Glass-ceramic cooking panels: burners, feature set, working surface care. Characteristics of models presented in the market.
Chest zones heating
Electric cooking panels made of glass ceramics were made, perhaps, the symbol of modern kitchen, such a cutting was the transition from the usual cast iron burners to smooth toned surfaces. The glass-ceramic panel embedded in the kitchen furniture turned out to be a find not only for housewives, but also for designers.
Before the appearance of glass-ceramic plates, sharply reduce the temperature of the product being processed (which in the cooking is required quite often) it was possible only on gas equipment. The ceramic, from which the coating of cooking panels is manufactured, is a special material with low heat inertia, that is, the heating zones of the burner are quickly heated and cooled. In addition, glass ceramic has high heat-polarizing properties. This means that it is well transmitting heat from the Tan in the vertical direction, there are practically no heat in the horizontal heat transfer. In other words, only the burner is heated, and the surface around it remains almost cold.
Now most of the glass-ceramic work surfaces have residual heat indicators. They show which of the burners has not yet cooled, thereby eliminating the possibility of burn. KRYMERA, on the panels from the electrolux, the residual heat sensor will not go out until the temperature in the area of the cooking zone does not fall below 55c. On a number of Bosch panels, the large lettering is indicated by the residual heat, which can still be used to end the cooking or dishes, and a small-residual heat that can no longer be used. Miele's mampels occurs a three-segment indicator that informs about the state of the burner- whether further preparation or maintenance of dishes is possible in a preheated form, whether the burner has been cooled at the end of these processes.
In addition to rapid heating and cooling of the burners, the advantage of glass-ceramic to ordinary electric stoves is, of course, in the simplicity of sanitary processing of plates and cleaning the working surfaces. The aesthetic side of the case is of great importance: the glass-ceramic surface fits perfectly in the kitchen of any design, making the interior beautiful and advanced. In the meantime, many users already forget that glass is glass, even if it is tempered, and the coarse mechanical impact on it is fraught with damage to the expensive panel. Of course, it is most likely to grind heavy steel pots, but you will not have to try hard to drop solid styled items, cutlery, jars with seasonings, etc. necessary.
The convenience of cooking surfaces is manifested even before they are mounted on the kitchen - designing the interior, you can combine the technique to your taste, placing, for example, the oven at the chest level (it is easier to pull out the baking sheets), and the electric stove next to the cutting table. Cover can be installed regardless of the oven, anywhere in the kitchen. They are controlled by either using a set of electromechanical swivel switches located on the surface of the panel, as in a number of models from Ariston (Italy), Gorenje (Slovenia), Viking (USA), or using the touch field (Bosch, Electrolux, Siemens, Miele, Ardo, Fagor, etc.).
In the so-called dependent panels, elements of control of the burners and oven are located nearby, on the body of the oven. If the cooktop and oven have separate control, the embedded panel is called independent. Elements of controls are located on the plane of the cooking panel, and the controls of the oven - on the front panel of the oven (usually to the right of the door of the oven). This design is recommended to purchase if the oven is embedded separately from the cooking panel. It is important to trace the oven that you select to the dependent panel with expandable heating zones, had an inclusion button such a zone. Otherwise you can control the burners only in their standard configuration.
Dynamic burners
Tinted glass-ceramic of working surfaces hides under itself the most important element design - flexible TEN, laid by a spiral on an asbestos base. Outside the glass has only marking of heated zones. Strictly speaking, there are no traditional burners here, which we have been accustomed for a long time. But by inertia, and at the same time not to make confusion into terminology, almost all manufacturers in their booklets continue to call the heating zones with burners.Different types of different types are installed in different models: Rapid (Hilight), halogen, induction.
Rapid You can distinguish with a high-temperature spiral high-temperature spiral. Heating rate - 10-12 seconds. Each manufacturer has a working surface with such burners, with extensible heating zones or standard round shape. This allows you to prepare in the dishes of different sizes, cook eggs in a small bucket or soup in a five-liter saucepan and not worry that it is unevenly heated. The burners with a diameter of 210mm have the heating power to 2.1kW, with a diameter of 145mm- approximately 1.2kw. As a rule, rapid hobs, especially increased diameter, are used for cooking soups, broths and compotes in large pots, for home canning, in general, when it is required to recycle many products immediately.
Halogen. Heating is provided by high-temperature spiral combined with a halogen lamp-quartz gas-filled tube. The lamp glows with bright red light, highlighting a large amount of heat. Such a burner has a high power, instantly heated and quickly cools. Since it is full of power, it is dialing literally immediately after turning on, the best way to quickly boil the water, make french fries or good to do meat. The halogen heating element is installed, for example, in NKQ645 models from Bosch, ZKT622 HN / HX from Zanussi, EKD 5470-1 in from Bauknecht.
Hi Light. Watch burners as a heating element applied a snake tape from a high-altered alloy. The heating rate is pretty high - 4-7 C, the radiated heat is very evenly distributed across the entire working area. Conveniently when you are in a hurry to work in the morning and want to save time. Water on this burner heats up and boils much faster than any other. But if the usual rapid hardware (diameter 145-180mm) consumes 1-1.5 kW per hour, then the heating element Hilight- 1.5-2 kW. The Hilight-indispensable attribute of several models in the assortment of each manufacturer. On the working surface of the JP155SIV from General Electric installed 4Thow hubs with a heating element with a power of 2,2kW. The combined panels with one or two hilight killers are proposed.
Induction. This is one of the most modern developments. Under the working surface there is an inductor and a powerful electric generator, creating a quickly varying electromagnetic field. Due to the direction of the electromagnetic field, the atoms of the crystal alloy lattice from which a frying pan or a saucepan is made, come to the oscillatory movement, heating mainly the bottom of the dishes. So, the work surface of the plate, passing electromagnetic waves, remains cold. Direct heating saves and time, and electricity. A threaten on a relatively cold burner with fat liquid does not accumulate.
Dear versions of induction panels (for example, Kppersbusch Eki 607.0 m, Bosch NiF 665 E, Siemens EI75754, Electrolux EHD6670P, Dedietrich DTI 199 X E1, etc.) are equipped with a Booster function. Each of the induction konfoot "ineming" has a capacity limit. But if you need to warm one burner very quickly, the power limit of which, for example, 2kW, then, activating the boost function, you can increase its power up to 3 kW due to the unused power of the second induction burner. Of course, the burner will not turn on if there are no dishes. To use induction heating, you will have to purchase dishes with a magnetizing bottom, made of ferromagnetic alloys (cast iron or special steel).
In addition, in some models (for example, Mielekm495) there is a special detector, which determines the diameter of the object installed on the robe and blocks the inclusion, if this size is less than 12 cm (like a forgotten spoon or fork). The induction burner has a very wide range of power (from 50 to 2800W), which makes it possible to prepare dishes that require different degrees of heating. At maximum power, the dish is prepared in 2 times faster than on a gas stove. Any change in the temperature setting occurs instantly, so it is easy to stop the gathered "escape" liquid.
Most often, the so-called "wok" is used to work with induction plates - a special hemispherical container with a long handle. This fixture came to us from traditional Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Eastern custom eating chopsticks makes cooks to cut products on very small size and mass pieces. Apply European heat treatment methods in such cases is quite difficult, if the finely chopped ingredients throw on an ordinary frying pan, the products are dried after a few minutes or burned. To preserve moisture and taste of the product, in Chinese cuisine it is subject to quick heat treatment in boiling oil. The entire operation takes one, maximum two minutes, but you have to use the gas burner, the height of the flame is about 30cm (imagine such in your kitchen?), And the power is equivalent to 8kW. After fresh products laid in the wok are placed on fire, the burner must enter the optimal temperature regime in a few seconds. That is why such a power reserve is necessary, because the product can not be kept for a long time.
Induction plates have become an excellent alternative to gas equipment, the operation of which causes many problems, including related and compliance with the safety requirements. Until recently, heating with induction was used exclusively in professional equipment. But fashion for the Japanese menu in full swing, and manufacturers of built-in technology do not sit back. While the ancient Eastern tradition of cooking is embodied in exclusive models. Thus, the company KPPERSBUSCH proposed an induction wok EWI 457.0 m, the glass-ceramic surface of which has a concave heating zone (cork power3,5kW). Agree, an unexpected connection of thousand-year traditions and super-modern technologies. But for the "good" price- $ 2699. Actually, the high price and the need to buy a set of special metal dishes, which is also expensive, is the main lack of induction panels.
According to its functions, the burner of glass-ceramic surfaces can be with a variable zone of heating and thermostatic. The latter are equipped with a temperature sensor (thermostat), which allows you to permanently maintain the heating temperature specified from the control panel. It is very important for the preparation of some dishes requiring uniform heat treatment (say, sauces, stewed vegetables and meat, various porridge, etc.).
The burners with a variable heating zone act, as a rule, so. With standard round form, the contours of a larger or smaller diameter are activated, and an additional segment of the heating element is activated. Such burners are convenient for cooking dishes in a special dish (for example, a grazing or a fish tray). They are called the manufacturers that are called: "crayon." Up the CK596 ($ 2555) from Gaggenau ($ 2555) from Gaggenau Two of the five burners, you can easily press the key to merge to turn out to be an ellipse or square, depending on the dishes that you use. VECU Series ($ 1503) of Viking (USA) VIKING (USA) was marked on the fragments of the rectangular shape and has two expansion zones. Heat the milk or make coffee better on a small, economical burner. Boil for breakfast sausages or turn an impressive piece of meat into an appetizing roast better connecting the expansion zone.
In many electrical stoves with a glass-ceramic panel, special sensors controlling the size of the dishes are installed. Due to this, the burner with a variable heating zone functions only in the part where you put a saucepan or pan.
Grill on wheels
The view of translucent through the darkened glass of heating elements fascinates. The glass-ceramic surfaces are now a good demand for the transition wave to the designable kitchens and embedded technique. In addition to consumer qualities, aesthetics play a big role here: designers are often the initiators of the cooking surface, the benefits of the types of panels are quite a lot. As a rule, in the standard version, you can install a frame for a panel (white metal or coated under graphite, stainless steel) - it is offered almost all manufacturers. Wonderless models look very elegant, built-in flush with the surface of the table top.
Gaggenau firm on its CK596 panel in the shape of a hexagon (width of the cooking zone- 40cm) installed five burners instead of the usual four. Two of them can be combined with one pressing the key to turn out to be an ellipse or square, depending on the form of the dishes. The CK596 panel ($ 2555) is spectacularly located in the corner of the kitchen, regardless of the style of the interior, be it technogenic minimalism, the laconic classic, a cozy "country" or a democratic eclectic. The retractable folding (!) Gourmet-ceramic grilled truck ($ 815) from Kppersbusch with a two-meter electric cord, designed for picnics, looks originally. The panel with two controlled zones for the grill (power2,15kW) can be removed from the wheels and set to the working surface. Electric stove, which you can, if necessary, transport from the room to the room! A few years ago, such a difficult to imagine.
Armament
As a typical equipment, almost all models of glass-ceramic surfaces have light contacts of each of the burners, the residual heat indicators and the control system (for independent panels). The more solid and louder the brand, the more you need to pay extra: for prestige, a wider set of service functions and the highest level of assembly and reliability.But one famous brand is not enough for you to choose this particular cooking surface from among many others, very similar to each other (tinted glass, metal framework, actually, and all components of the visual series). The main differences between additional service functions, most of which are implemented by expensive electronics. It seems a little more, and the plates will pull out our pans from our hands, bypassing our services and without requiring the permanent presence of a person in the kitchen.
The more expensive the cooking panel, the greater the auxiliary devices and automatic elements that facilitate work in the kitchen. Here is some of them.
- Infrared temperature sensor. It continuously measures the temperature of the dishes installed on the burner and under its change reduces or increases the heating power so that the temperature of the dishes remains constant.
- Preparation automation. Special device on the burner, allowing it to turn it on at any time at full power. After a few minutes, the device will automatically turn off part of the power.
- Security system in some plates models, allowing you to block the inclusion of burners and ovens (to protect against accidental inclusion by children). The function of blocking the sensory or electromechanical panel is present in a number of models of almost all manufacturers. Thus, on the touch panel of the hob of Electrolux, there is a special button while holding off within a few seconds you can block all other keys and sensors on the control display. Thus, your baby will not be able to accidentally turn on any function of the plate and a single burner. When removing one or more knobs of magnetic electromechanical switches from the Siemens panel, it immediately turns off. The child's burn reckoned to the burner will not receive.
- In some models from Miele, Aeg, Gaggenau has a special detector, which determines the diameter of the object installed on the robe and blocks the inclusion, if this size is less than 12 cm.
- The function of automatic cooking in some plates with multifunction ovens. We have enough to select the program number and set a lot of source product. The electronic timer will automatically turn off the heating elements for half an hour before the end of the preparation of the dish so that it comes to full availability at the residual heat. Upon completion of the process, the timer will give a signal.
A few words must be said about the combined panels, on which there are usually three gas burners and one electric heated zone (or two gas and two electrical). Such surfaces are more expensive and are not produced by all manufacturers. For example, Ariston has a PH941MSTV model with an electride working surface (four gas burners, two radial heating zones). Purchase of the combined working surface makes sense if frequent power supply or gas supply occurs in your home.
Glass-ceramic: Main-care!
Although the working surface of the glass ceramics is resistant to high temperatures and mechanical shocks, it should not be checked for strength. As a result of sharp and strong blows with sharp objects, it can burst. Use the surface of the panel as a cutting board, so you can damage the coating. Yes, and with kitchenware, it is necessary to handle very carefully. Do not forget, the cost of repair can be comparable to the cost of a new panel. At the same same way, even branded service centers do not always have the necessary spare parts. If still the surface was damaged or cracked, it is better to immediately disable the power supply and contact the service office.
The glass-ceramic panel is cleaned with the help of special scrapers attached to the stove. If there is no scraper, you can use a disposable razor machine. Punching detergent is suitable for washing liquid or special compositions for ceramics. Such solutions are left on the surface a thin protective film, rejecting fat.
Before cooking on a glass-ceramic plate, it is recommended to wipe it with a wet cloth to clean from dust and possible food residues from the previous cooking. If in the process of the installation plate on its surface fell fat, it is necessary to immediately sprinkle it with salt and remove with the newspaper, while the stove is still hot. The liquid spilled on the plate need to immediately take off with a damp cloth. The dishes for electric stoves should have a smooth bottom. A loose fit of the dishes to the hill of the electric stove leads to an increase in heat loss.
In a long place
Of course, with a smooth ceramic panel, remove the contamination is much easier than from any other working surface, and the dishes can be rearranged as you like. Low sidelights of the frame on the edges look sophisticated. But neither the other will stop the "runaway" due to the strong uncontrolled boiling broth, which you decided to cook in a big pan for the whole family. So you have to wipe not only the working surface itself, but also the floors on the floor. In addition to this, the spilled liquid can get to the enabled burner and lead to cracking the glass-ceramic panel. The probability of such an outcome is small, but still exists. Behind the choice of such: either more often look after the cooking process, or if the accuracy is not your lip and constantly in the kitchen you do not like it, think about purchasing a gas panel. One of the solutions to the problem can be the use of high pots for cooking dishes with a large amount of fluid so that it does not shine when it is boiling.
If you have to leave a saucepan with a boiling soup, distracting the child in the next room, you can buy a model with a boiling sensor. The boiler surface EK73D50 from Siemens is equipped with an infrared sensor that controls the cooking process and when the fluid is boiling, stops the heating of the burner or supports the temperature level specified from the control panel. Bosch and Gaggenau swaps are provided electronic boiling control. It looks like this: the burner works at full power for a few minutes, and then automatically switches to the selected heating level.
Operating surfaces from Miele and Electrolux support the "Antiprolive" function. If any foreign object falls on the activated zone of heating or in the zone of placement of the touch control, the entire panel is automatically disconnected. The same happens when a large amount of liquid overflows through the edge, there are special sensors reacting to the fill area of the cooking surface under the edge-ceramic. Of course, the models with devices of this kind are more expensive. By buying a cooking surface, be prepared for additional costs, since the glass-ceramic presents increased requirements for the used dishes used. Spend the revision of the buckets, skewers, a saucepan and pan, which use: the dishes should have a thick, absolutely smooth and smooth bottom. A loose fit of the bottom to the burner will reduce the cooking speed and will lead to loss of electricity. From the dishes with an aluminum or copper bottom, it is best to refuse to immediately, it can leave a track with a metal glitter on the glass-ceramic panel, which can then be eliminated. Operation of the plate with glass ceramics has special specifics. It is necessary to use only high-quality frying pan and stainless steel pans with dried up and somewhat concave bottom, which when cooking, as a result of thermal expansion, is straightened. According to European standards DIN44904, the maximum bentness of the bottom in the cold state should not exceed 0.6% of the diameter of the bottom. Let's say if the pan with a diameter of 220mm permissible concavity can be 1,3mm.
Glass ceramics in the kitchen. Only they need to be able to use. Success to you!
| Firm (approximate number of models presented in the market) | Model | Dimensions (widrobe), mm | Panel type | Control | Maximum power consumption, kW | Number of konfork | Expansion of the heating zone | Hilight burners | Mode "Protection against Children" | Notes | Price, $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEG (about11) | 65300 kfan. | 605535 | Independent | Sensory | 7,1 | four | There are two burners | All 4. | there is | Automation boiling; digital display; indication of residual heat; smooth control of the power of burners; Expansion of the type "Utyar" | 882. |
| 91900kmn. | 891501 | Independent | Sensory | 7.9 | five | There are two burners | All 5. | there is | Automation boiling; digital display; indication of residual heat; smooth control of the power of burners; Expansion of the type "Utyar" | 1522. | |
| Ariston (more than 10) | KC60BK. | 580505. | Dependent | - | 5,8. | four | - | All 4. | - | The residual heat indicator | 284. |
| KT6114QDIX. | 595510. | Independent | Sensory | 6,4. | four | There is on one burner | All 4. | The residual heat indicator; overheat protection; Timer on shutdown; smooth control power control | 441. | ||
| Bosch (about11) | NIF665E. | 594516. | Dependent, combined | - | 6,4. | 2 + 2 induction | There is on one burner | 2. | - | Determination of the presence of dishes; Residual heating indicator | 1069. |
| PKN645E. | 576518. | Independent | Sensory | 7.0 | four | There are two burners | All 4. | - | Automation boiling; Expansion of the type "Utyar"; smooth control power control | 665. | |
| ELECTROLUX (10) | EHL6690X. | 626520. | Dependent | - | 7.6 | four | There are two burners | All 4. | Residual heating indicator; Trapezoid-shaped frames | 485. | |
| EHD 6670 P. | 590520. | Independent, combined | Sensory | 6.5 | 2 + 2 induction | There is on one burner | 2. | there is | Timer on shutdown; alarm clock; automation boiling; BOOOSTER Intensive Heating Function | 900. | |
| GENERAL ELECTRIC (about 5) | JP135SB | 650490. | Dependent | - | 6.7 | four | - | - | - | Residual heating indicators | 495. |
| JP 155 Siv. | 548478. | Independent | Sensory | 6.7 | four | All 4. | All 4. | there is | Overheat protection; Timer on shutdown; Heating indicator on the front panel | 1050. | |
| SMEG (about 5) | SE2756SE. | 750510. | Independent | Sensory | There is no data | four | There are two burners | - | - | The panel has a bezed ceramic edge; Timer on shutdown; Sensor presence of dishes | 835. |
| SE640B / 1. | 575505. | Independent | Electromechanical | There is no data | four | - | 4 Heating zones Quick Light | - | The residual heat indicator | 555. | |
| Whirlpool (about 5) | AKM 613/01 NB. | 583513. | Independent | Electromechanical | There is no data | four | - | - | - | There is no data | 327. |
| Miele (10) | KM 258. | 560490. | Dependent | - | 7,4. | four | There are two burners | one | there is | Rectangular expansion zone; autofocus; automation boiling; Timer on shutdown | 1380. |
| Km255 St. | 574504. | Dependent | - | 7,4. | four | There are two burners | four | there is | Rectangular expansion zone; overheat protection; automation boiling; The residual heat indicator | 1215. | |
| Km495 St. | 574504. | Independent, combined | Sensory | 6.5 | 2 + 2 induction | There are on three burners | 2. | there is | Timer on shutdown; Expansion of the type "Utyar"; smooth control of the power of burners; Determination of presences | 2085. | |
| KM 463. | 750490. | Independent | Sensory | 7.0 | four | There are two burners | four | there is | The residual heat indicator; overheat protection; Timer on shutdown | 1720. | |
| Gorenje (about 8) | Ect68c. | 580510. | Independent | Sensory | 7,1 | four | There are two burners | four | there is | Timer on shutdown; Expansion of the type "Utyar"; smooth control power control | 555. |
| EU 60 W. | 580510. | Dependent | - | 7,1 | four | - | four | - | The residual heat indicator | 141. | |
| Zanussi (about 10) | ZK621LN. | 572602. | Dependent | - | 6.3. | four | There is on one burner | four | - | The residual heat indicator; Expansion of the type "Utyar" | 284. |
| ZTK622LX | 572502. | Independent | Sensory | 7.0 | four | There are two burners | four | there is | The residual heat indicator; Expansion of the type "Utyar"; Timer on shutdown | 538. | |
| Asko. | A1242A1x | 580510 | Independent | Sensory | 7.5 | four | There is on one burner | four | there is | Timer on shutdown; The residual heat indicator | 455. |
| Siemens (about 10) | EK73H55 | 594516. | Independent | Sensory | 7.6 | four | There are two burners | four | - | Overheat protection; boiling automation (infrared sensor); The residual heat indicator | 991. |
| ET 72554. | 576518. | Independent | Sensory | 6.6 | four | There is on one burner | four | - | Automation boiling; The residual heat indicator | 663. |
The editors thanks TD "Mir" and the company "Khomer" for help in the preparation of material.