Cookware for glass-ceramic hob

Slabs with glass ceramic surfaces are gaining popularity due to their aesthetic appearance. On the one hand, this technique makes cooking easier, but on the other, it requires more care. For example, if you don't get serious about your choice of dishes, you can quickly ruin both the kitchen utensils and the stove itself.

The aesthetics of aesthetics are often of decisive importance for the electric cooker purchaser. Few people think about the technical features of the devices. At the heart of the ceramic hob is a special material called ceran, which has increased strength. Halogen burners made of a special alloy are mounted under the ceramic panel; they are arranged in a snake.

The principle of operation of the elements is similar to conventional cast iron burners, but the elements are distinguished by high-speed heating, and they also cool down quickly. This feature is distinguished as the advantage of glass ceramics. The thermal conductivity of ceranium is better than that of cast iron, and the wear resistance is also good.

Modern models are equipped with touch controls that simplify the cooking process. Various functions are regulated by system sensors:

• for temperature conditions;
• to protect against burns;
• to protect from children;
• to reduce boiling (infrared sensor);
• to shorten the cooking time (quick heat sensor).

The disadvantages of glass ceramics include:

• strict requirements for the utensils used;
• the need to use special detergents;
• sensitivity to blows from heavy sharp objects;
• high cost;
• the possibility of breakage due to temperature differences on the surface.

The advantages of household appliances include:

• easy care;
• the ability to adjust the heating area;
• stylishness and sophistication of appearance;
• profitability of operation, since the burners do not require replacement.

Modern household appliances improve the cooking process of even the most complex dishes. But without special dishes with an icon, you cannot achieve savings, which means maximum heat transfer. The benefits of purchasing the device will tend to zero.

Cookware for glass ceramics is often recommended to be selected depending on the type of installed heating element. Heat-resistant utensils with a flat bottom, without scratches, are suitable for household appliances with an installed coil. There is a ban on the use of copper and aluminum cookware; heat-resistant glass is not recommended. If the hob is equipped with induction elements, you need to choose special cookware with a magnetic bottom.

For modern models, the size of the dishes is becoming less and less important. Double-circuit burners are adjustable to the desired heating diameter. Recently, models have appeared with unusual shapes of burners, for example, for oval utensils.

The material of the cookware for the glass ceramic hob is still important. For example, for glass ceramics with conventional burners, stainless steel pans are suitable. You can purchase a set with a special designation; during the cooking process, select products from the set that will match the diameter of the burner.

Stainless steel dishes are wear-resistant, durable, and serve for a long time. There are sets of different shapes on sale, but they do not differ in a variety of colors. The main advantage of this type of product is easy maintenance.

Aluminum cookware good thermal conductivity, so it is also suitable for a glass surface with conventional burners. The main disadvantage of such pans is the lack of a perfectly flat bottom and scratches that appear quickly. Damaged cookware negatively affects the capabilities of the stove itself. On a glass-ceramic surface, such dishes are easily deformable and quickly deteriorate.

Enamel dishes it has a good appearance, it can also be matched to the style of kitchen decoration. The main criterion is the same - a perfectly flat bottom, no chips. Enamel is damaged most quickly, and damaged items can no longer be used. Objects reinforced with a Teflon or ceramic coating will be stronger. The material has good thermal conductivity, the products can be used for a long time in everyday life.

Cast iron cookware with a flat bottom is also suitable for glass ceramics. For example, a cast-iron pan with a flat bottom will have thick walls. In such dishes, heat is retained longer, food is cooked more efficiently.

The main requirement for glassware is a perfectly flat bottom, preferably a multilayer type.

Heat-resistant glass has a number of disadvantages, therefore not recommended as ideal for glass ceramics. One of the weighty arguments is the loss of thermal conductivity indicators.

For example, above and below it can be stainless steel, and in the middle - aluminum. The "sandwich" stainless steel bottom will heat up faster than usual. Stainless steel does not have very good thermal conductivity parameters. The added materials must be firmly connected, so pay attention to the quality of the products. Carbon deposits quickly form in the uneven places of the connecting seam. Check the bottom of the existing cookware with an ordinary magnet.

The main selection criterion: glassware for glass ceramics should be in contact with the surface of the stove as closely as possible. If there is an air gap between the cookware and the surface, heating will be slow and cooking will take a long time. If you put pans with missing magnetic properties on an induction hob, you can not wait at all for heating. Elements with sensors will not turn on.

Even if pots and pans are strong enough, chips and roughness on them will negatively affect the glass ceramic surface. Scratches will appear on the panel that cannot be removed or masked. Therefore, special requirements are imposed on the dishes. It is completely useless to put products on it from:

• brass;
• glass;
• copper;
• ceramics;
• aluminum.

Products with a round bottom, for example, popular cauldrons and woks, are definitely not suitable for glass ceramics. The area of ​​mutual contact between them will be insignificant, so the heating will be very slow.

Do not use dishes for glass ceramics that were previously used on a gas stove. The bottoms of such products will already differ in irregularities, and they will also have various spots from heating by fire. Old cast iron pans patched with welded seams will definitely not work.

A relatively new type of panels is induction cookers. Heating of dishes in them is possible with the help of eddy currents. They are formed under the influence of the field of electromagnetic waves. There are many advantages of such stoves, but unlike hobs with conventional hobs, these ones are able to “recognize” the right cookware.

Features of the stove are associated with the principles of electromagnetic induction. Only due to eddy currents will the bottom of the cookware warm up. The heat from the heated bottom will be transferred to the food, while the surface itself remains slightly warm.

If you choose dishes that are not capable of transmitting electromagnetic waves, there will be no induction process. For example, if it is glass or ceramic utensils, you simply cannot cook food in them. But even the correct stainless steel or cast iron cookware may not fit the stove if it does not match the size of the burner. It is important that the cookware covers about 70% of the diameter of the heating element.

Household appliances will not work if they "consider" that the bottom of the pan placed on it is uneven. Without ensuring a complete fit, the hob will simply shut off automatically.

Now on sale there are special magnetic disks that can be used with induction cookers. Different elements can be selected to suit a specific heating zone. By placing this disc on top of an element and then placing the cookware, the stove will work with any pot or frying pan. The ferromagnetic disc is made of stainless steel, it is perfectly flat, thick, and does not deform during use.

For a conventional glass-ceramic hob, it is worth choosing dishes with the lowest possible percentage of bottom reflection. Thanks to this, the container heats up much faster, the distribution is smooth. The most suitable will be models with a bottom of a dark matte shade. The gloss is capable of reflecting heat rays.

By choosing the right kitchen utensils for your glass ceramic hob, you can extend the life of the appliance. Food will be prepared quickly and energy efficiency will be rational.

See below for the features of cookware for glass-ceramic plates.