Built-in Gas Panels For The Kitchen: Which Are Better, An Overview Of Popular Models

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

Gas hob: what to be guided by when choosing

Modern industry offers a huge range of built-in gas hobs, which have recently replaced the traditional and familiar cookers. It is not surprising to get lost in this sea of information, but knowing the design features and understanding the principle of operation of a household appliance, it is much easier to make your choice.

Content

• 1 Built-in gas hobs: characteristics, advantages and disadvantages

• 2 Choosing a gas hob in the kitchen

  • 2.1 Surface material
  • 2.2 Size and shape of the hob
  • 2.3 Gas burners: arrangement, number and shape
  • 2.4 Control panel location
  • 2.5 Lattices
  • 2.6 Additional features
  • 2.7 Video: what you need to know when choosing a gas panel
• 3 Popular manufacturers of gas panels

• 4 Overview of the most famous and popular gas surfaces

  • 4.1 Hotplates with two cooking zones
  • 4.2 Cooktops with three cooking zones

  • 4.3 Hotplates with four cooking zones

    4.3.1 Customer Reviews

  • 4.4 Cooktops with five cooking zones

    4.4.1 Video: the advantages of large hobs

• 5 Video: choosing a hob

Built-in gas hobs: characteristics, advantages and disadvantages

The hob is a flat product with a thickness of 3–6 cm, for the installation of which a hole of the required size is cut in the worktop. On the front side there are cooking zones. The device, working on blue fuel - gas burners.

This equipment is characterized by a number of positive qualities:

• Gas panels are more economical because the cost of gas is slightly lower than that of electricity.
• Lit burners instantly heat up the dishes and cool down quickly, no need to wait long. The cooking process takes less time.
• Cookware made of any material (cast iron, copper, aluminum, etc.) can be used.
• The panel, which runs on gas, does not depend on the electrical network. This is especially important in locations where power outages are frequent. Almost all models of gas surfaces are equipped with electric ignition, but in extreme cases, the gas can be ignited with a match.
• Gas panels fit neatly into kitchen furniture and look very harmonious. There are no gaps and crevices left, as in the case of free-standing slabs.

The built-in gas hob looks harmonious in any kitchen style

Of the disadvantages that somewhat limit the use of gas equipment in everyday life, the following are distinguished:

• The use of an open flame requires strict adherence to safety precautions, since gas is a source of increased danger.
• Installation of gas devices must be carried out with the permission and under the supervision of specialized organizations.
• Arrangement of good powerful ventilation in the room is required, since during the operation of the gas panel, oxygen burns out and combustion products are released.
• Gas surfaces care is somewhat complicated by the removable burners and grills.
• Gas panels lag behind similar electrical appliances in terms of automation and programming.

For gas surfaces, you need to select more powerful hoods

For those people who have used gas stoves for cooking for many years, it is extremely difficult to get used to electrical equipment. When visiting my parents, I was always extremely nervous about the electric burners, which were so slow (they heat up for a long time and cool down the same amount). True, they had a simple old stove without all the bells and whistles.

Choosing a gas hob for the kitchen

In order to accurately select the most suitable model of the hob, it is necessary to consider a number of important points.

Surface material

The working surface of gas stoves is made of various materials that differ in appearance, maintenance features, technical characteristics, service life and cost:

• Enamelled steel. A common, traditional and budget material characterized by durability, resistance to high temperatures, affordable price and a wide range of colors. Such surfaces fit better into classic design headsets, because they are often equipped with switches in bronze or brass. A significant disadvantage of enamel is fragility, as a result of a point impact, chips easily appear on it. Corrosion processes gradually develop in places where the enamel layer is damaged. Care for the enamel should be done carefully, without using scrapers, hard brushes and abrasive cleaners, because they leave scratches. Over time, from constant frequent cleaning, the coating wears out.

  

  Usually enamelled surfaces are cheaper.

• Stainless steel. Very reliable, strong and durable, practically indestructible panels, they are not afraid of high temperatures and shocks. But you need to take care of the stainless steel carefully, because any, even minor pollution (drops from water, stains, fingerprints, etc.) are very noticeable on it. Only special agents for stainless steel can be used. Smart and elegant products are suitable for modern kitchens (modern, techno, hi-tech, etc.). The undoubted advantage of stainless gas surfaces is their low price.

  

  Stainless steel hobs look beautiful, but it's hard to care for them

• Strained glass. A beautiful and most common material with several color options. "Gas on glass" in maintenance is simple and unpretentious, but sharp strong impacts when heavy objects fall does not withstand and cracks (edges are especially prone to damage). Since the glass is easily scratched, the dish racks must be equipped with protective rubber tips.

  

  Glass surface scratches easily

• Glass ceramics. Today, the most modern and expensive option, featuring an excellent design with a deep volumetric mirror surface. The material is durable and practical, any dirt can be easily removed from it. The main disadvantage is the difficulty in cleaning stains from hot sugar, which is firmly eaten into the surface. Glass-ceramic plates should be protected from pinpoint impacts and small granular bulk components, which may leave shallow scratches from cleaning.

  

  Do not sprinkle sugar on glass ceramics, as it is very difficult to remove it later.

In gas-under-glass hobs, the worktop is completely smooth, without protruding parts and grates

Our kitchen has a stainless steel gas hob. At first, she looked very elegant. But quite quickly a lot of small scratches and abrasions appeared, which remain not only from pieces of accidentally fallen and dried food, but also from a hard sponge. If there are teenage children in the house who are just beginning to fully master the kitchen space and do not follow the cleanliness of the stove too much, then you should come to terms with the loss of its appearance. It is possible to wash the stainless steel only with special means intended for this.

Hob size and shape

The vast majority of all hobs are made in the form of a rectangle with a size of about 560 * 520 mm, providing for installation in a worktop with a standard depth (600 mm). The overall dimensions may vary slightly in one direction or another, depending on the location of the burners and the control panel.

However, other options can be found on the home appliance market:

• Long and narrow hob, 350–400 mm deep and 1000–1100 mm wide, with burners in line. Such a product fits well into small-sized countertops.

  

  All cooking zones can be placed in one line on the hob

• Exclusive and original curved gas surface (round, oval, etc.). It is most often used on island structures and on headsets with curved cabinet lines. Such kitchen equipment is usually quite expensive.

  

  The hob can be round

• Corner gas hob designed to be built into the corner of a kitchen unit. The model allows you to use the usable space as efficiently as possible.

  

  Corner gas surfaces are usually installed in the corner of the kitchen unit

• A modular system of domino-type panels in which each of the sections is 300 mm wide and 560 mm deep. The panels can be used separately and independently or can be stacked back to back through a special mounting strip in various combinations. The modules can be equipped with:

  • two simple gas burners;
  • two different burners (electric and gas);
  • the only burner, but with increased power;
  • grill grate;
  • a double boiler;
  • deep fryer;

  • recessed built-in hood, etc.

    

    Any set can be made from small domino surfaces

Gas burners: location, quantity and shape

The fundamental factor when choosing a gas hob is the number of burners on the work surface. In this case, they are usually guided by the size of the family. For a single person or a childless couple, one domino module with two burners is enough. It is more convenient for a large and numerous family to use a surface with five or even six cooking zones with a width of 700 to 950 mm.

Most often, the burners are placed in the form of a square at the corners of the panel.

For an average family of 3-4 people, a stove with four sources of flame is considered optimal. Burners can be located not only in a square at the corners of a rectangle, but also in a rhombus. In the second case, it is not very convenient to reach the farthest burner located against the wall, but the hood draws out vapors better.

With a diamond-shaped arrangement of the burners, the cooker hood is better at capturing vapors

The burners that come with gas stoves can be different:

• conventional standard round shapes with one row (crown) of flame of different sizes:

  • 40-50 mm - small;
  • 60–70 mm - medium;

  • 80–100 mm - large;

    

    Most often, burners come with one crown of fire.

• increased power with two or three circles of flame (for large dishes);

  

  More powerful burners have two or three crowns

• a WOK burner with multiple crowns and a special round-bottom dish rack used for preparing Asian dishes;

  

  The WOK burner is designed for cookware with a spherical bottom

• a grill equipped with special cast-iron grates on which the prepared food is laid;

  

  Gas stoves can be equipped with grill burners

• elongated in the form of an ellipse for a duckling;

  

  The elongated oval hob is convenient for the rooster

• in the form of a square;

• in the form of a spiral, the heating power in it is regulated not only by the intensity of the flame, but also by the length of the working part.

  

  Spiral burners are rare

The Coup de feu burner is designed for slow braising

Control panel location

The knobs for operating gas burners are most often located on the front of the built-in hob. Models are available in which the handles are located on the side (right). In this case, they become out of reach of small children and do not get so dirty. But for people, preferably using the left hand (left-handed), this option is extremely inconvenient.

Side handles are inconvenient for lefties

The vast majority of gas stoves are equipped with classic rotary mechanical or electromechanical switches to control each burner separately. Touch control, which is so demanded and popular in electrical appliances, is much more difficult to implement in gas equipment. So far, only expensive premium models are equipped with this extremely convenient feature. Some products have a built-in electronic temperature sensor and operating mode indicators.

Some models have recessed switches

Switches are of two types:

• rotary knobs for igniting the flame and adjusting its height;
• general switch that opens / closes the fuel supply to all burners.

Lattices

The grates, directly on which the dishes are installed when cooking, are made of the following materials:

• Cast iron. Almost eternal, reliable and durable cast iron products can withstand the weight of any heavy tableware, over time they do not lose their decorative appearance. But the rough and porous surface absorbs grease and is difficult to clean. It is impossible to drop such stands, because cast iron is quite fragile.

  

  Cast iron grates are heavy and durable

• Stainless steel or enameled steel. Steel gratings are lighter and less expensive, but can deform and warp when exposed to high temperatures. Smooth surfaces are easier to clean, but the coating can peel and flake over time, opening the way for rust.

  

  Steel grates are lightweight and dishwasher safe

The configuration of the pan rack can be different:

• one common design for the entire slab;

  

  Solid grille is considered more stable

• composite product from two separate modules;

  

  The grill can be composed of two separate parts

• independent separate support stands for each burner separately;

  

  The grids can be separate for each burner

• a grid of three elements (with the arrangement of the burners in the form of a diamond).

  

  The grill can be in three parts

From my own experience I can say that individual coasters are usually small, slightly larger in diameter than the burners themselves. If necessary, it will no longer be possible to move the pan or frying pan to the side, and this can be done in composite and solid grates. Good quality enamelled elements can be easily removed from carbon deposits using a regular dishwashing sponge and any detergent. Plus, they can be put into the dishwasher. But it is better not to start the process and wash the grates in a timely manner.

Additional features

Built-in gas stoves can be equipped with additional functionality:

• Gas control. An extremely necessary function that ensures safety in case of accidental extinguishment of the flame (sudden movement of air, boiling and overflowing liquid, etc.). A special mechanism located in the open fire zone cuts off the gas when the combustion stops (when the temperature drops, the electrical circuit opens and the valve closes). Response time from 1 to 5 seconds.
• Re-jig. Combustion is maintained automatically, that is, when the fire suddenly dies out, the auto-ignition system itself again tries to ignite the burner with a spark. The gas supply is shut off after the third unsuccessful attempt.
• Timer. The simplest built-in sensors allow you to set the desired time and when it expires, they will give a sound signal. More sophisticated automatic timers turn off the burners themselves and cut off the blue fuel supply.
• Protection from children and unauthorized interference. A special button, when pressed, all controls are completely locked.

• Gas supply indicator. Allows you to easily adjust the intensity of the fire without looking under the dishes on the stove.

  

  Touch gas panel with indication

• Overheat protection. When an empty dish is found on the burner (water has boiled away, forgot to pour, etc.), the automation will detect a sharp temperature jump and immediately turn off the gas.
• The ability to save cooking modes. The most modern latest models of electronically controlled gas stoves can save and subsequently execute programs laid down earlier. They independently change the intensity and duration of combustion in accordance with the desired algorithm.

• Electric ignition. Gas hobs are almost all equipped with an electric ignition system. The spark is supplied from the spark plug and ignites the flame when the gas supply is opened. There are two ignition options:

  • You can turn on the hotplate only with two hands. With one hand, to supply a spark, press a special key or button, which is common to all burners. With the other hand, open and regulate the flow of gas on a particular burner.
  • The fire is kindled with one hand. By turning and simultaneously pressing the handle that controls the separate burner, the gas is opened and the ignition spark is automatically generated.

Video: what you need to know when choosing a gas panel

Popular manufacturers of gas panels

Among the most famous manufacturers of gas built-in surfaces are:

• Eyelid. Turkish brand that produces budget panels. The assortment includes most of all enameled slabs of various colors, there are stainless steel and tempered glass (beige and anthracite). Any number of burners from 2 to 5 (excluding 3). The grilles can be either composite cast iron or small enamelled steel. A combined model with electric and gas burners is available.

  

  The VEKO company produces the most enameled surfaces

• Bosch. An old German company with production sites in Turkey and Spain. There are a lot of classic glass-ceramic and glass models in black, but there is very little enamel, especially light enamel. Number of burners from 1 to 5 (except 3). The emphasis is on the speed of cooking, which is why almost all hobs are equipped with high power (double flame) burners. The grilles of this company cannot be visually confused with another trademark, since they have their own original design. There are models of the latest generation with minimalistic grates located only above the heating zone.

  

  Bosch cooktops have a striking, unusual design with prominent cooking zones

• Gefest. Belarusian brand, whose products have a recognizable original design. The control panel with the handle area is highlighted and slightly raised. The assortment includes products with a working surface of all types, except for glass ceramics. They are completed only with cast iron grates. The options for the location of the burners are rectangular, in the form of a diamond and interesting oblique, when the grates above the heating zones are turned at an angle. The number of burners is from 2 to 5, and the burner with increased power is available in almost all models.

  

  On Gefest hobs, the panel with handles is slightly expanded

• Gorenje. The Slovenian company exports most of its products (over 95%). Glass ceramics, stainless steel and enamel (white and black) are used as a coating. There are classic panels with four burners and dominoes, as well as combined equipment. Child lock is found only on one stove and few surfaces equipped with an automatic protective shutdown. Almost all products are characterized by the lowest energy class A.

  

  Gorenje hobs have the lowest energy efficiency class

• Siemens. The German concern Siemens produces glass-ceramic panels of a high price category of a premium class and classic budget models made of stainless steel with an affordable price. There are no enameled surfaces in the range. The number of burners can vary from 1 to 6 pieces. The highlight of the collection is the tempered glass hobs with contrasting colored burner zones. The arrangement of the burners is diamond-shaped and square; products with a double crown are often found.

  

  The Siemens concern produces not only expensive gas panels, but also budget ones

An overview of the most famous and popular gas surfaces

The range of gas panels is extremely wide. Consider some interesting models that are in demand among buyers.

Hotplates with two burners

Among the two-burner gas surfaces, the following can be distinguished:

• BEKO HDCG 32221 FX. An inexpensive model with a stainless steel worktop and a single cast iron stand for kitchen utensils, fast electric ignition and gas control. The handles practically do not heat up, the possibility of switching to cylinder gas is provided. It is easy to clean, but the appearance is not particularly impressive, besides the burners, one of which is more powerful, are located quite close to each other, which creates inconvenience when placing large dishes.

  

  BEKO HDCG 32221 FX panel has an inexpensive price

• Bosch PCD345FEU. An ordinary, simple and reliable stainless steel panel of a low price category. Cast iron base grates, burners in total have a power of 4 kW (large reinforced and small economical), leakage protection. The electric ignition is good, but it may not work the first time; a 150 cm long cable is included with it, but there is no plug on it. A set of nozzles for switching to bottled gas. During long-term operation, the handles heat up slightly, as they are located close to the burner.

  

  The Bosch PCD345FEU panel belongs to the low-price products

• Gorenje GC 341 UC. Black glass ceramic panel with front edge polished. Cast iron dishware, electric ignition in automatic mode and gas control. The near burner is small (1 kW), the back is reinforced (3.3 kW), the switches are rotary. A beautiful and high-quality product with a memorable original design, but it is quite expensive. The kit includes a set of nozzles for propane-butane.

  

  Panel Gorenje GC 341 UC belongs to the expensive segment

Hotplates with three burners

There are not so many three-burner panels:

• Bosch PCC6A5B90. A 60 cm wide stainless steel stove, the first economical burner (1 kW), the second with increased power (3 kW), the last super-powerful WOK burner (4 kW) with a double flame. Two separate pannier racks are made of cast iron. Swivel switching handles allow smooth adjustment of fire in 9 steps. Electric ignition is automatic, but the cord is a little short (1 m). There is a gas leakage control system.

  

  Bosch PCC6A5B90 panel is equipped with a special VOK stand

• Gefest CH 2120. An unusual and original form of a glass black panel, which allows installation in the corner of a kitchen unit, offers an alternative white version and a clock pattern. The power of the burners is different: front - 1.75 and 3.1 kW, rear - 1 kW Individual small cast iron grates are installed separately above each flame source. The handles do not heat up, as they are located at a decent distance from the fire. The product is large enough (73.3 * 50 cm), looks great and is inexpensive.

  

  Gefest CH 2120 panel is made with a "clock" pattern

• Fornelli PGA 45 Fiero WH. Inexpensive compact tempered glass hob (45 cm wide), one of the hotplates is particularly powerful with three flame circuits (WOK adapter included). Small cast iron grids are provided separately for each burner. The switches are metal and very easy to clean. The largest burner requires fine tuning of the gas pressure, otherwise a working device will produce an unpleasant and quite noticeable whistle. It is better to entrust the installation and connection to an experienced specialist.

  

  The Fornelli PGA 45 Fiero WH panel is inexpensive but very functional

Hotplates with four cooking zones

The category of goods with the largest assortment, among which stand out:

• GEFEST CH 1211. Super budget cooker with white enamelled surface, two identical middle burners are located at the back, and the smallest and largest express burner is in front. The control knobs are located on the right, near the lowest power burner, therefore they do not heat up, are made of plastic and are not very reliable (break). Two separate grates in an interesting beveled shape made of cast iron. Gas control and auto ignition are available. At maximum power, the burners are noisy (whistling), but not critical. During installation, the product does not fit snugly against the kitchen countertop (decent gaps remain); silicone sealant treatment will be required around the entire perimeter.

  

  Panel GEFEST CH 1211 stands out for its unusual beveled gratings

• Bosch PCP615M90E. Classic hob of the middle price segment with stainless surface and two large cast-iron racks for dishes. All burners are of different sizes, the largest with a double flame. Plastic handles are located in front, have a metallized coating, which peels off over time. The main button for locking the panel for child protection is also located there. Gas control, fast electric ignition and a set of additional injectors for liquefied fuel. Some burners make a little noise during operation.

  

  The Bosch PCP615M90E panel has a lock button on the panel

• Bosch PPP611B91E. Stylish white mother-of-pearl tempered glass gas top with square inlays near the burners highlighted in contrasting black. Two medium normal burners, one small and one large reinforced power, above each individual cast-iron grill. The rotary switches have FlameSelect adjustment in 9 steps. Auto ignition, child lock, gas control and a set of nozzles for bottled gas. The burners can work noisily, and the price is rather big.

  

  The Bosch PPP611B91E hob zones are highlighted in a contrasting color

• GORENJE GC 641 ST. Glass ceramic hob in an unusual gray color, belonging to the premium class. Two medium-sized rear burners, in front a small and large reinforced (power 3.3 kW) WOK burner with a diameter of 10.3 cm. The nozzles are improved, allowing you to save up to 20% fuel. Safety shutdown, auto-ignition and gas injectors from cylinders. Convenient cast-iron racks with the ability to use the smallest crockery. The price is high.

  

  The GORENJE GC 641 ST panel has improved nozzles that save up to 20% gas

Customer Reviews

Five-burner hobs

Kitchen hobs with five or more burners are not so widespread, but they also find their buyer:

• Siemens EP716QB21E. The gas hob made of black tempered glass, 71 cm wide, in addition to four traditional burners of different diameters, is equipped with a WOK burner with a triple crown. Each burner has its own cast iron grate. Ignition is automatic, gas control. The only drawback is the high cost.

  

  Siemens EP716QB21E panel is the most popular among large gas surfaces

• Smeg SPR896POGH. Slab 88.5 cm wide in beige enamelled steel with antique brass fittings. All five burners have different power, the front left burner is large, ultra-fast with three flame circuits, the middle one is of an oval elongated shape for a rooster. Three independent cast iron grates. Burner control knobs with integrated autoignition are located on the right. A set of jets included. The panel is quite expensive, like most models of this class.

  

  The Smeg SPR896POGH hob has an extended burner

Video: the benefits of large hobs

Video: choosing a hob

The home appliance market offers a huge range of products of various brands in a wide price range. When choosing a gas hob, it is necessary to take into account a number of design features and functionality that will satisfy most of the requirements.