Compare gas hob and stove

The practicality and functionality of kitchen appliances directly affects how much effort and time will be spent to prepare your favorite dishes. Therefore, the choice of a suitable stove is an extremely important issue. Recently, gas panels have become popular. Are they practical and can they fully replace the classic stove? This is what our experts will tell you.

About gas panels

Stylish, compact, but functional? What are gas panels and how to choose the best option for your home?

Design features

The hob is one of the favorites in professional kitchens. Why do chefs prefer a hob over a classic gas stove? It’s simple:

1. Compactness — any gas panel, regardless of model and modifications, is small in size. And, if there is no need to purchase an oven, the free space under the panel can be used properly by installing shelves there, for example;

2. Mobility of installation — the product is mounted on any countertop anywhere in the kitchen, without affecting in any way either the interior or the amount of free space in the room;

3. Aesthetics — the kitchen appliance will fit into any interior;

4. Ease of care — care for the product is easy due to the absence of cracks, gaps (and the glass surface is practically maintenance-free).

Another point: the gas hob and the oven are independent of each other, so the latter can be installed anywhere, even at chest or eye level.

But it was not without unpleasant moments:

1. When installing equipment, it is necessary to provide good ventilation in the furniture;

2. If you install in the kitchen not only a gas hob, but also a gas oven, you will need two special hoses at once. Sometimes this is problematic, and permission from the gas service is required;

3. The high price of the device and its installation including.

How to choose the right one

A built-in hob is ideal for comfortable and safe cooking, but only if it is correctly selected. When choosing the optimal product model, it is important to consider several points:

1. 
   Material type and design — the steel panel is quite practical, durable, but it is better to choose a matte version, otherwise any stains, fingerprints, etc. will be visible. Enamelled steel is easy to clean, aesthetic, but is afraid of abrasives and may chip over time. A big plus of this material is the variety of its colors (on sale, in addition to white, there are beige, brown, black, etc.). Tempered glass is durable, stylish, heat-resistant, and is also available in a wide variety of colors (you can even order non-standard shades like lilac).

2. 
   Lattice type — as in the case of gas stoves, there are grates made of cast iron or steel on the gas panels. The first option is durable, easy to maintain (especially if its surface is smooth). The second often involves an enamel coating. Steel gratings are light, easy to maintain, but deform over time.

3. 
   Slab size and shape — the classic panel holds 4 burners, its width is 0.6 m. Such dimensions are appropriate in a kitchen with an area of ​​​​7 sq.m. Sometimes other options are more practical: a 2-3-burner model is suitable for a modest kitchen in Khrushchev, for example; for large families or those who like to cook and often do this, the best option would be a 5-burner product with a width of 70 cm or more; for a corner kitchen, you can choose a corner panel model. The shape of the product is selected depending on the interior of the kitchen, its layout, as well as personal preferences: gas panels can be square, round, rectangular, and even in the form of a boomerang.

4. 
   Electric ignition type — all modern models of gas panels are equipped with electric ignition — there is a semi-automatic and automatic version. The latter is more convenient to use (you just need to turn the handle and the gas valve opens).

About gas stoves

A standard product that is found in almost every kitchen. Easy to operate, practical and durable. What are gas stoves good for and how to choose the right one?

Design features, advantages

Although the market for home appliances for the kitchen is literally filled with various modifications of stoves, it is the good old gas stoves that are still one of the favorites among consumers. One of the main advantages of gas stoves is their availability and ease of installation. The low price really attracts many: after all, for a moderate price, you get a gas appliance for full cooking, including a stove and an oven.

In addition, no rearrangements are required to install the gas stove, and the installation of the device is incredibly simple: just install the household appliance in the chosen place and use the services of a gas service worker: he will connect the hose to the general system. That’s all.

It is impossible not to take into account the disadvantages of gas stoves: they are rather bulky (most models take up an impressive space) and are limited in moving around the kitchen due to the need to connect to a gas hose. In addition, it is not always possible to fit a gas stove into the kitchen interior, as well as install it close to furniture, which causes a considerable gap into which dirt clogs.

How to choose the right one

To purchase the best option for a gas stove for your home, you need to consider several criteria:

1. 
   Number of burners – gas stoves are equipped as standard with 2, 3 or 4 burners. It is necessary to choose the appropriate number of them, taking into account the number of family members and taste preferences;

2. 
   Grating material — steel is an inexpensive option that loses its practicality over time (the enamel gradually burns, the grate begins to deform — the dishes stagger on it); cast iron — a more expensive option — is reliable, durable, does not change its appearance, but is afraid of sharp, strong blows (may crack);

3. 
   hob material — polished stainless steel — a very strong and durable material, but impractical (stains and stains are immediately visible on the surface, and it is not easy to remove them); enamel — easy to clean, aesthetic, but requires careful handling (a hard sponge and abrasives can damage the coating); glass ceramics or tempered glass (aesthetic, expensive, but quickly loses its original appearance);

4. 
   The presence of electric ignition and gas control system — the first one simplifies the process of starting a fire, the second one automatically shuts off the gas supply if the flame goes out;

5. 
   Oven type — working on gas is more difficult to manage, does not allow you to achieve a perfectly cooked dish; the electric oven is equipped with upper and lower heating (all dishes are delicious: meat is baked, ruddy, juicy, and pastries are lush and golden). It is also worth paying attention to the presence of thermal insulation, which helps to keep the heat inside and protect the “neighbors” of the oven from overheating;

6. 
   Features of the oven door — the mechanism of its opening is folding or leaving. The latter option is more convenient for checking the readiness of dishes. It will not be superfluous to have child protection (blocking) in the door if there are any in the family. The presence of a grill, convection and other additional options is suitable for those who need a multifunctional oven.

ON A NOTE. Expensive models of gas stoves from famous brands are often equipped with an express burner, which consists of several circles. Such elements are used for cooking in a wok pan. This is an excellent choice for those who like to cook original a la restaurant dishes.

Comparative characteristics

Traditional summing up from our experts. Let’s compare the products discussed above and see who is the best.