Burner controls
Controls that are directly responsible for adjusting the power of the burners. At the same time, other control elements can be provided in the design. For example, rotary knobs are often combined
with buttons, to which additional functions are designated.
—
Rotary knobs. The traditional, most common option, found in hobs of all types — both gas and
electric — and price categories. Rotary knobs are quite convenient and functional while being simple in design and inexpensive.
—
Pop out knobs. A variation on the rotary knobs described above, in which the control knobs can be recessed into the control panel. The specific design may be different: in some models, the handle is recessed during operation; in others, it remains recessed until the corresponding burner is in use and pops out from the panel during operation. This design gives the hob a neat appearance, reduces the number of places where dirt can accumulate, and makes the front panel easier to clean. Unlike rotary knobs, pop out knobs are mainly used in electrical models.
—
Touch controls. Touch controls are found only in electric hobs. This option has several advantages. First, the touch controls look neat and have no protruding parts, making them easy to clean. Secondly, the control is carried out with light touches and req
...uires minimal effort. Thirdly, touch controls give the stove a stylish and technological appearance. On the other hand, such stoves are quite expensive and may be inconvenient for some users who are accustomed to traditional rotary knobs. Therefore, relatively few touch control models are produced. Usually, it is compact hobs for 1 – 2 burners without an oven, where rotary knobs would not be very appropriate.
— Slider. A kind of touch control represented by sensitive tracks. To adjust the heating intensity of the burners or quickly access other settings of the hob, slide your finger along the corresponding touch scale to the selected value. The convenience of slider control also lies in the fact that you can immediately set the required heating power by clicking on a certain area of the scale.
— Push-buttons. Control, carried out exclusively with the help of buttons, is used very rarely in modern stoves. Most models with such controls are compact portable stoves for one or two burners: it is not always convenient to equip such devices with rotary knobs, but the buttons fit well into the design. They are also cheaper than touch controls. On the other hand, the price difference is not so great, and the buttons are somewhat less convenient to use and clean — mainly for this reason they are noticeably less common.Oven capacity
It is the volume of the oven provided in the stove. It s the maximum volume of products that can be placed in it without compromising work efficiency. Accordingly, a
larger oven is useful for large volumes of cooking; on the other hand, such a capacity will significantly affect the price and dimensions of the stove.
If you buy a regular household stove with 4 burners and do not plan to cook a lot in the oven, you can not pay much attention to this parameter. The capacity of the oven is usually enough for most simple tasks like cooking a pie or baking chicken. But for more serious tasks, a larger oven may be required. Detailed recommendations on volumes can be found in special sources.
If there is an additional chamber (see below), this paragraph usually indicates only the volume of the main oven.
Minimum temperature
The lowest temperature the oven can provide. Usually, it is in the range of +30 to +50 ˚C. So, for example, the minimum heating temperature at +30 ˚C allows you to defrost products. Models with a minimum of 40 ˚C and 50 ˚C allow you to heat ready meals, heat tableware (before serving), dry rusk, etc.
Max. temperature
The highest temperature that the oven can reach during normal operation. The minimum value in modern models is 230 °C. However, even this low temperature is considered sufficient for most simple dishes. The average indicator can be called 240 – 250 °C. Such heating is provided by most modern ovens. And the most advanced models can heat up to 300 °C or more. Such capabilities will be useful for some specific recipes that require high temperatures.
Door closer
Such a device is responsible for pulling the door when closing and, in some models when opening. The idea is that the user does not need to close/open the door completely — pull it to the right place, and then the door will be "picked up" by the
door closer and smoothly brought to a fully open or closed state. Such a system eliminates the risk of leaving the oven not completely closed and prolongs the life span of the device.
Oval dual zone
The presence of an
oval dual zone on the hob. Such a heater is useful for working with appropriate elongated dishes (for example, oval roasting pots). In models with electric heaters (see "Burner type") the desired shape is provided by an additional segment installed close to the burner; the burner in normal mode works like a regular round one, and when the additional segment is connected, it turns into an oval. In gas models, a burner with an oval flame is installed, or two small burners located close to each other.
Automatic switch-off
The type of automatic switch-off provided in the design of the stove.
Auto-off can be provided
for the hob(hob),
for the oven, or for both at once, regardless of whether the hob and oven are gas or electric. This function is implemented through a timer, after which the device turns off.
Connected load
The connected load of the stove is the maximum electrical power consumed during operation. This parameter is indicated only for models that are equipped with at least one electric heater — burner (burners), oven or grill. It is the burners that are the highest consumption in terms of energy consumption; Features such as auto-ignition or oven lighting require little energy, a ordinary socket is enough for them.
First of all, the requirements for the power grid depend on this indicator: it must be able to provide such power without overload. It is worth noting that for household sockets the power limit is about 3 – 3.5 kW; with more power, you need to connect the stove to a 230 V network according to special rules. An alternative is a three-phase 400 V mains: most modern stoves with electric heaters allow connection to both 230 V and 400 V.