Gas hob - characteristics
The gas stove is equipped with traditional gas burners. It is cheaper to buy and operate, and allows you to quickly adjust the temperature. However, a gas stove requires special ventilation in the room where it will be located. Gas stoves are now very attractive in terms of design and are also becoming increasingly safer because you can buy a dust-proof gas stove that automatically turns off the gas when the flame accidentally goes out.
You mostly associate gas stoves with grates and flames, but gas stove technology has come so far that today you can choose an option that doesn't look like a traditional stove. These are gas stoves without a flame.
On gas stoves, the grate that supports the pan above the flame can be one piece, two-piece, or even separate for each burner. The hob usually has 4 gas burners: 1 large - high heat, 2 standard and 1 small. Some manufacturers offer stoves with 2, 3 or 5 burners. The burner may have, for example, a triple ring, the so-called turbo, which increases its power. Most often, hob plates are made of stainless steel and ceramic glass of various colors.
The most reliable gas hobs
Bosch PPP6A2M90R27 200 RUR
The rating of gas hobs is supplemented by another 4-burner model from Bosch, PPP6A2M90R series. Attracts with ease of use. Does not require special care, because it is implemented in a fairly high-quality coating. Drops, fingerprints and stains do not remain. An additional element is a switch designed for all burners. It also performs the function of parental control. Unlike the above analogue, this stove does not provide for a pronounced power distribution: there are 2 normal burners, a large and a small one. All basic functions are provided.
+Pros
- collected in Spain;
- easy to clean;
- stylish appearance;
- high performance.
-Minuses
- large sides.
Smeg SPR896POGH48 000 RUR
Reliable gas panel of the Coloniale series, manufactured by a famous Italian company. Allows you to prepare a wide variety of dishes in the shortest possible time. Attracts with its excellent price/quality ratio (taking into account functionality), convenience and reliability. Includes 5 burners, each of which has its own power. The width of the product is 88.5 centimeters. The stove is made of cast iron. The following functions have been introduced: parental control, gas control, autonomous ignition. Can be purchased in black or gold.
+Pros
- brand;
- guarantee;
- set of burners;
- build quality.
-Minuses
- not found.
Gorenje GCW751ST36 730 RUR
The best gas stove of 2021 is Gorenje GCW751ST, which is equipped with five burners. The design of this model was carried out by the French specialist Philippe Starck. This is probably the reason for the slightly inflated price. Durable glass ceramics were used as the main material. It gives this product a truly unique appearance and long service life. As for the technical component, all the burners are classic, without much bells and whistles. The most powerful Wok is in the center. It is worth noting that the model is quite massive, which is due to the presence of cast iron grates.
+Pros
- strength;
- design;
- reliability;
- ease of operation.
-Minuses
- massive model.
Types of gas hobs
The diversification of energy sources for the cooking process has not slowed down the development of traditional gas stoves. Manufacturers are constantly developing technologies and introducing new products. An important argument when choosing a hob is often the issue of price - gas stoves are cheaper to buy and operate. How not to get lost in the maze of offers? These are the most important tips you need to know when deciding to buy a gas stove.
The traditional solution is metal, cheap, simple and economical. You have the largest selection in this category. You will find models of all sizes, configurations and prices.
The cheapest are sheet metal - enameled and brushed steel. Glass plates are 20-30% more expensive due to the higher cost of the material . Glass plates sell better in the market, especially black ones. They look nice, fit perfectly with other equipment, and seem to be easy to clean.
Panel surface:
There are three options on sale:
- Glass Plates – These are made from tempered glass, making them as similar to electric plates as possible, and the burners are built into an elegant glass panel that looks beautiful. The standard is black glass, but at the customer's request it can be white, silver or graphite. When buying such a slab, you need to pay attention to the peripheral frame, which protects the structure from mechanical damage . Although a smooth and uniform surface may seem easy to clean, it must be remembered that stripes and stains will not be difficult to find against a dark, shiny background. In addition, after boiling, liquids can spill onto the countertop or furniture, and sometimes they also fall under the tap.
- Enameled panels are the most popular, especially white, although other colors are also available. Enameled plates are very often stylized in retro style. They are easy to clean, but the enamel tends to chip, for example where it is hit. The grates on the enamel plate are embedded in a recess, which greatly simplifies keeping it clean and reduces the leakage of liquids after boiling.
- stainless steel plates - the steel color makes them easy to integrate into the kitchen interior. The smooth surface is durable and easy to clean. This is a very popular option. The design resembles enamel models.
- Ceramic hobs are similar to electric hobs. Its burners are hidden under a flat ceramic surface. They use the phenomenon of catalytic combustion.
Best 4 Burner Gas Hobs
Gas built-in panels with 4 burners are the most common and popular option. They allow you to simultaneously cook several dishes for the whole family and are sized to fit almost any standard tables and cabinets.
Smeg PVL664CN - ultra-modern panel
This gas hob combines stylish, modern design and high efficiency. It is equipped with unique flat Blade burners.
This design provides a continuous circle of flame directed straight upward, which speeds up the heating of the cookware and its contents by 20%. The glass-ceramic panel itself cools quickly, is easy to clean and has protection against overheating.
The model is made in a modern Hi-Tech design; steel grilles are coated with titanium coating, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1100°C. For an additional fee, you can purchase a set of decorative grilles in the shape of birds, fruits, leaves or butterflies.
Advantages:
- Unique shape of burners;
- 20% faster heating;
- Titanium coating of grilles;
- Glass ceramic surface;
- Possibility of installing decorative stops;
- Overheat protection.
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Flaw:
- High price.
The Smeg PVL664CN panel will be appreciated by those who love versatility, reliability and at the same time are looking for truly original kitchen appliances. This stove will become a real decoration for a kitchen decorated in a modern style.
Hotpoint-Ariston TQG 641 – ergonomic hob
The original diamond-shaped arrangement of the burners in this model allows you to place dishes on the stove as conveniently as possible. The surface of the panel itself is made of tempered glass, which has increased shock resistance.
Caring for such a surface is quite simple: dirt can be easily removed with a damp sponge, and stains can be easily removed with a special glass spray. The cast iron grate consists of three separate parts, making it easy to clean. And silicone pads prevent scratches on the glass.
Advantages:
- Good location of burners;
- Durable tempered glass surface;
- Easy cleaning;
- Lattice made of separate parts;
- Automatic electric ignition;
- Minimum fire option.
Flaws:
- There is no burner with a triple or even double crown.
The TQG 641 stove from Hotpoint-Ariston has an optimal price-quality ratio. It is convenient and suitable for most kitchens.
Electrolux GPE 363 MB – simple but tasteful
The gas hob has a universal design, suitable for kitchens in both modern and classic styles.
The black-painted enameled steel surface is easy to clean and does not require the use of special products.
The model is equipped with burners of different power levels for simultaneous cooking in dishes of any diameter. One of the burners has a triple crown, allowing you to cook in a large pot or wok. Regulators allow you to finely adjust the flame power.
Advantages:
- Triple crown burner;
- Universal design;
- Easy cleaning;
- Fine adjustment of the flame;
- Gas control and auto-ignition.
Flaws:
- The handles are a little tight at first.
Easy to use and affordable, the Electrolux GPE 363 MB panel is suitable for those who cook a lot and often.
Gefest SG CH1210 K5 - the best budget option
Discreet design and ease of operation are some of the main advantages of this panel, if you do not take into account its low cost.
Control levers located on the side are less likely to become dirty, unlike most other panels where they are located on top.
Gefest 1210 has stable cast iron grates on which even wet dishes do not slip. In addition, the kit includes an additional removable stop for the Turk (or any other utensil with a narrow bottom).
Advantages:
- Low price;
- Simple controls;
- Burners of different power;
- Stable cast iron grates;
- Classic design.
Flaws:
- No gas control.
Gas stove SG CH 1210 K5 from GEFEST is the best option for those who need an inexpensive but reliable hob without unnecessary bells and whistles.
Gas stove size
The size depends on the number of burners. In the standard configuration there are 4 of them, then the width of the plate is 60 cm . There are also smaller models on sale, the so-called Dominoes, with one or two burners and a width of about 30 cm. Larger models can be up to 110 cm long and have 5 or 6 heating points. The choice depends mainly on how much and how often you cook.
Boards with a width of 70 cm to 90 cm are very practical . You get an additional burner and much more space for dishes. Boards 70-75 cm wide usually do not require any adjustments in the design of a wider cabinet, since the internal dimensions are standard: 49 × 56 cm. The remaining side parts of the hob are hidden in the countertop and do not protrude beyond its line. For models with a width of approx. 90 cm you will need a wider cabinet.
Features of the location of the gas panel
To correctly position the device in the kitchen, you need to know the approximate dimensions. With a standard panel depth of 60 cm, the width is:
- If a 2-burner built-in gas hob is installed - approximately 32 cm;
- For models with three burners – 45 cm;
- For panels with four burners – 60 cm;
- For devices with five or more burners – 90 cm.
Square kitchen design in contemporary style
A kitchen decorated in yellow looks very impressive.
Advice! When choosing a hob, you need to take into account the dimensions of a specific model; for example, some devices may be wider simply because of additional decorative elements.
Panel shape
If you have a lot of countertop space, buying several domino plates is a great idea - you can mix technologies (for example, one induction, one two-burner gas stove and one gas stove with a WOK burner) and also determine their spacing yourself. The domino category also includes teppanyaki and grill plates. Having a good budget, you can equip a professional kitchen.
The last group of plates are atypical models. There are few of them on the market. These include French type plates with 3-4 fields, located on a crescent-shaped plate (Teka VR 90 4G AI AL TR). There are also corner stoves, gas tubes with burners arranged in one row, even 120 cm wide.
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Burners
Despite everything, this is a very important question. First of all, you should take into account their power in watts, which depends on the size of the burner. Typically a gas stove consists of one large, two medium and one small burners. Of course, power goes hand in hand with size.
For intensive cooking in large pans, so-called burners are used. double, triple or quadruple crown (crown of flame). Some cooktops also have elliptical burners, which make it easier to cook food in unusual pans, such as oblong Dutch ovens, or wok-style pans for intense, fast frying. A variety of burners will allow you to better select the desired parameters, and, as you know, each dish has different requirements.
The term "burner" is a colloquial term for the entire assembly we cook with: the body, the head, the burner cap, and often the burner valve and accessories.
There are three main brands of companies and manufacturers on the market:
- Sabaf is the best burner manufacturer. Their solutions are used by the following companies: Beko, Gorenje, Whirlpool, Bosch, Siemens.
- Defendi - cheaper and slightly poor quality burners used by Amica, Whirlpool, Samsung.
- Somipress - This company offers simple and cheap hotplates that are not considered good quality, as well as new generation (flat) hotplates of excellent quality. They are mainly used by Amica in the more expensive models of the Q-Type line.
- Own brands - burners with their own logo are owned by companies such as Electrolux, AEG and Smeg - their quality cannot be faulty.
- Chinese brands - used in cheap free-standing and built-in tiles. In the latter case, it is better to avoid them with a wide shelf.
Manufacturers of gas hobs
There are many companies producing hobs on the market. They can be divided into three price categories.
- Budget models. These are devices manufactured by Ariston, Samsung, Hephaestus, Hansa, Electrolux, and their low cost does not mean that they do not have the basic functions of modern hobs: electric ignition, gas control, even a grill it happens sometimes. In terms of quality, they are also not much inferior to models from the mid-price segment.
Italian-made Ariston hob with gas and electric burners
Vidiem AIR Plus Gas Cooktop with beautiful design
- Mid-range devices. These are products from Indesit and Kandy. In terms of technical characteristics, they are not much better than budget models, and the cost is more related to company policies.
- Elite models. These are devices from Siemens, Kaiser, Gorenie, Miele, Best Chef. These models have a variety of functionality, excellent quality and often original design. The unusual look is usually what buyers like the most, because the main part of the functions is simply not used by many, although not by all, of course.
Gas and electric hobs installed next to each other
Gas stove from the elite series with gold plated elements
Lattices
Basically, you have a choice between cast iron or enameled steel grates. The greatest stability is guaranteed by a one-piece grate, common to all burners and made of cast iron. However, its weight and size make it difficult to clean . Individual grates are easiest to clean, but are the least durable.
When choosing single grates, it is very important that they are made of cast iron, which is more stable, but also does not warp in high temperatures, which can happen with a steel grate. Although a cast iron grate provides greater stability to pans on the stove, be aware that with thick enamel plates, the grate is prone to chipping. Therefore, the most convenient solution seems to be an intermediate solution - a double grille (less common), which will fit in the sink,
Control Panel
Handles must be made of heat-resistant materials. Most often, the handles are located on the surface of the plate - on the front or side of the device - depending on your preferences. Models with bumps at the leading edge are becoming increasingly rare.
It's worth noting that taps located inside the hotplate reduce cooking space, so this may be an issue for people who cook in large pots. For intuitive operation, the hob control knobs are positioned in such a way that they are easy to grasp and turn.
There are also gas hobs with intuitive touch control panels. The absence of protruding burners and grates makes it easy to clean the stoves without a flame.
photo: intuitive control of gas hobs without flames. Simply select a burner and swipe left or right to select each burner's power level.
The Best Cheap Gas Cooktops
The difference between inexpensive gas hobs and similar devices in other price categories is usually the savings on materials used in production. The functionality will also not be as wide as that of premium lines. Any “bells and whistles” and “advanced features” remain exclusively for the flagship models. True, it is worth noting that inexpensive products are often good in quality, reliability and durability.
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Additional features
Safety always comes first. In gas stoves, comfort is ensured by a gas leak sensor, which shuts off the gas supply in case of accidental extinguishing of the flame (for example, after the milk boils away). Children will also be protected if the stove is equipped with a system of specially locked handles that the child cannot operate independently.
The backlight function in the handles is also useful. Thanks to this, you don't need to use matches. The semi-filo system, thanks to which the hob will be installed almost flush with the top and its height at the highest point is less than 3.5 cm, is a feature that affects the aesthetic appearance of the hob.
The newest stoves are technologically closer to electric stoves - they have added timers, cooking sensors, and child locking. Some manufacturers add a WiFi module with a camera to their models.
Secondary functions
- Electric ignition. Almost all modern models have them. It can be mechanical (you press a button to turn it on) and automatic (you need to turn the knob, which turns on the electric ignition).
- Gas control. The function turns off the gas supply when liquid gets on the burner or there is a sharp draft. The panel has a special device that detects the presence or absence of fire.
The electric ignition function makes it much easier to turn on the gas hob
- Main switch. Turns off the gas to all burners with one click.
- Reignition. When the gas supply is restored, a lot of carbon monoxide can be generated, so the re-ignition function creates a flame again.
- Timer. Allows you to set the time after which the device will sound an alarm. A very convenient feature.
- Timer with shutdown function. It doesn’t just give a signal, it turns off the gas supply.
Using the re-ignition function, the extinguished flame of the burner lights up on its own, but during the entire cooking process it fires only 2 times
A very convenient and practical “timer” function that allows you to set a specific time for cooking
- Automatic flame support. It is used when you need to cook something for a long time, but you want the liquid to not boil away quickly. To do this, you can set a timer on the panel.
- Gas indexing. Allows you to determine the combustion power without visual assessment (looking under the dishes).
- Continuous burner. Its diameter can be adjusted, which is convenient when using burners for dishes of different sizes.
- Boiling function (Booster). Allows you to turn on the gas at full power, and then automatically reduces it to standard power.
- Child lock.
When the option is activated, the settings are not changed and the hob does not turn on. Child lock is a very important feature, especially for mechanical hobs. - Heat indicator. Shows how hot the burner is, that is, which burner can be used while it is still warm.
Connecting a gas stove
The gas stove must be installed by a licensed installer , and upon completion of installation, stamp the warranty card and/or product connection certificate - this is the basis for recognition of the manufacturer's basic warranty. There are slight differences in the type of gas in different parts of the country, so it's worth checking before purchasing.
Some companies offer free replacement of nozzles within 30 days of purchase if the nozzles installed in the stove do not match the customer's gas type - for example, Bosch and Siemens provide this service.
It is worth remembering that almost every gas stove must be connected to electricity - magneto is already a standard even in stoves costing 6,000 rubles. In the case of Solgaz plates, it is recommended to use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) - the plate has hidden plates, and in the absence of electricity, only the UPS will start the plate - matches will not help you.
Natural gas / system gas G20 (GZ 50) - gas hobs have standard nozzles for this type of gas. Each plate has a fitting with a G kró inch thread. When installing a new hob, it is recommended that you connect it with a new approved hose. Currently, there are no “hard” connections. Hoses with quick-release couplings or regular screw-on hoses are used.
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Liquefied gas (propane-butane) - in this connection option, the end of the 8 × 1 mm hose supplied with the plate is screwed onto a standard ½-inch thread. With this connection, replacement and then adjustment of the nozzles is required. To connect you need a hose with a reducer.
Gas stove safety
According to modern standards, each slab must have leakage protection. The mechanism works very simply - it cuts off the gas supply to the burner when the flame accidentally goes out . A gold/copper sensor protruding next to the torch is heated by the torch flame. When the sensor stops heating and the knob is not set to zero, the gas supply to the burner stops.
Most plates also have a magneto - there is no risk of burns when lighting with matches or a lighter.
Several more expensive models have a child lock, either electronic or mechanical.
Cleaning gas stoves
It's not easy because there are no perfect solutions. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Glass plates are easy to leave scratches, which are clearly visible on dark plates and almost invisible on light ones. The reason for this phenomenon is the use of tempered glass rather than ceramic. There are several glass-ceramic panels on the market, but they are very expensive - from 40,000 rubles. In addition, every speck of dust can be seen on dark glasses and enamel plates.
Brushed steel plates collect grease stains and are less likely to scratch. The advantage of most sheet metal plates is that they have an indentation that glass plates do not have. When something falls out of a pan, it stays in the cooktop recess—it doesn't spill from the stove onto the countertop.
The enamel plates are quite slippery, so dirt does not stick to them and they are easy to clean. We are talking only about the hardness of the enamel and scratch resistance - with the current low quality of household appliances, it may be otherwise.
As you can see, choosing one solution over another comes with certain cleaning disadvantages—you have to accept that.
