Choosing a stove can seem like a very simple affair. Unfortunately, this is not the case. In this article, we will try to reveal the basic selection criteria for choosing the most suitable cooker.

But first, let's not get lost in the deadlines. The stove is the most common appliance in which the oven and hob are mounted in one mechanism. The oven and hob are usually installed separately in the kitchen furniture. They do not necessarily have to be on top of each other. The stove has everything installed so that the oven is just under the hotplate.

Gas or electricity?

The first question all cooker buyers ask is "gas or electricity"? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as it all depends on having a three-phase electrical socket in your home. If you do not have one, unfortunately electric cookers are unlikely to be purchased - you simply do not have how to connect it. The gas stove remains. What if your home has no gas inlet? A minor problem is that each gas station sells butane gas cylinders that can be easily connected to any stove. If you have both gas and electricity, you may want to look into hybrid cookers. Yes, there are those where the hob is gas and the oven is electric.

Electric cooker hob selection

If you are choosing an electric stove, you need to know more about the hob options. Here are two questions to ask yourself:

1. Will 4 holes (hotplates) be enough or 5? There are larger-sized cookers with 5 hotplates instead of the usual 4. You should also see if one of the hotplates can be expanded to larger pots and pans. This way, you will be able to cook more efficiently, using not only round but also oval dishes.
   
2. Hob top ceramic or inductive?
   

Here you should stop and look at the difference between the two surfaces. The ceramic surface is the same as on a conventional hotplate - underneath the ceramic surface there is a heating element which heats up to heat the pot or pan. In induction hobs, things are a little different. Underneath the surface is mounted a special electromagnetic wave mechanism that heats only the steel bottom of the pot or pan. The surface itself is low-temperature, completely safe and recommended for families with young children. In addition, such stoves are more economical. True, induction cookers are more expensive than ceramic countertops, so consider whether you need such an investment.

Energy class is also important. You should choose class A appliances, including cookers. Since they consume a great deal of electricity, their efficiency, indicated by the letter A, is very good. It doesn't matter that other devices in the home are A ++ class. The stove is a true powerhouse, so take a good look at the specifications.
Do You Need to Know About Gas Cookers? Just one fact - is there a self-ignition mechanism. The self-ignition mechanism burns the gas itself. This eliminates the need for matches or a special burner. Often, the ignition process can be unsafe, so the auto-ignition mechanism helps to improve the level of safety. Most hotplates require you to press a button or turn the dial to a certain mark and the hotplate will light up itself.

Oven features

Gas or electric ovens have all the essential functions of ovens, as with built-in ovens. It is important to you that there are essential programs - fan, top heating, bottom heating, grill, hot air function and so on. Another interesting moment is the telescopic rails. Simple ovens have special grooves in which you place a baking tray or grill. Some models have special telescopic rails on which the tin is placed. They pull out easily, even when you roast a heavy turkey or goose. In addition, the whole baking sheet comes out of the oven, not halfway, as in grooves. As a result, it is not always convenient to remove food. With the rails there is no such problem as the whole tin passes. You start with food and push everything into a warm oven with a light touch. It's a really handy feature, obviously what you have to pay for.

Oven capacity may vary. Usually 50-70 liters are sufficient, but there are larger ones. Depends on how often you cook turkey or bread in ovens.

Control

The stove control is mostly mechanical - with swivel castors. On some models, the wheels have been refined - they are pressed into the body, protecting them from children who are sure to spin them. For this reason, you should look for models with child lock.
Convenient when the stove has an LED display. It usually contains not only the time but also the timing, the signal when the food is already baked and so on. Of course, simpler models may not have such a display. Retro designs are not specifically designed to give the look of a truly ancient stove, although the stove itself has all the advanced features of a stove.

As we mentioned, it is desirable to have gas hobs and ovens with a self-ignition function so that you do not have to worry about matches.

Mounting

Finally we should talk about installation. When purchasing an electric stove, keep in mind that it will not have a cord. You will have to purchase the three-phase power cord yourself. Why don't manufacturers add a cord to the electric stove? The logic is simple: it is intended to prevent people who do not know anything about electrical work safety from being connected to a three-phase connection. Contact with an uninsulated three-phase power cord is fatal, although the current flowing through the single-phase cord is not as dangerous. Therefore, only an electrician should install the stove. Its service costs 20-30 euros with cable and parts needed for connection.
A similar situation is with a gas stove. It must only be connected by a gas service specialist who has been specially trained to connect the gas cookers to all safety requirements. When the cooker is connected, this specialist will check for gas leaks. He may also recommend replacing the gas cylinder, although this is often not recommended.

Installation costs will be extra, so keep in mind that you will need another 20-30 euros.