Are modern electric cookers any good?

RetiredGreyFox · 14 Jan 2015 at 20:54

wazza300 said:
cooking on gas is far quicker and more control than any electric hob imo,but gas is more messy

Wrong wrong wrong.

The first test of the day in the lab was to turn on 32 cookers (between 4 staff members) and the hob would have 4 pans of water put on them and turned up to full.
There would be 16 gas & 16 electric and the reason for this was the 'boil over' test which was making sure when the switch/stat was turned down the water would not boil over.
In 100% of cases the electric always got to boiling point before the gas and that was on normal ceramic hobs.

Russinating · 14 Jan 2015 at 23:41

But did they boil over?

Danthus · 15 Jan 2015 at 11:19

Russinating said:
But did they boil over?

They haven't since Merloni took over.

Simon · 15 Jan 2015 at 11:24

And did they have the same energy rating. A 3.3kw Wok hob is going to boil pretty quick, plus it sounds like you are running them on minimum anyway so its a case of 'slowest wins'

This suggests gas is more controllable as it can be ran at a lower output which is useful for simmer.

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Jan 2015 at 11:35

Russinating said:
But did they boil over?

If they do then there is something wrong and it fails the test.

OldCoals said:
They haven't since Merloni took over.

Actually the technology was perfected in the late 80s by my Father In Law of all people. He designed the elements & switches that would control heat just like you could with gas.
Many famous Chefs were invited to the factory to test the new electric technology but they all had to alter their styles because electric is quicker.

This is a grab of one of the test sheets and the 'CONTROL' section is the boil over test and you can see the instructions just above it.

Simon · 15 Jan 2015 at 14:52

Dimple said:
Wrong wrong wrong.

The first test of the day in the lab was to turn on 32 cookers (between 4 staff members) and the hob would have 4 pans of water put on them and turned up to full.
There would be 16 gas & 16 electric and the reason for this was the 'boil over' test which was making sure when the switch/stat was turned down the water would not boil over.
In 100% of cases the electric always got to boiling point before the gas and that was on normal ceramic hobs.

Did you ever run this test with them on full power ??

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Jan 2015 at 15:46

Simon said:
Did you ever run this test with them on full power ??

Did you not read the screen grab above?
The instructions say 'Controls on Max for 15 mins or when boiling' this is to take into account that electric is quicker and will reach boiling point sooner so the Audit Technicians have to be quick when it comes to electric but able to take their time with gas.
The instructions then say 'Turn down to simmer/minimum' so yes they are on full power until boil over.
In 100% of tests that were carried out in that lab electric will reach boiling point before gas (unless there was a fault).
If one plate failed then we would have to get 20 more cookers in the lab.

However I think everybody knows that electric ovens cook quicker than gas so I don't know why you wouldn't think the same for hobs.

DXP55 · 15 Jan 2015 at 16:12

Tesla said:
I prefer cooking on a Gas Hob but it's messy looking and tedious to keep clean so overall prefer electric. Get one with touch controls, not physical knobs as these just get in the way. Induction preferable.

have to disagree on touch controls - We have a Siemens Induction hob with touch and they are a pain in ass - slightest bit of oil or water on fingers and they don't work - If we need to replace it I will be looking for an Induction with nobs on.

Also have a Zanussi double fan oven - only problem is the oven temp control is 20deg out - Zanussi says it's withing spec so we have learn't to adjust temp settings - Had gas hob at renter and prefer electric

Dave

Tesla · 15 Jan 2015 at 16:48

Interesting about the touch controls. I was just talking from experience of a hob with knobs and thinking they are always in the way.

Are all touch hobs like this? Are some better than others? Will be buying a new induction hob for the kitchen soon.

DXP55 · 16 Jan 2015 at 15:11

Tesla said:
Interesting about the touch controls. I was just talking from experience of a hob with knobs and thinking they are always in the way.

Are all touch hobs like this? Are some better than others? Will be buying a new induction hob for the kitchen soon.

I can't speak for other hobs only one we have - I did notice once watching Delia Smith I was sure she had an Induction hob with knobs on right side but it did look a big expensive cooker - Also when looking at hobs I have never come across a Induction with knobs. - We used to have a Ceramic and it was easy to clean after pulling knobs off.

Just done a google and they do make them with knobs but didn't fancy a Belling.

Bit of a knob post this :rolleyes:

Dave

RetiredGreyFox · 16 Jan 2015 at 18:19

DXP55 said:
Just done a google and they do make them with knobs but didn't fancy a Belling.

Have a bit of respect for Belling.
When their factory closed down in the 90s some of their workers came to Creda/Hotpoint and two of the Audit Technicians were from that site because of their gas knowledge.
Creda/Hotpoint then made badged Belling products but Belling still kept a track on quality.
When Merloni took over Belling refused to go with them because of how crap they were - RESPECT.

NickK · 17 Jan 2015 at 09:24

Dimple said:
Have a bit of respect for Belling.
When their factory closed down in the 90s some of their workers came to Creda/Hotpoint and two of the Audit Technicians were from that site because of their gas knowledge.
Creda/Hotpoint then made badged Belling products but Belling still kept a track on quality.
When Merloni took over Belling refused to go with them because of how crap they were - RESPECT.

Hehe my mum & dad's Belling hob and oven worked for years.. the oven unfortunately got replaced but she still has the hob.. I think they're probably as old as their house. So that at least 1980 or even 1970s.

TheVoice · 17 Jan 2015 at 12:52

Tesla said:
Interesting about the touch controls. I was just talking from experience of a hob with knobs and thinking they are always in the way.

Are all touch hobs like this? Are some better than others? Will be buying a new induction hob for the kitchen soon.

Neff ones seem fine in my experience, though they also do models with a single magnetic knob for controlling all the zones. Only available on the pricey models though.