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.
Number of glass in door
It is the number of layers of glass installed in the oven door. The larger it is, the less heat goes out, and the less the outer surface heats up. The minimum amount required for effective thermal insulation is 2 glasses, and this option is considered the most popular.
Ovens with 3 glasses are noticeably less common, mainly middle and high-end models. The maximum number of glasses is 4; such thermal insulation is the most effective. However, it is not cheap and is used extremely rarely, mainly in top-class stoves.
Hob material
— Enamel.
Enamel coating is inexpensive and relatively easy to clean. In addition, enamel can have different colours, which allows you to give the stoves an original appearance (although the most popular is still the classic white colour). On the other hand, cracks, chips and scratches may appear on such a surface. As a result, such a coating is typical for relatively inexpensive boards.
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Stainless steel. Steel hobs are highly durable and attractive. But, it will take a lot of effort to keep such a stove clean: even slight dirt is noticeable on a steel surface (especially polished). And it is more difficult to clean them than enamel. In addition, such surfaces are somewhat more expensive than enamelled ones, and there are, in fact, two design options for them - matte and polished.
- Glass-ceramic. A material is found predominantly in electric stoves; rarely used in gas models, mainly for aesthetic reasons. The main advantages of
glass ceramic are resistance to heat and high permeability to heat and electromagnetic radiation.
Schott Ceram and
EuroKera, manufacturers of this very glass-ceramic, which manufacturers of household appliances install in their models, were especially successful in this. It allows electric burners (regardless of type) to be placed directly under such a surface. The re
...sult is a flat top with no protrusions, making cleaning easier and providing a neat appearance. The main disadvantages of this material are high cost and sensitivity to impacts.
- Tempered glass. A material similar to the glass-ceramics described above: the glass surfaces have an attractive appearance, usually with a glossy finish. Another common feature is the ease of cleaning: most of the contaminants are easily removed. However, this material is not as strong as glass-ceramic: it is much more sensitive to impacts and tolerates heat much worse, which makes it poorly suited for installation above burners. As a result, tempered glass is used mainly in gas stoves, where the burners are located above the work surface and tempered glass heats up relatively weakly. Another category of stoves with such a surface is electric models with induction hobs, where the dishes and not the surface are mainly heated (see below for more details).
— Plastic. Working surface made of special heat-resistant plastic. A rather specific option is found mainly among portable single-burner electric stoves with induction heaters (see below). There are several reasons for this. One of them is that, despite the heat resistance, even fairly advanced plastic does not tolerate heating on gas or a classic electric burner. But with an induction burner, this material works without problems, especially since it is well permeable to electromagnetic radiation. Plastic is cheaper than tempered glass or glass-ceramic, and it also weighs less - the latter is important for a stove that is planned to be moved frequently from place to place. At the same time, all these advantages cannot be called critical. As a result, this option, even in its niche, has not received much popularity.Lid
The lid plays an important role in the design of any stove. Firstly, when open, it protects the wall from dirt and splashed grease during cooking or heating food. And secondly, in the closed position, the lid facilitates cleaning in the kitchen, preventing the possibility of aggressive detergent chemicals getting on the surface of the hob.
— Glass. Glass lids are more aesthetically pleasing. Plus, they are easy to keep clean. The drawback of glass lids is a frequent need to care for the surface of the lid since traces of dirt and stains are clearly visible on it.
— Metal. Metal covers have durability and good resistance to mechanical damage. On the body of the stove, they are fixed by using special hinges.
