Hob material
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Enamel. The simplest and most common type of coating. Enamel combines low cost and good strength parameters. In addition, it can be produced in almost any colour. On the other hand, cleaning it can require considerable effort, and over time scratches and chips appear on such a surface.
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Stainless steel. Steel surfaces have a nice appearance. In addition, they are stronger than enamelled ones; cracks and chips do not appear on them. Also, steel is quite easy to clean, but it is difficult to maintain its cleanliness — dirt appears easily, and even fingerprints can ruin a neat appearance. And for cleaning you need to use special tools, otherwise, you can scratch the stove.
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Glass ceramics. Glass ceramics as a material is generally remarkable for its high thermal conductivity combined with good strength and heat resistance specs.
Schott Ceram and
EuroKera, manufacturers of this very glass ceramics, which manufacturers of household appliances install in their models, were especially successful in this. It made it possible to create original models of electric hobs, where the heating elements are located under a solid glass ceramic surface. The properties of this material allow it to be used with
induction hobs(see below). Such surfaces do not have protruding part
...s, and the location of the heaters is marked only by lines; thanks to this, you can conveniently move the dishes between the heaters, and cleaning such a surface is as simple as possible. However, there are also disadvantages: glass ceramics is less durable than enamel or steel. It requires dishes with a flat bottom, and spilling liquid on a flat surface is fraught with spreading over the entire stove and (not only). Also, this material is used in gas cooking surfaces "gas-on-glass". However, it is rather fashionable because, in addition to strength, it does not have key advantages over a tempered glass (see below) but costs significantly more.
— Tempered glass. The material used in gas-on-glass cooking hobs. it is used to make a surface over which gas burners are located. Such models have an original appearance, and the glass itself is scratch-resistant and can be cleaned well. Its strength and resistance to heat are much lower than that of glass ceramics (in fact, the latter has become the reason that tempered glass is not used in electric hobs), but these moments are more than offset by low cost.
— Cast iron. An original variant found in some premium gas models. The working surface, in this case, is made of the same cast iron as the burner grates, and the grates themselves are protrusions on the cast iron surface. It gives the entire structure an unusual, very strict appearance. And it increases its reliability: the design of the burner grates is such that they will not bend even under the heaviest dishes. On the other hand, cleaning such a surface can be quite laborious, and this option is not cheap. Because of this, there are only a few models with cast-iron surfaces on the market.Burner grates
The material from which the grates on the gas burners of the hob are made. Electric hotplates do not require grates.
— Steel.
Steel grates have a relatively low weight, good strength and at the same time — low cost. For aesthetic reasons and for additional protection they are usually covered with a special heat-resistant enamel. Contaminants are quite easily cleaned from such enamel, but it is undesirable to process it with rough methods — otherwise, chips and scratches may appear on the surface. In general, despite their general practicality, steel grates are considered less advanced than cast iron grates and are somewhat less commonly used in hobs. However, if you do not load the hob with large pots, buckets, etc., the difference is not critical, and the service life of steel grates is often comparable to the “life span” of the hob itself.
— Cast iron.
Cast iron grates look more nice and massive than steel ones, and they weigh much more. It can be attributed to the advantages — in the case when the grilles can be removed: a large weight contributes to stability. In addition, such structures are strong, durable and tolerate even high loads. They cost a little more than steel ones. As a result, cast iron is a more popular material for grates than steel. It is worth noting some difficulty in cleaning from pollution; on the other hand, cast iron grates usually do not have additional coating
...s, and you can not be afraid to spoil them with wire sponges or abrasive products.Cut-out dimensions (WxD)
The size of the opening that needs to be made in the kitchen countertop for the normal embedding of the hob. By default, the width and depth are indicated — the size of the opening along the front and side sides, respectively (when viewed from the user's side). Note that the dimensions of the hob itself are usually larger than the dimensions for embedding: when installed in an opening, the upper part of the surface rests on its edges, so that the device does not fall into the countertop.
