Halogen plates: should they be preferred?

Is your day scheduled in minutes? You have a lot of work, and in the evening you need to cook dinner for the family? And how, at such moments, situations begin to annoy when the water does not boil for a long time or the frying pan slowly heats up. A familiar case? Then you should forget about the usual electric stove and turn your attention to new convenient halogen stoves.

What is a halogen stove?

Let's see what a halogen stove is. This is a type of stove in which the burners heat up instantly, due to which you will save your time. This is facilitated by spiral tubes embedded in the surface of the plate and filled with halogen vapors. Electric current passes through such a design, and halogen vapor distributes thermal (infrared) radiation, which heats the dishes. The advantage of this type of plate is that you can use any dishes, even glass or ceramic.

Principle of operation

Let us consider in more detail the principle of operation of this plate. As already mentioned, the spiral structure inside the surface heats the hotplate, then the heating zone of the surface, and then the bottom of the dishes in seconds. Hot plates emit a soft red hue. During cooking, you can adjust the temperature, add or reduce power using touch or mechanical controls. You can use the dishes of any size and diameter, since the shape of the schematic pancakes in such cases varies. In addition, the heating zone also changes, so several elements can be placed on one burner.

It is worth paying attention to some details of working with halogen plates:

1. Avoid scratching the surface. Otherwise, the device will malfunction.
2. Bulk materials, especially sugar, should not get on the surface.
3. Cracks appear from point impacts.
4. Do not wash the surface with a dirty rag.
5. Do not use hard washcloths or rags, as they will damage the panel.
6. First you need to put the dishes, and then turn on the burner.
7. The bottom of the pan should be clean.

Differences from induction cooker

The hobs of the induction cooker heat up under the influence of magnetic field energy. The inductor is embedded in the surface, it has a direct effect on the bottom of the dishes, in which there is a special disk, so the heat is not transferred to the burners, and they remain cold. Halogen stove, unlike induction, has a lower efficiency - up to 60%, while in induction it reaches 90%.

So, the difference between these types of stoves is that for halogen burners you do not need to purchase special dishes, but they tend to heat up, unlike induction ones. Therefore, you will need to wait a bit for the heating zone to cool. I would like to draw attention to the fact that induction cookers consume much less electricity, but are the most expensive on the market. Dishes for them are also expensive.

Advantages and disadvantages

Each device has its own characteristics and pitfalls. We highlight the pros and cons of halogen plates.

Pros:

• reduces time at the stove;
• halogen plates save energy due to quick heating;
• heating occurs vertically, so the heat does not extend to the entire surface;
• the hob cools quickly;
• maintains big weight;
• it is possible to control the level of heating;
• A special sensor is built in, which shows how cool the surface is. This will protect you from burns;
• the panel is easy to clean, as it is flat and smooth;
• easy to understand management;
• It has a beautiful neat design that fits well into any kitchen interior.

Minuses:

• short service life: approximately seven to eight years;
• the bottom of the dishes should be flat;
• high power consumption;
• the surface can only be washed with special tools;
• sensitive to damage;
• Do not put wet dishes during heating, as cold drops can damage the stove and adversely affect its operation;
• cost more than conventional electric stoves.

What to look for when choosing

Today, the market for household appliances produces a fairly wide range of glass-ceramic plates, although they are made by several manufacturers. Halogen plates can be desktop and with built-in hob. It is worth considering that the built-in ones are much more expensive. The next criterion, which is recommended to pay attention to, is that such plates are of two types: dependent and independent. In the dependent cookers, the control for the oven and the surface is the same, that is, they work together.

When you sorted out the varieties of halogen plates, consider their price category. Depending on the model and its manufacturer, the price ranges from $ 200 to $ 400. The more functional the model and the better the brand, the higher the cost of the halogen plate. There are such additional functions:

• timer (turns off the burner automatically after a certain period of time);
• display unit (displays the temperature of the hobs and the oven);
• control panel lock;
• control of boiling water (heating power decreases when the moment of boiling is determined);
• additional sealing of the oven door;
• booster (you can increase the power of one burner at the expense of others);
• a sensor that detects the presence of dishes on the surface and turns off when it detects empty dishes.

Model Overview

Consider several desktop models, their functionality and characteristics.

Beko FSM 67320

The electric stove from "Beko" model FSM 67320 with a glass-ceramic worktop has a modern stylish look and will be appropriate in the kitchen, decorated in hi-tech or classic style.
The 65 liter oven is equipped with triple glass, has a grill function and telescopic rails for baking sheets. The stove is equipped with a digital display with a timer, which allows you to detect the cooking time in the oven and automatically turn it off.
The control takes place with the help of recessed switches equipped with child protection. Four burners with a capacity of 1.2 to 2.4 kW are installed on the working surface, two of which have an oval and round expansion zone. The legs regulated on height give the chance to level a plate on one level with a kitchen set.

Iplate YZ-C11

The combined tabletop Iplate YZ-C11 boasts safety, efficiency and ease of heating. The model has a futuristic design and is like a control panel of a spaceship. The glass-ceramic surface is resistant to high temperature and scratches. The touch buttons on the panel are sensitive and allow you to adjust the cooking process with one touch.
The stove combines two types of heating: ceramic and induction. The stove is equipped with two independent burners and a display for adjusting power, temperature and electricity consumption. Engineers "Iplate" provided for the timer to be set up to 24 hours. The built-in microprocessor will turn off the hob when it detects the slightest malfunction.

Vitesse VS-515

The Vitesse VS-515 single burner hob has a slim body and glass-ceramic worktop. The model is made in black with a bright accent on the cooking area. The stove is equipped with a halogen-type burner; cooking is done using a round heating element.

An electronically controlled display with touch switches allows you to fully control the cooking process. The user has 8 programs, a delayed start function and auto-detection of dishes.

Candy TRIO 9503

Combine Candy TRIO 9503 is perfect for small apartments, where it is important to save space in order to place all the necessary household appliances.
The volume of an electric oven of 39 liters is enough to bake almost any dish. The model has the functions: thermostat, convention, timer, backlight oven.
The lower part of the harvester is reserved for a dishwasher that holds six standard sets of dishes. The machine has a quick wash function and 5 different programs. The product is equipped with a stainless steel microfilter with the possibility of self-cleaning.