How to choose a built-in electric hob: expert advice on built-in devices and what to look for when buying
Not all houses, even apartment buildings, have a central gas supply. There are people who use electric stoves for personal reasons, considering them more convenient and safer to use. Under all these conditions, purchasing an induction hob will be correct. The advantage of the device is significant savings in electricity, as well as the speed of cooking.
Choosing an induction hob: what to look for
One of the main advantages of induction cookers is their ability to save energy. The efficiency of such a stove is ninety percent, while all others (gas and conventional electric) do not exceed 60%. This depends on the operating characteristics of the induction cooker. The fact is that it works due to magnetic induction: the coil, through electromagnetic waves, heats the dishes themselves, and not the surrounding space around them. Those. all the energy spent goes into work, and is not dissipated aimlessly - energy losses are reduced to almost zero.
Operating principle of an induction hob
It is extremely difficult to get burned on such a stove; moreover, during cooking (even for a long time), the air in the kitchen does not warm up.
Operating the hob is extremely easy. There are many different cooking modes, even for the simplest - single-burner. If something escapes from the pan, you won’t have to scrub it for a long time - food won’t stick to such cooking surfaces.
The cost of this type of stove is quite high, but its popularity is still growing. If a high-quality one-burner can be bought for 4,000-6,000 rubles, then a two-burner can cost 8,000-12,000, and a four-burner can’t be found for less than 20,000 rubles.
Leading manufacturers
At the moment, almost all household equipment is manufactured in China. However, well-known brands are much more attentive to the quality of their products. In addition, there are many Chinese manufacturers producing quite high-quality products.
| Brand | Product advantages |
| VENTOLUX | A diverse range of models, aesthetic appearance, practicality and ease of maintenance, safety. |
| PERFELLI | High quality materials and workmanship, thoughtful ergonomics of hobs, increased burner area. |
| KAISER | High efficiency of heating elements, energy efficiency and energy saving, security and control system, wide selection of standard sizes. |
| Electrolux | Ease of control and high accuracy of maintaining specified modes, a wide range of models with many modifications, safety of use, and the presence of an automatic shutdown system. |
| Gorenje | Affordable price, wide range of models, thoughtful ergonomic design, intuitive controls. |
| Beko | Aesthetic appearance, resistance of the surface material to external influences, the use of several safety systems, protection against overvoltage and short circuit. |
| Bosch | High quality products, reliability and durability, the use of technological innovations, a wide range of models. |
| PYRAMIDA | Material quality control, various operating modes, extensive model range. |
| Candy | Elegant appearance and ergonomic design, ease of operation, high reliability and safe operation. |
How to choose an induction cooker: review of models
How to choose a built-in electric hob? It is worth paying attention to the manufacturer. In stores you can already find brands that have shown their best side and can be trusted. The most popular are:
- Zanussi;
- Bosch;
- Virpol;
- Samsung;
- Electrolux;
- Hansa and others.
It is best to look at online reviews of them from users who have already purchased this product before purchasing. The forums will answer the question “How to choose a built-in electric hob.” The least trustworthy are reviews on the websites of online stores themselves and manufacturers' websites.
If you see a hob at a reduced price, and its manufacturer is unknown to you, then you should think twice before purchasing. Caution in such a matter is very important; it’s easy to buy, but returning it later and proving that the slab was defective will take a lot of time.
If you ask a search engine the question: “How to choose an induction hob, reviews,” it will give you the Yandex Estimates resource for a variety of stove models. We took the three most popular ones from there.
Model Electrolux IPE 6440 KX
It has four burners, the top part is glass-ceramic, the installation of such a panel is independent, and the control is touch-sensitive. Its difference is that it is especially thin. The work area does not heat up, so you can wipe it even while food is being prepared if necessary. There is an instant heating function. The residual heat indicator is installed. The timer is adjustable, and there is also a sound signal notifying you when the burner is turned off, each of which is controlled separately. Child protection is provided.
Judging by the reviews, this model is low noise, the kettle heats up at the same speed as an electric one, and it uses electricity very economically. The design is stylish, will fit into any interior, there is a metal frame around the perimeter.
The disadvantages include the rather high price.
Bosch PUC631BB1E
This hob has three burners; the installation, as in the previous version, is independent. Touch control, glass ceramic coating. The burners have different sizes: 14.5, 18, 24 centimeters. There is a fast heating function. The edges of the panel are beveled and the design is elegant. There is a timer, which makes cooking easier. There is also a residual heat indicator and child protection.
Its advantages include the presence of a large burner, a loud beep that can be heard in the next room, low noise operation, and high cooking speed. The disadvantages are the inability to turn on one burner with a single press.
Electrolux EHH 93320 NK
This model has two burners and is suitable for a small family. The installation is independent - which means you can install it in any convenient place as long as there is an outlet. The panel control is touch-sensitive, heat indication is strictly in the heating zone. There is protection against children. The surface is glass ceramic.
Its dimensions are small - compact. The burners have the same diameter – 180 mm. There is a quick heating function, the cord is 110 mm long.
It’s convenient that the control buttons for each burner are located separately; the disadvantage is the short wire.
Mechanics or sensor?
Depending on the type of control, kitchen hobs are:
- mechanical;
- sensory.
The touch independent electric hob is easy to clean, just wipe it. Convenient location of various indicators: power on, blocking, extended zone activation, memory, additional functions. A built-in panel with touch control saves space because its area is smaller than a mechanical one.
However, an independent touch plate has one drawback: in the event of a breakdown, it is difficult to find and repair the fault.
How to choose and what to pay attention to?
If you ask yourself: how to choose a built-in induction hob, then first of all you need to pay attention to the nuances specific to this type of household appliance. There are not very many of them, but they are all important.
Controller type
The controls on the control panel may rise slightly above the surface; this option is not always convenient, since they will have to be cleaned.
The most practical control method is touch panels. There are also slightly raised buttons above the surface, which are rolled up under the general plastic, which is also practical to use.
Number of burners
The number of burners on stoves can vary: from one to six. At the same time, with their number, the functionality of the hob itself increases. Stoves with a large number of heating elements are suitable for families where there is a lot of cooking involved. You can also choose a tile with a common heating zone, where there are no burners as such, and the pan is placed anywhere on the hob, and smart equipment automatically turns on the heating under it without affecting the rest of the surface. The most popular options at the moment are hobs with two or four heating elements.
The size of the burners and their shape can be any. The first indicator plays a decorative role and does not in any way affect the operation of the stove. Whether the burner is round or diamond-shaped, square or triangular - all these stoves will produce the same efficiency and level of work. But the size of the burner affects heating: heating elements of different diameters are usually located on one hob. As is clear, they are designed for dishes of different sizes, so before purchasing, think about what kind of dishes you have and what size its bottom is. Turning on the burner and heating it will be possible only if the dishes occupy about 70% of its total area. In principle, finding a hob with the required size of burners is now not difficult.
Panel material
Most often you can find slabs where the material from which the top panel is made is glass ceramics. A little less common is simply tempered glass.
Glass ceramics are cheaper and have good strength. But the downside is that escaped jam will easily leave traces on the surface that cannot be washed off, like any sugar-containing liquids.
Tempered glass is much more fragile, but looks more interesting than the first option. In terms of price, such a stove will definitely be more expensive, but it is not afraid of scratches and boiled-off liquid.
The tile can also have a frame - a metal frame or simply an edge located at an angle. The first option will prevent the table or countertop from getting dirty with escaped food, and the second option is much easier to clean.
Panel color
The design of the hob is usually dark and fits well into the interior. Although you can find a slab with floral patterns, these are suitable for country or Provence style.
It is much less common to see light-colored or silver hobs. Dust, dirt, and stains are very noticeable on them - this makes them unpopular. Although cleaning them is not difficult - just walk over the surface with a damp cloth.
Dimensions
The number and shape of the burners will also change the size of the induction cooker itself. It can be in the form of a square, rectangular or even hexagonal. The size of the sides can be from 30 cm to one meter. It is clear that a stove with a width of 30 cm will not accommodate more than a couple of burners, but 90-100 cm will already accommodate four, five, or even six.
The surface thickness may vary: from 5-6 to 10 mm.
Dependent/independent
The hob can be of two types:
- dependent;
- independent.
The second option can be placed anywhere in the kitchen, like a regular stove. To operate, they only need an outlet and a flat surface, which makes it the most practical device.
Dependent or built-in - mounted on a countertop, they cost more, but look very impressive, creating a single monolith with the work surface.
They are no longer different from each other.
Classification by type of control
In addition to the energy source used, hobs are divided into separate types according to control methods and their types. The order of organization of the workplace where food preparation is carried out is also taken into account.
According to these indicators, there are the following groups of hobs:
- dependent;
- autonomous;
- sensory;
- push-button;
- mechanical.
Dependent surfaces are installed exclusively above the oven. Their management is interconnected. In most cases, their switches are mounted on the oven.
Autonomous, as their name suggests, are installed and operate completely separately from the oven.
The concept of touch panels is applicable only to induction and electric panel options. Working with such a panel is simple and can be done with a light touch of your finger. This device is much more practical and easier to maintain. It can simply be wiped with a damp sponge without touching the levers and control buttons.
Push-button panels provide for the presence of buttons directly on the structure or on the oven.
Mechanical panels are controlled by lever handles that rotate in both directions - a long-proven and reliable control method.
Additional functions
Many induction cookers have various additional features. They can make cooking much more convenient and enjoyable:
- Automatic protection - it is triggered during power surges, when there are no dishes on the stove, or when food boils over on the surface of the stove. Usually accompanied by a sound signal.
- The timer is a very convenient function; all induction cookers have it, even the simplest single-burner ones. You can set it to the required value and go about your business without fear that it will burn, boil over, or, even worse, completely boil away. After the timer switches off, a loud beep also sounds to indicate the end of cooking.
- Stove Heat Indicator: It can show the surface temperature of the panel with numbers or color signal. Informs when it is safe to touch the hob with your hand, for example to wash it. The stove heats up from the hot dishes that are placed on it.
- Many hobs have a "Fast Heat" or Turbo Boost mode. It allows you to boil water extremely quickly, delivering the maximum power available. The mode may also be called “Boiling”. If the stove has more than one burner, then when you turn on fast heating, the power level of the others noticeably decreases.
- On almost all induction cookers, power adjustment and control are possible. More advanced models have a function for remembering the mode of electricity consumption: at the beginning of operation, they are entered into the memory of the stove, and it will then independently adhere to the selected rate of electricity consumption.
- Heating function – if you don’t dine at the table all together, this is very convenient: the tile will maintain a slight heat, which will not allow the food on the stove to cool down.
- “Induction without boundaries” - this function has already been discussed above. Such stoves do not have marked burners and you can place the pan anywhere; smart household appliances will automatically turn on the required coil under it. The heating zone will exactly match the size of the cookware.
Type of surface material
Enamel
Enameled surfaces are considered the most affordable due to their low price and ease of maintenance. However, enamel-coated installations are not resistant to mechanical and thermal loads, as well as to the effects of various agents and rough materials.
Available in a wide range of color shades.
Enameled surfaces
Aluminum
Equipment made of aluminum is convenient and practical to use, and at the same time has an acceptable cost. Aluminum panels are resistant to mechanical and thermal loads, unlike enameled ones.
Aluminum coated
Tip: Aluminum is impact resistant, but can be scratched. When caring for an aluminum panel, it is not recommended to use abrasives.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel hobs are available to most buyers, despite the fact that their price is higher than enameled and aluminum ones. They are distinguished by their spectacular appearance, while being characterized by high strength and resistance to mechanical and thermal loads.
Among the disadvantages, one can highlight the fact that fingerprints and stains may remain on the steel surface.
Stainless steel
Glass ceramics
Glass-ceramic hobs are the most popular nowadays, although they are expensive. They have a modern design and have many advantages compared to panels made from other materials, including:
- absolutely flat surface;
- ease of cleaning;
- rapid heating of only the zone above the burner itself.
Glass ceramics
Useful: Glass ceramics require special care and cannot be cleaned with abrasives. Spilled liquid, especially one containing sugar, must be cleaned up immediately, otherwise it can destroy the surface structure and reduce its strength.
Strained glass
Enameled free-standing stoves with tempered glass inserts look no worse than glass-ceramic ones. The main care for such a surface consists of cleaning with mild products.
Like ordinary enameled ones, installations are distinguished by a variety of shades.
Strained glass
Reviews of the built-in electric hob
Electrical panel: characteristics, features
The choice of an induction cooker is influenced by the amount of time spent in the kitchen, the number of family members and other nuances. There is no point in buying a four-burner stove if you live alone or in a family of two people. If you are making a choice between a conventional electric stove and an induction one, remember that the second one is much more economical, and you will have to pay much less for electricity. If all the pots and pans have approximately the same size bottom, then it is easier to choose a hob with burners of the same diameter. If there are children in the family, protection from them is part of a set of mandatory functions.
Shape and number of burners
In addition to standard square and rectangular units, you can find complex shapes such as hexagon, oval, and angular.
The dimensions of the equipment are usually 50–60 cm in length and the same in width. There are reduced items from 27 cm and, conversely, enlarged items over 65 cm. It all depends on the number of burners.
The most convenient is the standard arrangement of burners: four zones, two of which are equipped with medium power, one with low power and one with increased power. But there are models of the same size, but with three heating areas.
For a small kitchen, two burners will be more convenient: one medium and one large, since they take up minimal counter space.
And for spacious rooms and those who like to cook a lot, it is better to take devices with five or six heating places. They are usually equipped with four standard models and one burner of an unusual shape, for example, oval.
There is also almost always an expansion of the heating zone, when one or more sections can increase their diameter, adapting to the pan.
There are also non-standard equipment:
- tandem electric and gas or induction hob, when several burners belong to the first option, and the remaining ones belong to the second option;
- the entire device is one large heating area, i.e. the dishes can be installed at any point;
- There are burners of a special configuration, for example, round recesses for a wok pan.
