Modern kitchen is unthinkable without a hob. It can be gas, electric and combined, of various brands, types and manufacturers. How to understand this huge range and choose a comfortable, safe, and most importantly - exactly the right size?
Hobs
Does the size of the panel depend on the number of them? And does it really matter how much space the hob takes up? Dimensions, according to designers, are very important. The world tends towards minimalism, so it is desirable to free up more space.
Often the choice of a modern cooking hob is still associated with stereotypes, so 4-burner appliances sell best. But this is not always reasonable. Families in cities are usually small. And rarely do modern housewives use more than two burners at the same time. This is something to think about.
Heating type
It usually does not affect the dimensions of the built-in stove. Personal preferences and intended culinary goals matter here.
Height
Standard for built-in cookersthe height is considered to be from 40 to 50 mm. Because the average width of a kitchen worktop is 38mm. Models are also available with a height of 8-10 cm. In this case, the hob is deepened by 5-6 cm, installing it on a pre-mounted jumper shelf. If a box was planned under the built-in stove, then you need to keep in mind that its usable volume will decrease.
Width
Of the models offered on the market, the minimum width of the panel is 30 cm. In this case, there cannot be more than two burners. Usually the front burner is low-power, the far one is the most powerful. Rarely there are models with a quick heating burner. The overall dimensions of the single-burner and two-burner gas hobs are identical. Only the thickness differs. The standard version is 45 mm. But there are both 82 mm and 100 mm models.
Electrical panels 30 cm wide have only two burners. Most often they are radial and fast heating. Less common are oval.
Perfect
A width of 45 cm for a built-in three-burner stove and 60 cm for four are considered the golden mean. The first has a triangular arrangement of burners with the top on the right. In this place, a quick heating burner is located, regardless of which hob it is. The dimensions of a round built-in stove (for example, from Foster) are 52 cm in diameter.
Control knobs in this category of built-in cookers are almost always horizontal,but models with a vertical control device are also on the market.
Popular size
The most popular width is 60 cm. Gas heating panels have standard four burners. The manufacturer arranges them in the form of a trapezoid, rhombus or rectangle. When buying a built-in stove with uncharacteristic burner positions, you need to be prepared for some inconvenience when cooking.
Popular sizes of electric hobs: 64 x 900 x 515 mm (Smeg), 47 x 306 x 546 mm (Neff), 57 x 513 x 793 mm (Gaggenau). They are available in white, black or copper colors.
Full-size models 60 X 60 cm in size or, as suggested by Bosch, 5852 cm are popular.
Cute not standard
This category includes five-burner built-in stoves, the minimum width of which is 68 cm. Most often, one burner is in the center, the rest are placed around the perimeter. But there are hobs on which a large burner is located on the left, four smaller ones - in a square on the remaining area (for example, Neff). A hob that measures over 68 cm at its widest part does not always have a quick heat burner.
But the color range of such devices is the most diverse. There are models of blue, green and even bright light green. The control knobs are located according to the burners only from Italian manufacturers.
Electric heating hobs from 61-80 cm wide are available with four and five burners.
Full size hobs
Gas hobs with five burners can be up to 80 cm wide. True, in this case one more burner is added. Hotpoint-Ariston produces panels in 75 and 87 cm widths. The overall size of the built-in hob from Smeg has the largest width: from 90 to 116 cm. But there are only four burners in such a large area. Zoning does not depend on their number. Most often, one radial and one oval are made. Siemens and Bosch stand out from this series. Their five-burner panels have 4 zones: one oval and three radial. Electrical panels are not available in widths greater than 91.6 cm.
Exceptions to the rule
If the kitchen space is rather limited or the worktop is small, manufacturers offer gas hobs with four burners arranged in a row. In this case, the depth is significantly reduced to 350 - 400 mm, but the width is increased to 1000 - 1100 mm. The hob, the dimensions of which are described above, looks original, and it is convenient to cook on it.
There are also vintage versions of an interesting curvilinear shape on sale. The functionality of such models did not suffer at all. Some manufacturers specialize in built-in corner cookers. They save a lot of kitchen space.
Modular systems
Today, judging by the reviews, they are at the peak of popularity. Such systems are made according to the "Domino" principle. Built-in hob, the dimensions of which can be adjusted independently, openunprecedented opportunities for both designers and users.
The Domino hob is made up of sections. The standard width of each is about 300 mm, the depth is 500 mm. The module can have two gas burners: one of them is of increased power or one burner is gas, the other is electric.
Judging by user reviews, the most interesting options allow you to create non-standard dishes for ordinary cuisine, because they have built-in grills, steamers, deep fryers, braziers, baking sheets, etc. Many manufacturers equip such hob options with hoods and even food processors. Thanks to the module system, each unit can be installed at some distance from each other and even swapped for more comfortable use.
Ovens: dependent and independent
Today there is no need to select an oven in proportion to the built-in hob. You can install it, thanks to modern technology, in any place convenient for the hostess. The depth of ovens ranges from 55 to 60 cm. Therefore, these dimensions of hobs and ovens are considered a generally accepted standard. There are also compact models with a depth of 50 cm in stores.
Users advise in kitchens with a small area to choose an oven 45 cm high. The apparent loss of internal volume does not interfere with cooking on a standard wide baking sheet. And two dishes are cooked at the same time extremely rarely.
For non-standard kitchens, manufacturers produce models of classicalheight - 60 cm, but width - 45 cm. In such an oven, both tiers can be used, but the baking sheets in the kit are narrow. The volume of non-standard ovens ranges from 35 to 65 liters.
Experts advise to carefully consider the installation location of the oven, especially if it is independent. Oversized cabinets cost an order of magnitude more.
Innovative technology
Despite the fact that electric hobs are very common today, few people know that with the same type of heating, induction cookers are significantly different from the rest.
Under the surface of this recessed panel, instead of heating elements, there are electromagnetic coils. They generate a magnetic field that heats only the dishes standing on the stove (they must have ferromagnetic properties).
The overall dimensions of the 45 cm wide induction hobs can accommodate only three heating elements. But in fact, this is more than enough for the average family, given the high efficiency of this type of built-in stoves.
For example, the German manufacturer Zigmund & Shtain offers a 45 cm wide panel in classic black. It is equipped with three burners, but even the smallest of them boils water faster than an electric kettle. This is how the Booster function works.
Standard sizes 58 X 51 cm have a large range. Housewives say that induction hobs with custom sizes are differentoriginal design and interesting arrangement of heating elements. There are usually four different diameters.
Installation of induction panels requires special precision. It happens that during installation a couple of millimeters are missing. Moreover, manufacturers warn about this and attach to the product a detailed surface mounting scheme with requirements for technical clearances and holes. Failure to comply with these conditions may void the user's warranty.
Post Scriptum
The dimensions of hobs and ovens of any type of heating do not affect their functionality. When choosing a built-in stove with gas heating, you need to pay attention to the quick heating burner, absolutely all models have gas control today. When buying an electric heating panel, customers are advised to ask if there is an expansion zone and what shape it is.
Standard working kitchen area assumes the presence of two full-fledged areas. The first (up to 100 cm wide) is located between the sink and the hob, the second (at least 30 cm wide) - from the panel to the wall or edge of the countertop. Accordingly, following these recommendations, you need to determine the dimensions for the hob.
