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Glass ceramic is one of the most popular materials in modern household appliances, today it is widely used in the manufacture of kitchen appliances. We will tell you about what glass-ceramic hobs are, list their main functions and give advice on how to choose the best option for your kitchen.
Advantages and disadvantages of a glass ceramic hob
Before choosing a glass-ceramic hob, familiarize yourself with its pros and cons.
Advantages:
- Little inertia. The surface heats up quickly and cools slowly, this property allows you to significantly save energy (for electric stoves).
- Effective appearance. Ceramic stoves look stylish, modern and easily fit into the kitchen interior of different styles.
- Low thermal conductivity. Ceramics are heated in a direction, not horizontally, but vertically, which better protects against the possibility of getting burned on the edge of the stove.
- Cooking speed. Energy is consumed only to heat the dishes, and not the entire area.
- High strength. Ceramics can withstand significant loads, commensurate with the fall of a saucepan weighing 2 kilograms from a height of half a meter. However, you should not load the stove with dishes with a total weight of more than 15 kg for the entire surface or 5 kg for one burner.
Flaws:
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- The glass-ceramic hob is vulnerable to point impacts. For example, dropping a metal spatula or knife can cause chips and cracks.
- The smooth glass-ceramic coating does not retain spilled liquid, it spreads both over the stove and over the countertop in which it is built. To remove this disadvantage, it is better to enclose the panel in a frame.
- For a glass-ceramic stove, you need to take special dishes with a completely flat bottom. Aluminum or copper cookware can leave marks and scratches. Thick-bottomed stainless steel works best. Before putting a pot or pan on the stove, you need to make sure that there are no embossed chips or soot on its bottom, any irregularities reduce the heating efficiency, and can also damage the ceramics.
- Ceramics are sensitive to temperature changes, so you can not put cold dishes on a hot burner, this can lead to damage to the material over time. For the same reason, it is dangerous to spill cold liquid on a hot burner.
- High purchase and repair costs compared to traditional electric and gas hobs.
TOP 3 best Bosch glass ceramic hob
- Bosch PKE645B17
- Bosch PRP6A6N70R
- Bosch PIE631FB1E
Varieties of glass-ceramic hob
Glass-ceramic hobs are divided into dependent and independent. Dependents are combined with an oven – this is a classic version of stoves. Many people prefer to take independent panels: they significantly save space in the kitchen and allow you to choose an oven and built-in surface from different manufacturers, but this option will cost more.
The choice will depend on the presence of gas in the house: gas or electric hob. Gas are divided into “gas on glass”, where the burners are located above the hob, and “gas under glass” – the burners are closed by the work surface. The second option is better to take, it wins both in terms of safety and appearance. The glass-ceramic gas hob combines all the usual qualities of a gas stove with modern features, stylish design and practicality in care. And among the electric ones, the following types can be distinguished:
- standard – with an electric spiral,
- hi-light – with tape heating elements made of an alloy with increased resistance,
- halogen – with ring-shaped halogen lamps,
- induction – with an induction coil as a heating element.
Only halogen and induction panels can compete with gas panels in terms of heating speed among electric ones, the rest are no longer relevant, they should not be taken.
In terms of shape and size, among built-in hobs there is a huge variety, eyes run wide: which one to choose. They can be classic square or rectangles elongated in a line, as well as in the form of polygons, rounded like a boomerang, angular for embedding in the corner of the kitchen. The number of burners can also be different, as well as their shape (round, oval, with or without expansion zones). The decision on which built-in appliances to take is determined only by the dimensions and features of your kitchen.
The design also provides a wide range of choices. The glass ceramic hob can be black, white, colored or even patterned. Dirt and chips are more noticeable on a black and white background, but creative design options are more expensive, which surface to choose depends on your taste and budget.
The control panel can be electromechanical (using handles) or touch. It is better to choose a touchscreen: it is easier to maintain, takes up less space relative to the entire work surface, and is easier to clean. Modern models are often equipped with an interactive color display that shows detailed information for each burner.
Useful Features
When choosing a glass-ceramic hob, pay attention to its capabilities, it will be right to choose a model with only the functions you need and not overpay for extra “bells and whistles”.
- “Stop” – allows you to turn off the device for a while (for example, if you need to move away from the stove).
- Auto Boil – Maximizes power to reduce heating rate, then reduces power to operating levels to prevent boilover.
- Residual heat indicator – will show the degree of cooling to a safe value.
- Blocking the electric touch panel or removable mechanical control knobs are relevant if there are small children or animals in the house that can accidentally turn on the stove.
- Detection of the presence of dishes – protects the glass-ceramic hob from running “idle” without dishes or with an empty pan (its weight is determined).
- Timer – allows you to set the required cooking time: after this time, the panel will notify you that the dish is ready and turn off automatically.
- “Record in memory” – the panel remembers the cooking modes of different dishes.
- Additional heating zone – for cooking dishes in wide or oversized dishes, for example, in a roaster.
- “Gas control” for a gas hob automatically turns off the gas supply to the burner if the flame goes out and the temperature drops below a certain value.
- A similar function for the electric stove – “Failure Control” – automatic shutdown in case of liquid getting on the control panel or detecting other malfunctions in the operation of the device.
- Defrost, quick reheat, keep warm – these functions expand the capabilities of the stove.
TOP 3 best Bosch glass ceramic hob
- Electrolux EHH 96340 XK
- Electrolux EHF 96547 XK
- Electrolux EHH 56340 FK
Caring for your glass ceramic hob
The glass-ceramic hob needs careful care. It is preferable to take only special cleaning products (although they are more expensive than universal household chemicals) and soft scrapers, which are usually included in the kit. It is strictly forbidden to use hard metal scourers or rags with dried crumbs on the glass-ceramic material. The cleaning agent after application is not washed off, but wiped with a clean cloth. Silicone components will protect glass ceramics from microdamage and contamination. An electric or gas glass-ceramic hob is much easier and more convenient to clean than an enameled surface: just remember how much effort it takes to clean burnt food at the base of pancakes.
If you accidentally spill sugar syrup, it must be wiped up immediately, otherwise, after solidification, it can be removed only by tearing off the top layer from the glass ceramic. To protect ceramics from damage and extend its service life, it is worth taking special films and gels. If you follow these tips and just take proper care of your kitchen helper, it will serve you for years to come.
Prices for glass-ceramic hobs
The cost directly depends on the prestige of its brand, the variety of characteristics, novelty, exclusivity of design. Taking a simple model of a well-known brand or a cooler analogue of an unfamiliar manufacturer is a moot point, it is better to ask for reviews. There is plenty to choose from for every taste and budget.
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