it. Reviews of such plates for the most part positive, but the price can not be called cheap.
ovens
In addition to the cooking surface an important role in the design plays a plate oven. He also has a number of useful programs, the number of which is determined by the individual needs. So before you buy should be defined in advance with the necessary functions, read the reviews, not to overpay for those programs, which subsequently may not be useful.
At present only electric stoves elektroduhovye cabinets. Unlike gas, they are more functional and convenient to use, as well as better and easier to clean.
- Grill. Grill function is considered to be quite useful, especially for those who adhere to a healthy diet. The food in this case is prepared without the use of oil and grease. The electric oven grill may be of two types: electrical, and infrared.
Operation of the electric grill is much more accurate than the gas, due to the greater functionality. But infrared option allows the product to retain more nutrients and flavor. When heated using a halogen lamp, and also consumed less power.
- Convection. convection feature is also important when buying an electric cooker. Available inside the enclosure the fan causes air to continuously circulate inside, which ensures a uniform dish propekanie from all sides. In addition, convection allows you to cook on several levels.
- Rotisserie. This is optional, but rather a pleasant and useful addition to the electric stove. He usually comes with plates that have a grill function, as well as convection. With it you can cook barbecue, lump meat, fish or poultry.
- Lock the doors and lights. Lock - a very handy feature when there are small children in the house. It protects children from accidental burns. With the backlight can be observed for the dishes under preparation, without opening the oven door.
- Retractable trolley. Some models require the attachment plate of the pan, the pan or grill to the cabinet door. So, it reduces the risk of getting burned, moreover, it is useful when you want to check the dish on the willingness or pour its sauce.
- Timer. This is an optional feature on the touch panel, but quite useful. Timer controls the time necessary for preparing meals. It can beep at the end of cooking, or to automatically turn off the oven.
Hook Up Special Features
With self installation and connection of electrical panels, you first need to carefully examine the manufacturer's instructions. It is important to strictly follow all the advice and recommendations that subsequently there were no problems in the work of art.
First check apartment switchboard, more specifically, the cable coming from him to the apartment. Its cross section of copper must be at least 6 mm square. Three-core cable must be double insulated. Circuit breaker on the panel should be calculated on the current strength of not less than 32A and 40A and then.
In addition to the cable, it is necessary to choose the correct power outlet. It should be designed to force current to 32A and have three to five contacts. To connect the electric stove, requires two kinds of cables: three-core with the cross section 4 mm square and a flexible section 3 to 4 mm. The cable must be stripped, and the ends are crimped brass sleeves.
power cable in double insulation must be left in the public domain from the wall up to the plate, but at a distance of no more than two meters away from it. You can not use this cable to connect other electrical appliances.
Modern electric ovens hit a huge choice of design and functional features. In this case, the model can be performed not only in the traditional version, but in a retro style. Before you purchase one or the other instrument should be examined reviews of models and ratings of manufacturers, to determine the main characteristics: size, type of surface (enamel, ceramic or metal), a set of necessary functions and programs (grill, convection, and a timer etc.).