How to choose a glass-ceramic plate?

Naturally, any housewife in the repair of the kitchen dreams of installing a good stove on it. The quality of food preparation, the time it takes to cook, the degree of home safety, etc., depend on how correctly the equipment is selected. Electric stoves are safer compared to other varieties. In addition, they do not burn oxygen, that is, the microclimate in the room remains comfortable. Let's talk about how to choose a glass ceramic plate.

to contents ↑

What is a glass ceramic stove?

With the advent of glass-ceramic stoves on the kitchen appliances market, they made a worthy competition to the traditional enameled appliances with pancake burners. Glass-ceramic stove - a convenient and stylish device, a real decoration of the interior.

Glass ceramics is a product obtained by melting glass using a special technology. Outwardly, the material resembles glass, but its properties are completely special:

• strength;
• resistance to temperature extremes and mechanical influences.

Therefore, glass ceramics are used not only for cooking surfaces. It makes excellent bar counters, countertops and counters.

Choosing the right option with a modern electric stove is not so simple, since a huge number of market offers, as practice shows, does not help, but only interferes. There are plenty of price options too - from inexpensive models to stoves, the cost of which is comparable to a used car.

Before choosing a stove, we will first deal with the advantages and disadvantages of such stoves.

to contents ↑

Benefits:

• Fast heating and cooling rings, compared with the "pancakes" of conventional electric stoves. In this case, the heat is directed strictly vertically. Therefore, first of all, the bottom of the dishes warms up. For example, it takes about 2 minutes to heat two liters of water to a boil on a glass-ceramic stove. The cooking process on such stoves is quite fast, the energy is consumed rationally.
• Rapid heating and cooling of glass ceramics allows you to adjust the intensity of heating. Previously, this was fully possible only with gas stoves.
• The ability to regulate the heated area. This allows you to use dishes with different shapes of the bottom and different sizes (ponds, goose bowls).
• It is a pleasure to wash glass ceramics, because its surface is almost perfectly even and smooth.
• No need to replace burners.
• Extremely simple operation. Modern models are equipped with touch panels that are as ergonomic as possible. Just a couple of touches, and the desired mode is found.
• Modern stylish design. Compared with the usual enamel plate, the glass-ceramic product looks much richer and more interesting.

Important! Can't decide which surface to choose? Find out in our post which hob is better - induction or electric.

to contents ↑

Minuses

There are some disadvantages that must be considered before choosing a glass-ceramic plate:

• Most likely, you will have to reconsider the entire arsenal of kitchen utensils. The bottom of the pans and pots should be perfectly flat, without any embossed images and inscriptions.A more detailed selection of dishes is described in a separate review. "Glass-ceramic cookware - how to choose?"
• Limited selection of detergents. In order for the plate to maintain a presentable appearance, it is necessary to use special tools devoid of abrasive components. Learn about these tools in a special article. "Scraper for cleaning glass-ceramic plates".
• Glass ceramics can withstand a large mass, but before point damage it is powerless.
• The hob may deteriorate from plastic aluminum cookware or even molten sugar.
• The gas stove “doesn't care” which pots you put on it - wet or dry. As for the glass-ceramic surfaces, splashes of cold water can damage the equipment.
• Other things being equal, glass-ceramic plates are more expensive than other varieties.

Important! Engaged in the conversion of the kitchen and the selection of new household appliances? Before choosing a stove, check out our post “Which is better - a stove or hob?”

to contents ↑

Types of burners

The design feature of the glass-ceramic plate is a completely smooth surface, with barely noticeable contours of the burners. In fact, burners are different. The efficiency of the device and, of course, its cost depend on this.

Halogen

These burners heat up in seconds. The heating source is a special lamp connected to a high-temperature coil. Included burners glow with a beautiful reddish light.

Important! The power of such a stove is enough to fry, for example, vegetables or meat in a short time. The disadvantage of this equipment is its relatively short service life and high energy consumption of the device.

Rapid

If it takes 2-3 seconds to heat the halogen burner, the rapid heater heats up somewhat more slowly - about 12 seconds. The device is equipped with a spiral with high resistance and good heat dissipation.

Important! Modern models are equipped with Hi-Light burners. The spiral in them is laid more densely. Burner heating is faster - in 7 seconds.

Induction

This option is considered the most economical and reliable. However, such plates cannot be called cheap. If you take into account that for an induction cooker you will need dishes with a ferromagnetic bottom (by no means cheap!), Then the costs will be quite large.

Important! It is convenient if the power of the burners is different. Choosing the optimal mode, you save energy.

to contents ↑

Useful Options

A modern electric stove can be equipped with such features:

• Touch control. Of course, the cost of such a model is higher, but it looks quite stylish. There is an opportunity for smooth regulation of power of rings. In addition, caring for a smooth surface devoid of handles is not particularly difficult.
• Residual heat indicator. This makes the device safer and saves energy. You see when the hotplate is still hot.
• A booster is a function of temporarily “transferring” power from other burners. This option is useful if you need to quickly heat the water.
• Possibility of programming the preparation of various dishes.
• Automatic boiling control. A “smart” stove, if necessary, reduces the intensity of heating.

Important! The more features, the higher the cost of the stove. Therefore, when choosing, stop only on the necessary options. Overpay for useless functionality should not be.

to contents ↑

How to choose the electric stove in the kitchen? Making the final choice

In addition to technical characteristics, the following should be considered when choosing:

• Dimensions
• Cost.
• Type of burners.
• Additional functionality.

Important! Are you planning to connect a new electric stove yourself? On our portal you will find useful tips on this topic:

• DIY electric stove connection;
• Hob socket.

In the "cost estimate" you need to include the costs of the purchase of new kitchen utensils.

to contents ↑

Overview of the best electric stoves

When compiling the rating, the following points were taken into account:

• Oven capacity.
• Management method.
• Energy intensity class.
• Clock or timer.
• Design.
• Number and power of burners.
• Cost category.
• Customer complaints about malfunctions and malfunctions.

Gorenje EC 52203 AW

A modern model with a glass ceramic hob and 60 liter oven. 4 burners heat up very quickly. The equipment is equipped with a residual heat indicator. The oven is equipped with electric grill and lighting. There is an auto-shutdown timer.

Benefits:

• Fast heating of burners.
• Wonderfully beautiful design.
• Fast heating.
• Residual heat indicator.
• The presence of a timer.
• Grill.
• The stove is additionally equipped with a wire rack and 2 baking sheets.

Disadvantage: poorly written instructions.

BEKO CSE 57300 GA

A modern model with a beautiful design and a good oven. The residual heat indicator will not let you burn yourself. A glass ceramic hob and durable oven glass make this model look very pathos. The switches are large, but it's pretty convenient to clean them. The 55 liter oven allows you to use several convection modes. The display shows the cooking time. Complete with a stove in addition there is a lattice and 2 baking sheets.

Benefits:

• Nice design.
• Fast heating.
• Timer.
• Residual heat indicator.
• The oven is equipped with a grill.

Disadvantage: weak seal.

Hansa FCCX54100

Expensive multifunctional model with a stylish beautiful design. The glass-ceramic hob is equipped with a residual heat sensor. This makes the device completely safe to use. The oven is equipped with an electric grill. Energy Class A indicates energy efficiency.

Benefits:

• Fast heating.
• Beautiful design.
• The presence of a residual heat sensor.
• Grill in the oven.
• Economical energy consumption.

Disadvantages:

• High price.
• A lot of plastic components.

DARINA B EC331 606 W

One of the most inexpensive cookers with a glass ceramic hob. For relatively little money, you get equipment with a 50 liter capacious oven, a hob with a residual heat sensor and a nice product design.

Benefits:

• Good build.
• Reasonable cost.
• Beautiful design.
• Fast heating.
• The presence of an indicator of residual heat.

Disadvantages:

• Not rubberized legs of the plate.
• Not a drawer for dishes.

As you can see, there are certain disadvantages, but there are much more advantages.

BEKO FSM 69300 GXT

Induction cooker with 4 heating zones. With the help of a booster, it is possible to speed up the heating process. The oven is simply huge (65 l), has 8 modes, including defrosting and volume convection. The model is very easy to manage. A couple of hours is enough to fully understand the operation of the equipment.

Benefits:

• 2 express burners.
• Capacious oven.
• Induction heating.
• Simple operation.
• Low power consumption.

Minus: noisy operation in convection mode.

Electrolux EKI 954501 W

Solid and reliable induction cooker. Now, with equal pleasure, you will cook on the hob and in the oven. The capacious (60 l) oven is equipped with a grill and convection. There is a catalytic cleaning function. Protection against children does a plate absolutely safe.

Benefits:

• Large capacity oven.
• 8 modes of operation of the oven.
• Catalytic cleaning of the oven.
• Simple operation.
• Economical power consumption.

Minuses:

• Noisy work in convection mode.
• High price.

to contents ↑

Stock footage

Now you know how to choose an electric stove for the home and what indicators to focus on. Have a good shopping!