When choosing a device, you need to find out what its power should be. The stove is electric, induction or gas, each has a certain power level. To make it clearer, it is worth analyzing this question in more detail.
Operation of the hob
Properly selected power level plays a key role in cooking. The quality of the prepared dishes, and the amount of time spent on it, entirely depends on this.
More recently, the housewives could not even think of a separate hob; they went along with the oven in the form of a kitchen stove. With design, too, things were not important. Technical progress does not stand still and a huge selection has appeared not only of the hob separately from the oven, but also a wide variety of style, color and design. Needless to say about the functions of the device. Manufacturers try to think through everything to the smallest detail so that cooking is as comfortable and fast as possible. Built-in appliances are a very convenient and popular variant of the kitchen device. In order for the stove to really please its owners with fast and high-quality cooking, you need to buy a device taking into account its power and the one that home wiring can give.
What determines the power of the hob?
The power of any type of hob is one of the key indicators. The level of performance depends on power. There are several reasons for this:
- The speed of cooking depends on the amount of energy that the device consumes. In this case, preference is given to the hob, which is able to cook the dish faster.
- There are a large number of cookers, burners on which have different levels of energy consumption. This is convenient when a hot plate is not required. The largest burner should produce enough heat to cook large volumes of food.
- Too powerful a stove is also not the best solution. Such a hob will give off a lot of excess heat to the surrounding space, in this case to the kitchen, because of which the air temperature in the room will increase significantly and you will have to turn on the air conditioning, and this is an additional waste of electricity.
Thus, the hob must be selected so that it can be cooked quickly, but there should not be too much heat.
The most common models are designed for a power of 6.5-10 kW. In order not to miscalculate with the choice of power, the right solution to the problem is to turn to a specialist who is able to give qualified advice on the issue of connecting the unit and will tell you if wiring is needed.
There are enough options on the market with an optimal power level for each client. There is also a huge number of stoves, the power of which is not so high, from about 3.7 kW, which allows you to power them from a simple outlet.
Electric hob
It has a traditional device. This type consumes the greatest amount of energy, so the review begins with this device.
Electric hob
On the one hand, electric hobs are safer than gas hobs, but for this you will have to spend money on installing and, if necessary, changing the wiring.
At the moment, the most common are four-burner stoves, which means that for several decades of technical development of cooking stoves, nothing has changed significantly. The principle of connecting the plate has also not changed much.But the manufacturers did their best to improve the heating elements. In most modern electric stoves, each burner has its own energy consumption. Typically, kilowatt consumption is distributed as follows:
- The first, smallest burner consumes from 0.4 to 1 kW.
- The two middle burners and the power have an average - usually 1.5 kW.
- The largest should take no more than 3 kW.
From this, it can be concluded that the total consumption of the electric hob reaches about 7 kW. Some devices are equipped with additional features like these:
- The ability to adjust the heating area for each burner in the form of an additional heating ring around the disc.
- There are cookers with the function of combining two burners. It is very convenient for using oblong-shaped utensils, such as gooseberries.
Two-burner cooktop
The function of combining hobs is clear. A rather convenient option, however, such panels consume much more energy than conventional ones.
- There are also panels that are equipped with six burners.
Such advanced devices will already spend about 10 kW.
However, before acquiring such a powerful technique, you need to consult a specialist not subject to the possibility of wiring. Usually, in old houses, the wiring is not designed for such a powerful technique, and thoughtlessly connecting it can cause the wires to burn out or short circuit, which can lead to an emergency.
When the apartment is already a lot of household appliances that consume a lot of energy. If it was decided to buy a powerful hob, then you should not turn it on simultaneously with other electrical appliances.
Induction hob
The power of the induction panel is approximately 7 kW. Induction surface copes with cooking in the shortest possible time. Therefore, in extremely rare cases, all burners can be activated on an induction furnace.
Induction hob
Ultra modern induction cooker It is much more expensive than its counterparts and you will have to buy special dishes for it. Therefore, before giving preference to this type of hob, it is necessary to think about whether this technological innovation is worth such expenses and whether they will be justified.
The peculiarity and the main advantage of such a hob is that it heats the bottom of the dishes, and not the air around it, which significantly saves energy consumption.
Gas hob
Here, calculating the power is a little more complicated, since the gas panel does not have a special counter. Here the calculation is 8-10 kW per hour / m3. It is not possible to accurately determine the quality indicators of gas, however, the extreme values can be calculated as follows:
- The standard power of the gas surface burner is 2-2.5 kW.
- In total, the hob consumes 8-10 kW.
Gas cooking stove
It has been proven that the most delicious dishes are obtained precisely on a gas stove, as the products not only receive heat treatment, but are cooked on an open fire, which gives a unique taste to the dish.
The power of the burner is fully determined by its size.
Do not skimp on energy-saving models, spending once, you can save on energy much more.
Gas or electric?
Another issue that has always worried buyers. What kind of furnace should you choose, gas or electric? Let's consider in more detail. A gas-fired stove has several advantages, it heats dishes faster and food cooks faster. The temperature control of the hotplate is also instant. Connecting to a gasified house is much easier, unlike electric models.
Electric panels are preferred by residents of houses where there is no gas. If there is a gas main in the house, then it is better to install a gas furnace.An electric furnace consumes a lot of energy, because this is not always a profitable device. Also, often the wiring that is laid at home is not enough and it is necessary to strengthen it, and this is an additional cost. But electric panels have their own advantages. For example, such a stove is much easier to wash, it is simple and safe to use.
Combined hob
The combination panel is becoming increasingly popular. However, here again everything depends on the cost. It is also worth considering installation. You will have to spend money on connecting to both the gas main and the power grid.
Often you can find a combination stove, which is powered by both gas and electricity. Or for a country house or cottage, in a word, where there are frequent power outages. The device must be practical and safe.
Integrated hob
I’m definitely for gas, or at least a combination .. I’ve been trying for a long time for my friends to get used to electrics, but I still bought myself gas from a hotpoint, and haven’t regretted it yet!