Glass ceramics 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.
Benefits:
- Small inertia. The surface heats up quickly and cools slowly, this property can significantly save energy (for electric stoves).
- Spectacular appearance. Ceramic slabs look stylish, modern and easily fit into kitchen interiors of different styles.
- Low thermal conductivity. The ceramic is heated in a directional way, not horizontally, but vertically, which better protects against the possibility of scalding on the edge of the plate.
- Fast cooking. Energy is consumed only for heating the dishes, not the entire area.
- High strength. The ceramics withstands tangible loads, commensurate with the fall of a 2 kg pan from a half-meter height. However, do not load the stove with cookware with a total weight of more than 15 kg on the entire surface or 5 kg on one burner.
Disadvantages:
- The glass ceramic hob is vulnerable to pinpoint impacts. For example, dropping a metal spatula or knife can cause chips or cracks.
- The smooth glass-ceramic coating does not trap the spilled liquid, it spreads both over the stove and the countertop in which it is built. To remove this shortcoming, it is better to enclose the panel in a frame.
- For a glass-ceramic stove, you need to take special dishes with an absolutely flat bottom. Aluminum or copper cookware can leave marks and scratches. Thick bottom stainless steel works best. Before you put a saucepan or frying pan on the stove, you need to make sure that there are no embossed chips or carbon deposits on its bottom, any unevenness will reduce the heating efficiency, and in addition, can damage the ceramics.
- Ceramics are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, therefore, do not put cold dishes on a hot burner, this can damage the material over time. For the same reason, it is dangerous to spill cold liquid on a hot cooking zone.
- High purchase and repair costs compared to traditional electric and gas hobs.
TOP 3 best Bosch glass-ceramic hobs
- Bosch PKE645B17
- Bosch PRP6A6N70R
- Bosch PIE631FB1E
Varieties of glass-ceramic hob
Glass-ceramic hobs are subdivided into dependent and independent. Dependents are combined with an oven - this is a classic version of kitchen stoves.Many people prefer to take independent panels: they significantly save space in the kitchen and allow you to choose an oven and a built-in surface from different manufacturers, but this option will cost more.
The choice will depend on the availability of gas in the house: gas or electric hob... Gas are subdivided into "gas on glass", where the burners are located above the hob, and "gas under the glass" - the burners are covered with a work surface. The second option is better to take, it wins both in safety and in appearance. The glass-ceramic gas hob combines all the usual qualities of a gas stove and modern functions, stylish design and practicality to clean. And among the electrical ones, the following types can be distinguished:
- standard - with an electric spiral,
- hi-light - with high resistance alloy tape heating elements,
- halogen - with ring-shaped halogen lamps,
- induction - with an induction coil as a heating element.
Competition to gas panels in terms of heating rate among electric ones can only be made by halogen and induction panels, the rest are no longer relevant, they should not be taken.
In terms of shape and size, there is a huge variety among built-in hobs, the eyes widen: which one to choose. They can be classic square, and 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 options. The glass-ceramic panel can be black, white, colored or even patterned. Black and white backgrounds are more noticeable for dirt and chips, but creative design options are more expensive, which surface to choose depends on your taste and budget.
The control panel can be electromechanical (with handles) or touch. It is better to choose a touchscreen: it is easier to maintain, takes up less space in relation to the entire working surface, and is easier to clean. Modern models are often equipped with an interactive color display, which provides detailed information on each hotplate.
Useful functions
When choosing a glass-ceramic hob, pay attention to its capabilities, it will be right to choose the model with only the functions you need and not overpay for unnecessary "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).
- "Automatic Boil" - maximizes power to reduce heating rate, and then power is reduced to operating values to prevent boil-over.
- Residual heat indication - will show the degree of cooling to a safe value.
- Locking the electrical touch panel or removable mechanical control knobs are useful if there are small children or animals in the house that can accidentally turn on the stove.
- Determination of the presence of dishes - protects the glass-ceramic panel from "idling" 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 that the dish is ready and will automatically turn off.
- "Write to memory" - the panel memorizes the modes of cooking different dishes.
- Additional heating zone - for cooking food in wide or oversized dishes, for example, in a roaster.
- Gas control for a gas hob automatically cuts off the gas supply to the burner if the flame has gone out and the temperature has dropped below a certain value.
- A similar function for the electric stove - "Malfunction control" - automatic shutdown in case of liquid spills on the control panel or detects other malfunctions of the device.
- Defrosting, quick heating, keeping warm - these functions expand the capabilities of the stove.
TOP 3 best Bosch glass-ceramic hobs
- Electrolux EHH 96340 XK
- Electrolux EHF 96547 XK
- Electrolux EHH 56340 FK
Caring for your glass ceramic hob
The glass-ceramic hob needs careful maintenance. 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 scouring pads or rags with dried crumbs on glass-ceramic material. After application, the cleaning agent is not washed off, but wiped off with a clean cloth. Silicone components will protect glass ceramics from micro damage and contamination. An electric or gas glass-ceramic hob is much lighter and easier to clean than an enamel surface: just remember how much effort it takes to clean burnt food at the base of the pancakes.
If you accidentally spill sugar syrup, it must be wiped off immediately, otherwise, after hardening, it can be removed only by peeling off the top layer from the glass ceramics. 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 good care of your kitchen assistant, 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, and 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. For every taste and wallet, there is plenty to choose from a worthy option.
