The cooking zone is a very central element in every kitchen. In grandma's kitchen you almost always found a sturdy cast iron stovetop, these have now given way to modern and energy-efficient systems. You had to deal with poor efficiency, a cumbersome heat regulation and elaborate cleaning which caused a lot of annoyance. Modern glass ceramic, gas or induction cooktops make everyday kitchen life considerably easier. Today, choosing a suitable model is primarily about things like comfort, energy efficiency and as many individual additional functions as possible. An important step in kitchen planning is therefore to answer the question: Which cooking method suits me?
Glass ceramic: the affordable standard The technology of a glass ceramic cooker is quite similar to the classic hotplate with its cast iron hotplates. Heating coils are also used to generate the heat. However, these no longer stand up, but disappear under a smooth glass ceramic surface. And it is precisely this surface that brings about the most important advantage of a glass ceramic cooker: easy cleaning. You can either use special care liquids or use a special glass scraper.
The technology of the glass ceramic cooker has been tried and tested for a long time, has proven itself over decades and is considered to be relatively inexpensive. Nevertheless, when planning your kitchen, you should always bear in mind that by purchasing a ceramic stove you are buying a hob with a relatively poor energy balance. This is due to the energy losses that occur when converting electrical energy into thermal energy. In addition, the heat regulation in glass ceramic cookers is only sub-optimal due to the design-related delays in the heat development. The money you may have saved on purchase can have a negative impact later on due to a higher electricity bill. Induction cooker: Rapid heat directly in the pot If you look at an induction cooker in the course of kitchen planning, you will find that it initially does not differ optically from a glass ceramic model. Both stoves are powered by electricity. However, the heat in an induction hob is generated by electromagnetic fields, i.e. by induction. The heat is generated directly in the saucepan, which means that there is no loss in heat transfer. This results in a much better energy balance. Furthermore, the regulation of the heat is very delicate due to the induction technology: the heat is in the pot within a few seconds - and when you switch off the hob, the heat is immediately gone. Since high temperatures are limited to the inside of the pot, the hob on the induction cooker does not get hot. This means additional security, especially for families with small children. A clear plus in kitchen planning! Burning in after possible boiling over is practically impossible with the induction cooker. The biggest disadvantage, however, is the fact that you need special cookware suitable for indications. You can find more information on induction cookers here: (https://www.consumerreports.org/electric-induction-ranges/pros-and-cons-of-induction-cooktops-and-ranges/) Gas stove: cheap but not for everyone Professionals swear by gas at the stove. The reason for this is the excellent heat regulation. The stove heat is basically available after a few seconds. In addition, gas is able to generate high temperatures. And last but not least, the operating costs speak for a gas stove - gas is much cheaper than electricity. However - and this is the crux of the kitchen planning - you need a gas connection in the kitchen! Laying this extra for a stove will generally not make sense. Using gas cylinders for the stove is also not a good idea, since LPG is expensive. Last but not least, the open flame would create a significantly higher risk of burns. When planning your kitchen, keep in mind that in most cases cleaning is very time-consuming. There are gas hobs where the flame burns under a special glass surface, but ultimately the heat distribution is not optimal here either. Most of the heat occurs in the middle of the pot, but pots are often larger than the flame. The conclusion: the choice of stove is often an individual decision Which stove you ultimately choose when planning your kitchen depends heavily on your own personal needs. The purchase of a gas stove, which is usually cheap in operation, depends on the existence of a gas connection. Electricity for glass ceramic and induction hobs, on the other hand, is available in every kitchen. While glass ceramic stoves are above all inexpensive to buy, induction stoves impress with a good energy balance. An induction cooker heats with pinpoint accuracy, making it very economical and contributing to greater safety thanks to heat-free plates.