Varieties of surfaces of electric stoves and their characteristics

The modern choice of electric stoves is so wide that it is quite difficult for an inexperienced buyer to make the best choice, since this kitchen equipment includes many varieties. Electric stoves are divided according to the features of the hob coating, the structure of the heating element, as well as the method of its installation. We will try to systematize all the variety of products on the market. Hopefully, our information will help you choose the best electric stove model.

The main functional area of ​​any electric stove is the hob, which houses the burners. Today there are several main types of coatings:

• enameled;
• made of stainless steel;
• from glass;
• glass-ceramic.

Let's dwell on the features of each type of coating.

This is one of the most common options. It is this material that has been the main one in the production of kitchen electric stoves for many years, and only in recent years has it lost its position to more modern glass surfaces.

Enamelled steel can be found as a coating for slabs in the assortment line of any manufacturer, and consumers appreciate this material for its high performance features, which are listed below.

• Stylish design. Today enameled surfaces are produced in a wide range of colors. On sale you can find slabs of a wide variety of colors and shades so that the product can harmoniously fit into any interior.
• Availability. The price of enameled electric stoves belongs to the budget segment, so almost every average family in our country can afford to buy this kind of product.
• High quality. There is an opinion that a low price is a sign of fragility and unreliability of equipment. This stereotype is easily destroyed by slabs with enamel surfaces. Coatings of this type are particularly resistant to high temperatures, they are not destroyed under their influence, without damage to the structure they come into contact with water.
• Ease of maintenance. With proper care, the hob can last for many years, retaining its original functionality and attractive appearance.
• Strength. This quality is one of the most significant features of enamelled slab coverings. It's no secret that in the kitchen, where a wide variety of food is constantly being prepared, the likelihood of surface contamination increases significantly. However, enamel finishes can be easily cleaned with standard liquid cleaners and are free from fingerprints and water splashes, so the look stays flawless for years.

This option was widespread in the Soviet years; this coating is considered quite practical and at the same time cheap.

The stainless steel surface is glossy or matte. It should be noted that, unlike enameled materials, steel is more resistant to metallized sponges and hard cleaning agents used to maintain the sanitary condition of the electric stove at the proper level. However, with their frequent use, their shine is often lost.

The advantages of stainless steel plates also include resistance to corrosion, shock and mechanical stress. This is its undoubted advantage over other types of coatings.

But there is also a drawback - the steel quickly becomes dirty, stains from water drops and product residues that are difficult to remove remain on it. Such plates almost immediately lose their aesthetic appearance, therefore, nowadays they are more often used in summer cottages or in houses of temporary residence.

Tempered glass, like glass ceramics, is distinguished by an exceptionally presentable appearance, as well as increased strength. The surfaces are quite large and smooth, they blend harmoniously into every interior.

If we compare tempered glass with glass ceramics, then the first material will play a little. The bottom line is that one of the features of glass ceramics is vertical transmission. In a more understandable language, it is not the burner itself that heats up here, but only the bottom of the dishes, so the use of such stoves is safer, since it significantly reduces the risk of burns.

However, like all other types of coatings for electric stoves, glass ceramics are also not without their drawbacks. For example, not all dishes are suitable for working on such a surface - aluminum pots and pans leave untidy marks on the surface, therefore, preference should be given to containers made of refractory glass, stainless steel or ceramics.

In addition, only cookware with an even and perfectly smooth bottom is suitable here. Containers with a round bottom are not suitable here, since they have too little contact area with the coating. It is better to give up all types of dishes with a corrugated and rough bottom right away. Keep in mind that the bottom must necessarily be thick, since the thin one can deform due to exposure to high temperatures.

Also, try to avoid getting sugar and sugar-containing substances on glass ceramic coatings, as they are difficult to remove from the surface, in fact, it is almost impossible to remove them. And also such surfaces are not distinguished by special mechanical resistance, therefore, cleaning with metal brushes and powders can have the most destructive effect on them. If you put the pots carelessly, then the coating can simply crack.

And, finally, the disadvantages include the cost of such plates - the fact is that appliances with glass-ceramic surfaces are estimated to be significantly more expensive than all other types of coatings for electric stoves.

The hobs of electric stoves are often classified according to the characteristics of the heaters, which determine the principle of operation of the technique, the speed of cooking and the features of the choice of dishes.

• Cast iron - these are familiar to all burner discs with spiral heating elements. The subtleties of their installation lies in the fact that they are placed slightly higher on the cooking surface, which can cause such troubles as tipping the pan and difficulty in cleaning. In addition, these heating elements do not differ in durability, since cast iron is a rather brittle material that is easily cracked by pinpoint impacts.However, such elements are quite unpretentious - they can be combined with utensils of any type, and the cost of an electric stove with cast-iron heating elements has a fairly affordable price.

• Hi-Light. These are burners with band type heaters made of nickel alloy with high thermal conductivity parameters. Such burners warm up the bottom of the cookware rather quickly. But since they consume a lot of electricity at the same time, such models are not widely used. At the moment, they are increasingly being ousted from the market by their more modern counterparts.

• Halogen. Heaters, which in their operational characteristics can compete with induction burners, occupying one of the first places in the ranking of the best models. Energy consumption is average.

• Induction. Induction-type heating elements are quite in demand, the principle of operation of which differs from all other heaters. If standard heating elements give off their heat to the entire burner, then the magnetic coils, inducing magnetic waves, transfer heat only to the bottom of pans and pots, so that the stove cover remains quite cold, and electricity is consumed extremely economically.

You can see how to choose an electric stove in the next video.