Built-in Cookers: Advantages And Disadvantages, Tips For Choosing

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Built-in electric stove: choosing the right one

Built-in electric stoves are gradually replacing the free-standing classic solo ovens. Manufacturers offer a huge number of models that differ not only in appearance, but also in functionality. Modern hobs are able to satisfy the needs of almost any consumer.

Content

• 1 Built-in electric stove: distinctive features
• 2 Advantages and disadvantages of built-in electric stoves

• 3 Criteria for choosing a built-in electric stove

  3.1 Video: choosing a hob

• 4 Well-known manufacturers of built-in electric stoves

  4.1 Video: hob innovations

• 5 Overview of popular models of built-in electric stoves

  • 5.1 Gorenje ECT 330 CSC
  • 5.2 Hotpoint-Ariston KRO 632 TDZ
  • 5.3 Gorenje ECT 680-ORA-W
  • 5.4 Electrolux EHF96547FK

Built-in electric stove: distinctive features

The built-in electric stove, or hob, is a rectangular flat panel with a thickness of 3 to 6 cm, on the front side of which there are heating zones for cooking. The electric stove is built directly into the kitchen worktop, for which a corresponding hole is cut in it. The panel is inserted there and secured from below with special fastening plates.

The recessed plate can be installed anywhere on the worktop

Advantages and disadvantages of built-in electric stoves

Electric cookers designed for building have a number of advantages, thanks to which they are popular and in demand:

• compactness - hobs do not take up much space and do not take up work space;
• mobility and the possibility of installation in kitchen furniture - the surface can be installed in any part of the countertop;
• practicality - it is very convenient to use built-in plates;
• beautiful and stylish appearance;
• ease of care;
• the ability to use only the hob, without an oven, which saves space in the kitchen.

Of the shortcomings, only one can be distinguished, but a rather significant disadvantage - the cost. A set of hob and oven is more expensive than a classic cooker.

Only an electric stove can be built into a very small kitchen, without an oven

At first we had an ordinary stove in our kitchen. Constantly something fell and hammered into the cracks between her and the neighboring kitchen cabinets. To get this, you had to fully pull out the stove, otherwise it would not work. When the built-in surface and the separate oven were purchased, this problem disappeared, since everything became one whole.

Criteria for choosing a built-in electric stove

First of all, built-in electric stoves are divided into dependent and independent models. The first ones come complete with an oven and cannot work without it, since all controls are located on the oven. Devices can only be placed together, the oven is connected to the power supply, and the hob is already connected to it with wires.

In a dependent set, the hob and oven only work together

The independent hob has its own control panel, is individually connected to the electrical network and can be built in anywhere on the worktop, completely independent of the oven. Which, in turn, can be installed far enough from the hob, for example, in a pencil case.

In an independent set, the hob and oven can be spaced far apart

Dependent kits are usually cheaper than their independent counterparts. But you only need to choose a dependent technique of one brand, usually the manufacturer always indicates with which ovens this or that stove is combined.

When choosing a built-in panel, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

• The size. The width of the panel is almost always limited by the width of the table top and does not exceed 500–520 mm, but there are also narrow models (about 40 cm). The length varies from 30 to 100 cm.
• The form. Most often, built-in electric stoves are rectangular. But there are also non-standard products on sale (round, oval, hexagonal, angular, etc.).
• Energy class. It is recommended to select products belonging to the most economical A + and A ++ classes.
• Number of cooking zones (2 to 6).

• Heating element type:

  • standard cast iron (pancakes) - they are inexpensive, but they heat up slowly, while consuming a lot of electricity;

    

    Burners can be cast iron

  • rapid - the nichrome spiral heats up quickly, actively releasing heat;

    

    In the rapid burner, the spiral is made of nichrome

  • Hi-Light - instead of the usual spiral, special thin tape heating elements made of composite alloys with increased resistance and high heat transfer coefficient are used, powerful, quickly warm up, but energy consumption is high;

    

    The Hi-Light burners are most commonly used

  • halogen infrared - high temperature coil combined with a ring-shaped halogen lamp, heats up very quickly;

    

    The halogen hotplate heats up very quickly

  • induction - the most modern and economical type, in which the bottom of the cookware is heated due to the eddy currents created by the induction coil.

    

    The induction hob does not heat up by itself, only the dishes standing on it

• Surface material:

  • enamel - has a wide range of colors, is resistant to mechanical and thermal stress, is quite inexpensive;

    

    There are very few built-in boards with an enamel surface

  • stainless steel is hygienic, has an affordable price, but is prone to scratching and gets dirty quickly;

    

    On a stainless electric hob, the burners are always cast iron

  • tempered glass - heat-resistant, durable and safe (with a strong impact it crumbles into small fragments), but prone to chips, microcracks and scratches;

    

    Visually, the panel made of tempered glass and glass ceramics practically does not differ

  • glass ceramics - resistant to mechanical damage and sudden temperature changes, but is afraid of strong point shocks, it is expensive.

• Control type:

  • mechanical - using rotary controls;

    

    The most inexpensive models of built-in tiles are usually equipped with rotary switches.

  • touch - by touching icons or pictograms;

    

    Most built-in hobs are equipped with touch switches

  • slider - by touching the desired point on the slider.

    

    Slider controls are found in expensive models

• The number of temperature modes (up to 16).

• Additional features:

  • auto shutdown - automatic shutdown when boiling liquid or foreign objects gets on the hob;
  • general locking of the control panel - protection from children and accidental pressing;
  • overheat protection;
  • timer - with or without signaling, common or for each hotplate;
  • combining heating zones;
  • automatic boiling - increasing the temperature (power) until boiling and then lowering it to the set values;
  • residual heat indicator - does not go out until the burner cools down;
  • cookware recognition (for induction) - the sensor detects the presence of suitable cookware on the stove;
  • heat preservation - minimal heating for the required time in order to maintain the set temperature of the finished dish;
  • memory - saving user programs;
  • display;
  • pause - stopping the process for a specified time;
  • control of power consumption - setting the maximum permissible consumption of electrical energy;
  • intensive and fast heating (Power boost) - power transfer from other heating zones.

Additional functions are controlled using the buttons on the panel

A friend of mine bought an induction built-in hob for a new kitchen set. She had to replace almost all of the kitchen utensils, since not all utensils are suitable for such stoves. Pots and pans for induction must have a thick metal bottom with ferromagnetic properties, which is always marked accordingly.

Cookware suitable for induction cookers has a special icon on the bottom

Video: choosing a hob

Well-known manufacturers of built-in electric stoves

Among the most famous and popular manufacturers of electrical built-in panels are:

• Bosch. Large German holding, founded in 1886. A large line of hobs with glass ceramics, but there is enamel and stainless steel. The latest developments have been applied using light indication of the heating temperature of each heating zone, individual timers, various burners (express, two and three-circuit), etc. Basically, everything is aimed at operational safety and ease of use.

  

  The Bosch concern offers a large number of electric stoves in different price categories

• Gorenje. A large group of companies from Slovenia, founded in the middle of the last century and supplying almost all of its products for export. There are many two-burner models on glass ceramics (black and white) and induction hobs in the range, but there are no simple hobs with traditional burners. All boards are distinguished by a low energy consumption class (A ++). The price categories are different, you can choose the equipment for any wallet.

  

  Gorenje has a lot of white glass ceramic tiles with unusual designs

• Siemens. The German manufacturer, part of the Bosch-Siemens concern, specializes in premium products of a high price category, but there are also budget models. A highlight are the hobs with contrasting color heating zones. There are many slabs on white ceramics, there is no enamel or stainless steel. The number of burners varies from 2 to 6. The safety of all products is thought out to the smallest detail, the cookers are equipped to the maximum with additional unique functions.

  

  Siemens hobs with a contrasting color highlighted heating zone look interesting

• Hotpoint-Ariston. An Italian manufacturing company that began its journey in 1930. Huge selection of all kinds of stove sizes, including models with simple pancake burners. We offer both very inexpensive budget hobs, and exclusive glass-ceramic hobs with a full range of functionality.

  

  Hotpoint-Ariston stainless steel hobs can have from two to four burners

• Electrolux. A manufacturing company from Sweden, created in 1919 and producing household appliances with a strict, concise and recognizable design. The assortment is represented by a large number of black glass ceramic hobs of different price categories, the number of burners is from 2 to 5. All products are distinguished by increased reliability, ease of operation, high energy efficiency and a wide range of additional functionality.

  

  The design of Electrolux hobs is minimalist and laconic

Video: hob innovations

Overview of popular models of built-in electric stoves

Let's take a closer look at several models of built-in hobs that are most popular with buyers.

Gorenje ECT 330 CSC

The Gorenje ECT 330 CSC hob is very popular with customers

Glass-ceramic plate of the "Domino" type with beveled polished front edge. Two Hi-Ligh burners with a total power of 2.9 kW:

• with one contour - 14.5 cm;
• with two contours - 12/18 cm.

Touch button control, general panel lock, safety shutdown and indication of the cooling zone. The auto-off function does not always work, there is no timer. The hob does not hold two large containers at the same time.

Hotpoint-Ariston KRO 632 TDZ

The Hotpoint-Ariston KRO 632 TDZ hob has three burners of different diameters

Glass-ceramic in a stainless protective frame with three Hi-Ligh heating zones:

• single-circuit - 16 cm;
• double-circuit - 12/18 cm;
• three-contour - 14.5 / 21/27 cm.

There is a timer without automatic shutdown, but with a sound alert, protection against accidental pressing. The display will show the degree of cooling of the cooking zones. However, the sensors are not the most sensitive and do not always work correctly.

Gorenje ECT 680-ORA-W

The white hob Gorenje ECT 680-ORA-W looks very impressive

Spectacular white four-burner electric hob with a brushed front edge. Hi-Light burners:

• oval with an expansion zone - 17X26.5;
• two single-circuit - 14.5 cm;
• large three-circuit - 12 / 17.5 / 21 cm.

Each of the heating zones is equipped with an individual indicator of the remaining heat, a general timer, a safety shutdown, a blocking button against child intervention, a short pause and automatic boiling. The disadvantage can be conditionally considered a relatively high cost.

Electrolux EHF96547FK

The Electrolux EHF96547FK hob has great functionality and reliability

Classic black and inexpensive hob with beveled edges without metal trim. There are four heating zones:

• two simple ones - 14.5 cm;
• with an oval extension;
• with three increasing contours - 12 / 17.5 / 21 cm.

Touch slider control, pause mode, timer with sound and automatic shutdown, a sensor that evaluates the degree of residual heating and general safety shutdown. The autoboil function, panel locking and economy mode have been implemented, which turns off the hotplate a little earlier. Of the minuses, it can be noted that sometimes difficulties arise with the installation of a timer and the absence of a combined heating zone.

Built-in electric stoves are an integral part of modern kitchens. The industry offers a huge selection of various hobs with different designs, as well as equipped with useful and convenient functionality. For any, even the most demanding consumer, there is a model that fully satisfies him in all respects.