Over the past decade, electric cookers have begun to overtake conventional gas-powered models in popularity. While the good old blue-flame burners still work well for the benefit of mankind, electric devices offer greater safety and more flexible work surfaces in comparison. Another pressing factor is that many new buildings do not have gas supply. So, you are about to install a new kitchen or undergo a major renovation with replacing the stove. How much space will an electric home fire take up?
What types of stoves are there?
Depending on the heating method, kitchen stoves can be gas, electric or combined. Gas ones operate on liquefied gas from cylinders or natural gas, ignite quickly, and heating can be adjusted quickly, clearly and conveniently. Such stoves are cheaper than electric ones and are not picky about the choice of cookware. Cooking with gas is faster due to the open flame. In addition, the overall costs are usually less than using electricity for cooking.
The disadvantage of gas stoves is the combustion of oxygen during combustion. There is a danger of explosion or gas leakage. In addition, during operation, the bottom of the dishes becomes very dirty and carbon deposits form on the kitchen tiles.
Electric stoves are a very large group of large household appliances. There are regular ones, coated with stainless steel or enamel, induction and glass ceramic. Electric stoves do not form carbon deposits and, when installed correctly, are completely safe to use. This is the only option for use in houses where there is no gas pipeline (usually high-rise buildings). Food on an electric stove takes longer to cook because the burners have to heat up and cool down, and the process is completely dependent on the power supply. If there is no electricity in the house, then it becomes impossible to cook anything.
In addition, a distinction is made between individual and built-in slabs. Built-in ones are divided into a hob and an oven. Appliances vary in size (the dimensions of an electric stove are given below), power, functions, and the material used to make the burners or hob. The oven can be gas or electric.
Criterias of choice
Modern technology can be small and capacious in volume, powerful, and vice versa, have standard and innovative control functions.
Advice from professionals specializing in the sale of household appliances will help you quickly buy an electric oven and not be disappointed in it. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the main selection criteria.
Main types of electric stoves
The market offers old-style appliances with spiral heating elements or heavy cast-iron burners, as well as modern stoves with glass-ceramic coating and hidden burners. There are combined plates that combine several types of equipment. Some burners can be powered by electricity, while others can be powered by gas. This stove is suitable for those who often have power outages.
Glass ceramic heats up faster (almost the same speed as a gas stove) and the temperature is easier to regulate. This material is easy to care for, glass ceramics are safe and usually have a number of additional features that make cooking easier. But utensils made of glass, ceramics, copper, aluminum and stainless steel (only enameled and cast iron) are not suitable for such stoves.
Induction cookers heat up much faster than other types of electric cookers and are much more convenient than gas burners. Power does not depend on network voltage. The induction cooker maintains a precise, constant temperature. This material is easy to care for and has additional functions. The surface around the heating zones does not heat up, which ensures safety and reduces the risk of burns.
General requirements for ovens
The inside of the oven may have an easy-to-clean coating. It can withstand high temperatures and is resistant to organic acids. All oven models are equipped with lighting inside the frying chamber, which makes it possible to control the cooking process.
Additional advantages of the oven design may be the removal of hot steam directly into the hood. The degree of insulation of the oven chamber affects the ease of temperature control and heat loss. The tightness of oven doors is increased by seals along the perimeter, multi-layer glazing, and an inwardly reflective glass surface. Doors that do not have gaps or screws are easier to clean. The door, equipped with a retractable trolley, increases ease of use. Telescopic guides make it easier to work with food in cooking mode.
Old style slabs
Plates with a spiral are found only in domestic manufacturers. The heating element is laid on top of an enameled surface. Such stoves take a very long time to heat up. Electric stoves with cast iron heating elements look different. Round burners with cast iron heating elements are installed on an enameled stove. The heating time is slightly shorter than that of spiral ones, but still the efficiency of such equipment leaves much to be desired. First, the hidden spiral heats up, then the burner and the bottom of the pan begin to heat up. Among these stoves you can find models with red markings in the center of the burner. These have a reduced heating time.
Electric stove burners
Kitchen stoves can have a different arrangement and number of burners, which determines the size of the electric stove. To heat quickly, the diameter of the bottom of the pan must match the size of the burner. There are usually four to seven levels of heat control available.
Medium power burners (cast iron) heat up in ten minutes, fast heating “accelerates” to maximum in six to seven minutes. Powerful burners are distinguished by dotted lines or red markings on the surface; these are often built into glass-ceramic stoves or enamel-coated appliances. Warm up in one minute. Auxiliary burners change the heating zone, the diameter is changed by turning the regulator or pressing a button.
Induction hobs allow precise heat control. During cooking, the bottom of the pan heats up, while the burner itself remains cold. These are suitable for steel, cast iron and enamel cookware. Round or oval expansion zones are intended for cooking in specific dishes (for example, a duck pot).
Spare parts for gas stoves
Very often a situation arises when some spare parts for kitchen stoves fail, and there are no such spare parts in your city. Therefore, it is very important to choose stoves for which spare parts can be purchased or ordered in your city.
Types of spare parts:
- spare parts for electric ignition systems;
- gas control system elements;
- spare parts for burners;
- adjustment system details;
- doors and their seals;
- timer;
- gratings;
- spare parts for heating systems for electric stoves.
What spare parts are usually needed most often? These are oven doors, blocks, electric ignition parts, tap parts, thermocouples and gas control solenoid valves, internal and external heat-resistant glass of ovens, grates and table burners, as well as much more. Usually you need to look for spare parts for stoves in warranty workshops.
Kitchen appliance sizes
For a small kitchen, a narrow electric stove with two burners, which can be placed both horizontally and vertically, is suitable. Stove dimensions: approximately 35 cm x 25 cm (enamel with round cast iron burners), there are models with dimensions 37 cm x 60 cm (Gorenje induction). An induction hob with three burners has almost standard dimensions - 50 cm x 55-56 cm. You can find equipment of the same size with four burners.
Types of housing and options
All electric stoves are produced in three types of housing: built-in hobs, classic cabinet appliances with an oven, and tabletop appliances. Cabinet equipment is a good choice for replacing an old stove without major repairs and ordering new furniture. The dimensions of the electric stove are standard - width 60 cm, depth - 60 cm. The height of most models is 80-85 cm due to adjustable legs. If the kitchen is very small, you can choose a device with a standard depth and width of 50 centimeters.
Tabletop electric stoves are rarely found on sale. Most are old-style models with cast iron burners. This technique is intended to be used as a temporary solution.
But the most modern and popular are built-in panels. Cooking surfaces are available in standard sizes. The stoves are square, side length 60 cm. There are compact models with one to three burners, which are produced rectangular with a width of 30 cm. You can find non-standard electric stoves on sale, for example, semicircular ones (great for inserting into a kitchen island). Built-in stoves can be sold with or without an oven.
Kitchen lighting
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More details
The largest models for 80-100 liters weighing 20-25 kg have average dimensions of 68x58x45 cm.
Long-term statistics show stable demand for electric mini-ovens for large-volume kitchens. The most popular variations are 25-35 l and 35-40 l, which account for 25% and 27% of sales, respectively. Medium-sized modifications – 12-15%, small ones – up to 10%.
Selecting power and heating circuit
The rated power determines the performance of the equipment, the speed and intensity of heating. For a small format of 10-12 liters, 0.8-1 kW is quite enough. Larger models require more efficient heaters. To correctly solve the problem of determining power, you can focus on the average values recommended by manufacturers:
- 1-1.3 kW – from 10-12 l to 25-35 l;
- 1.3-1.5 kW – from 18-20 l to 30-40 l;
- 1.5-1.7 kW – from 20-25 to 35-45 l;
- 1.7-2.3 kW – from 25-30 to 40-50 l;
- 2.3-3.5 kW – from 30-35 to 60-100 l.
It is better to give preference to a device with several heating elements that are integrated into the lid and bottom. The combined circuit ensures uniform heating of the entire chamber, facilitates smooth temperature control, allows you to cook two dishes at the same time and bake large pieces. The presence of a built-in fan (forced convection option) increases the uniformity and quality of heat transfer, speeds up cooking, and saves energy.
Article: Electric oven for the kitchen - how to choose the right one
You should always remember that an electric furnace places significant loads on the network, especially when turned on for a long time. To choose the right socket for the kitchen, it is enough to correlate the current marking in amperes on the body with the rated power of the mini-stove in kilowatts - 6A (up to 1.3 kW), 10A (up to 2.2 kW), 16A (up to 3.5 kW). Particular attention should be paid to electrical safety. An ordinary machine will not protect a person from dangerous current leakage, for example due to breakdown of wire insulation. It is necessary to use a residual current device (RCD) or a universal automatic circuit breaker (automatic device + RCD), which additionally eliminate the risk of fire.
We look at the operating temperature range
The standard heating mode of +170-230°C is implemented in all mini-ovens. Well suited for baking pies, cakes, biscuits and other confectionery products. Allows you to follow the recipe for preparing most dishes from meat, fish, and vegetables. At the same time, many models can bake food more efficiently and better by increasing the maximum heat treatment limit:
- +230-250°C;
- +250-300°C;
- +300-320°С.
The most common miscalculation when buying an electric oven for the kitchen is the incorrect selection of the range and smoothness of temperature changes. Some variations allow you to reduce heating to almost 0°C, others to +50°C, and others only to +100°C. Depending on the model, the temperature change step varies from 1°C to 10-25°C.
Materials and equipment for kitchen electric ovens
The device body is standardly made of sheet steel with a protective and decorative coating of various shades - metallic, black, white, beige, red, burgundy. The presence of a thermally insulated layer will relieve burns from accidental contact with external surfaces, increase the level of fire safety, and improve the microclimate in the room.
Various materials are used to cover the inside of the chamber:
- ceramics – easy care and hygiene;
- stainless steel – strength, reliability, heat resistance;
- enamel – practicality, low cost, relatively less resource;
- Teflon (another non-stick coating) – resistance to adhesion and contamination, susceptibility to scratching.
The basic package usually includes a rectangular baking tray, a wire rack, and a pull-out tray. Many manufacturers add a round baking tray and a quick-release handle (hook) for removal. Advanced models are equipped with a spit for even cooking on different sides.
Article: Electric oven for the kitchen - how to choose the right one
Built-in modes and controls
The culinary capabilities of an electric oven for the kitchen are largely determined by the factory operating modes. The most requested functions:
- “grill”, “spit”;
- “dough proofing”, “bread maker”,
- "baking", "roasting".
Less popular are “defrost”, “quick heating”, and “steamer”. Don’t forget also about the advantages of convection technology, which evenly distributes heat around the food being prepared. The “auto-shutdown” option will prevent burning when the maximum temperature is reached or without user commands for a long time.
The classic version of the control panel is three mechanical regulators located one above the other in one row. According to consumer reviews, this is the most convenient, understandable and durable scheme, which suits 9 out of 10 people. Large rotary controls are made of heat-resistant polymers or metal. They have an ergonomic design with anti-slip texture. Supplemented with graphic and text markings, clear scales and indicators. A modern alternative is an electronic circuit with flat touch buttons and an information display.
Additional functions of the electric stove
Modern electric stoves often have additional features that make cooking much easier. But not all modes are really necessary. It is desirable, for example, to have at least one heavy-duty burner. The marking of such a burner may differ from one manufacturer to another, but its presence will certainly be mentioned in the list of characteristics.
Automatic locking will protect you from turning on the stove unintentionally, and several modes will allow you to accurately select the cooking temperature. Preset power modes can vary from five to fifteen. A rather useful option is protection against overflow of liquid from the pan. When boiling, the smart panel independently reduces power, preventing boiling over. Glass-ceramic stoves do not have sides, so this feature will protect furniture and floors from grease and moisture.
Modular panels
If you want more from your new stove, you can assemble it yourself from individual modules. Small rectangular electrical panels can be equipped not only with traditional burners, but also with other useful elements:
- grill;
- deep fryer;
- thickened steel Fry-top burner;
- stand with kitchen scales.
All these modules can be selected from the Domino hob series and arranged in any convenient order.
Burners with expansion heating
The presence of burners with a variable heating area allows you to cook in dishes with an oval bottom or small containers without wasting energy on a standard burner ring. Often the list of functions is supplemented by timers, which will turn off the stove when the specified time has elapsed. When choosing an electric stove with an oven, you should pay attention to options that will make it easier to care for the equipment. For many, the grill turns out to be useless, but all housewives like the self-cleaning function of the oven.
Premium quality electric stoves
The market's flagships definitely deserve attention. The HC 52072 Geo model from Kaiser is made of black glass and dark metal, with a matte glass-ceramic surface. Of the four burners, two have a heating zone that can be expanded as needed. One burner transforms into an oval, the other simply expands (the diameter of the circle increases). Mechanical control. With fairly modest body dimensions (the size of an electric stove is 50 cm x 60 cm), the oven volume is 66 liters.
The Bosch model (HCA 855850 R) is equipped with a withdrawable design. The oven door is not hinged, but slides out along with the baking sheet. The glass-ceramic surface has four burners, two of which are expandable. The oven has a self-cleaning function. To prevent the outer part of the oven door from being scratched, the manufacturer equipped the front panel with four glasses.
Electric oven for the kitchen - what it looks like
An electric kitchen stove is a separate type of equipment for autonomous use. Operates from a network with a voltage of 220-240 V. The classic shape is rectangular.
The opening part of the door is made of tinted heat-resistant glass. An electric furnace may have one or more heating elements. The control panel is located on the front part. The material used is strong, reliable and durable metal.
In order not to be disappointed in the technology, before purchasing, decide on the size, power characteristics, and design. Consultation and advice from specialists will help speed up the selection process.
The optimum ratio of price and quality
For a classic or retro interior, the EC67CLI model from the Slovenian company Gorenje is suitable. The size of the electric stove is 60 by 60 cm. These are standard dimensions that are suitable for almost any kitchen. Among the representatives of the middle segment, this stove is distinguished by vintage handles in old copper color and sand enamel of the body. Available in beige and dark. In terms of direct functions, two of the four burners are equipped with an extension.
The German electric stove HCE644123R from Bosch will cost 35 thousand rubles. It is made in a white case, with “cold glass” (three layers) on the door. There are seven built-in oven operating modes (including “Defrosting”). The hob has two powerful burners and two expandable zones.
The Hephaestus electric stove 6560-03 0001 is very impressive, which makes it stand out in the middle price category. The unusual square burners and marble facade made of tempered glass immediately catch the eye. There is a touch timer, turbo and electric grill, kebab grill, electric spit, double oven lighting and convection.
Review of induction hobs
In the middle price segment you can find induction cookers. It is worth taking a closer look at the IS 656 X model from Gorenje. The hob is made of glass ceramics, there are four heating zones, the diameter of each burner is 20 centimeters. Standard size - 60-60-85. The electric stove is equipped with a protection function against accidental switching on.
A wide five-burner panel is suitable for large kitchens. The PKV975DC1D (Bosch) model has an almost standard width (53 cm), but the length is almost a meter - 91 cm. Of the five high-speed heating burners, four have an expansion zone. The electric stove with glass ceramics is equipped with additional functions: residual heat indication, protection against unintentional switching on, digital display. Touch control.
Budget electric stoves
"Hephaestus" is a manufacturer preferred by many. The reliability of the company's products has been proven over the years, and budget models are invariably in demand among buyers. The best no-frills option is the Hephaestus 5140-0031 electric stove. Of the four burners, one has a high-speed heating function. The Hephaestus 5140-01 0001 electric stove is practically no different from the one described above, except that it is made in a dark casing. Suitable for people who do not need modern comfort elements. Hephaestus electric stoves are reliable, but have only the most necessary options.
Hansa is a Polish brand of household appliances. The Hansa FCCW 58240 electric stove (pictured above) is in demand among buyers. The dimensions are compact, but close to standard - 60 x 55 x 85 cm. The controls are mechanical, the working surface is made of glass ceramics, there is a residual heat indicator. Electric stove with 4 burners, two of them for quick heating.
Distinctive features of the plates
As mentioned above, electric stoves are distinguished by a wide variety of sizes - from large to miniature models suitable for the garden. In particular, a 1-burner tabletop stove would be a convenient unit for such conditions. Its dimensions do not exceed 0.35 * 0.35 m. 2-burner models are 2 times wider, but also do not take up much space. The thickness of such devices starts from 6 cm.
If we are talking about full-fledged home appliances equipped with an oven, then manufacturers are ready to offer convenient options for the most cramped kitchens. The smallest 2-burner model, on which you can simultaneously cook soup and bake chicken, has parameters of 0.85 * 0.50 * 0.36 m. 3-burner stoves are less common - their offset location on the work surface usually affects the width devices, allowing you to shrink it to 0.5 m. The most common and widespread are 4-burner models. Stoves with 5 “pancakes” are an expanded household option, and devices with a large number of burners are considered professional, aimed at use in cafes and restaurants.
Important! Another advantage of the devices, compared to gas ones, is that cleaning the oven in the former is much easier.
