Thursday, September 28, 2006
Setting up a kitchen - Hobs and Hoods
The cooker is definitely the next must have in the kitchen. Now a days, with the smaller and poorer ventilated kitchens, the hood is also another must have.
With the improvement in technology and reduction of cost of manufacturing, the cooker hob is becoming popular. A quick tour of the City Gas show room at Dhoby Gaut will offer you a glimpse of the many brands and designs in the market today.
Cooker hobs and hoods are usually offered as a pair in packages. These are usually good deals available but a mix and match of the hood and hobs are also available.
Hobs
Normally the most used appliance in any kitchen. There are many types of hobs ranging from ceramic induction hobs with their slim design and scratch resistant wipe-clean surface to the traditional gas hobs that we are familiar with. Gas Hobs provide instant control of the heat and are a must-have in most local kitchen.
Given the electrical requirement of the ceramic induction hobs, one is likely to need some modification to the power point required to power the induction hob. These hobs are usually more costly due to the design and the material used to manufacture them. We did not do much research on these hobs and will not be able to discuss much the details of these hobs.
Hobs now-a-days come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and some of the designs are pretty interesting to look at.
One thing to note when buying a hob, is the dimension. One has to bear in mind that these appliances are prone to wear and tear and have to be replaced sometime in the future. So buying a size that is common to most of the brands will reduce the headaches when it is time to replace them.
Of course, if you really like a particular hob cos it goes very well with the design of your kitchen, no one is going to stop you from purchasing it. It is just an advisable, in our humble opinion to get the common size when viewed in the long term.
The common size that we see so far between the brands are usually the 860x500 mm sized hobs and the cut outs for this particular size varies only a few millimeters, so getting a replacement in future is not going to be a big hassle.
Do also take note of the source of gas you are using in your kitchen. There are two types of fixtures, one for the City Gas and the other is for the normal LPG gas. Remember to inform the sales person when you are making the purchase so that the correct one is delivered to you.
Cooker hobs usually comes in glass or stainless steel.
Glass hobs are easy to maintain and aesthetically good to look at and easy to blend into many kitchen designs today.
The functionality are the same as the stainless steel and there is little difference between them other than the glass top. If you are intending to purchase a glass hob, the standard is tempered glass but do ensure that the glass is tempered.
Burners
The burners also come in a variety of material and each has its own pros and cons. Some prefer the look of certain material over others, while some will prefer durability over looks. So depending on your priorities, the different material will also command different pricing. Of course, branding plays a big part as well.
Brass
This metal is gold in color. Some burners come coated with colors to suit certain designs and looks of the hob. Sometimes, they are chromed silver to achieve a better look with the stainless steel hobs.
Very resistant to corrosion. Anti rust, so there is no worry about the burner caps corroding away with long term usage.
Chrome
The silver color tends to turn bluish and purplish when used and constant cleaning required to keep it gleaming and shiny. As durable as brass, they are tough and looks particularly good when new. Also resistant to corrosion. Anti rust, so there is no worry about the burner caps corroding away with long term usage
Cast Iron
Looks really good on a hob. Give a very solid look and feel to the overall design of the hob. Prone to rusting if not properly maintained. Rough surface finishing makes it a little more cumbersome to clean when spills occurs. Will wear thin with prolong usage.
Enamel coated Cast Iron
Similar to Cast iron burner caps. As long as the enamel coat is not damaged, this material will be much easier to clean and maintain compared to Cast Iron.
Hoods
An efficient cooker hood is essential in preventing condensation, grease and cooking odors from circulating freely in the kitchen. The common type of cooker hoods can be ducted or re-circulated, depending on the way the kitchen is designed.
Ducted cooker hoods has an exhaust pipe that links the hood and expels the fumes directly outside the home. Usually not applicable to high rise units like our HDB and condo flats. More for landed properties.
The common one used are the re-circulated hoods, where the fumes are filtered and the exhaust expelled back to the kitchen.
The cooker hoods are usually available in stainless steel or aluminum and they come in various widths of 600mm, 700mm or 900mm. The standard features that come with a cooker hood are typically variable speeds of suction and a powerful illumination to brighten up the cooking area. The controls allow you to vary the rate of extraction depending on how much cooking you are doing.
Look at the suction power of the hood. Don't just read the data printed on the brochures... do a test if possible.
what is written on the brochures usually states the suction power before the installation of the charcoal filters, so it is usually more powerful than it actually is when the whole setup is installed in your home. Get a piece of cardboard to test. Turn the hood on and let the cardboard be sucked to the filter. Try to remove the cardboard. You can feel the suction of the cardboard to the hood when doing so. This way, you can discern whether the suction is good or not. Do a few test with various brands and models and you will be able to decide which hood is good for your needs.
The cooker hoods generally comes in two forms... chimney and slim hoods.
Chimney hoods
Like the name suggest, there is a short chimney from the hood to guide filtered fumes out at a higher location to prevent them from directly blowing back at your hair as and when you are cooking.
Slim hoods
These hoods are designed to be slim to maximize the space in the kitchen. Not as powerful as chimney hoods, they do a pretty decent job in filtering cooking fumes.
Charcoal filter
Its purpose is mainly to reduce the smells of the fumes that are being passed through the hood, thus reducing the smells in the kitchen when the air is expelled out at the exhaust. This filter has to be changed at least once a year for regular cooking, twice if you are a frequent cook.
Oil Filter
Usually the metal plates that cover the hood that has to be removed before you can view the inside of the hood to access the charcoal filter and motor. This filters also come in a variety of design, specific to the brands they are made for. They come in various thickness depending on how many layers of wire mesh is used. Most come in three to four layers and are sufficient for normal use in a typical kitchen.
Oil Reservoir
Some models boast of a small cup or container that collects the oil from the cooking fumes. This is additional feature which I personally think is cumbersome, cos the container has to be constantly cleared away so that the oil collected do not harden and start to smell when left alone.
Prev:Setting up a kitchen - Sinks
With the improvement in technology and reduction of cost of manufacturing, the cooker hob is becoming popular. A quick tour of the City Gas show room at Dhoby Gaut will offer you a glimpse of the many brands and designs in the market today.
Cooker hobs and hoods are usually offered as a pair in packages. These are usually good deals available but a mix and match of the hood and hobs are also available.
Hobs
Normally the most used appliance in any kitchen. There are many types of hobs ranging from ceramic induction hobs with their slim design and scratch resistant wipe-clean surface to the traditional gas hobs that we are familiar with. Gas Hobs provide instant control of the heat and are a must-have in most local kitchen.
Given the electrical requirement of the ceramic induction hobs, one is likely to need some modification to the power point required to power the induction hob. These hobs are usually more costly due to the design and the material used to manufacture them. We did not do much research on these hobs and will not be able to discuss much the details of these hobs.
Hobs now-a-days come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and some of the designs are pretty interesting to look at.
One thing to note when buying a hob, is the dimension. One has to bear in mind that these appliances are prone to wear and tear and have to be replaced sometime in the future. So buying a size that is common to most of the brands will reduce the headaches when it is time to replace them.
Of course, if you really like a particular hob cos it goes very well with the design of your kitchen, no one is going to stop you from purchasing it. It is just an advisable, in our humble opinion to get the common size when viewed in the long term.
The common size that we see so far between the brands are usually the 860x500 mm sized hobs and the cut outs for this particular size varies only a few millimeters, so getting a replacement in future is not going to be a big hassle.
Do also take note of the source of gas you are using in your kitchen. There are two types of fixtures, one for the City Gas and the other is for the normal LPG gas. Remember to inform the sales person when you are making the purchase so that the correct one is delivered to you.
Cooker hobs usually comes in glass or stainless steel.
Glass hobs are easy to maintain and aesthetically good to look at and easy to blend into many kitchen designs today.
The functionality are the same as the stainless steel and there is little difference between them other than the glass top. If you are intending to purchase a glass hob, the standard is tempered glass but do ensure that the glass is tempered.
Burners
The burners also come in a variety of material and each has its own pros and cons. Some prefer the look of certain material over others, while some will prefer durability over looks. So depending on your priorities, the different material will also command different pricing. Of course, branding plays a big part as well.
Brass
This metal is gold in color. Some burners come coated with colors to suit certain designs and looks of the hob. Sometimes, they are chromed silver to achieve a better look with the stainless steel hobs.
Very resistant to corrosion. Anti rust, so there is no worry about the burner caps corroding away with long term usage.
Chrome
The silver color tends to turn bluish and purplish when used and constant cleaning required to keep it gleaming and shiny. As durable as brass, they are tough and looks particularly good when new. Also resistant to corrosion. Anti rust, so there is no worry about the burner caps corroding away with long term usage
Cast Iron
Looks really good on a hob. Give a very solid look and feel to the overall design of the hob. Prone to rusting if not properly maintained. Rough surface finishing makes it a little more cumbersome to clean when spills occurs. Will wear thin with prolong usage.
Enamel coated Cast Iron
Similar to Cast iron burner caps. As long as the enamel coat is not damaged, this material will be much easier to clean and maintain compared to Cast Iron.
Hoods
An efficient cooker hood is essential in preventing condensation, grease and cooking odors from circulating freely in the kitchen. The common type of cooker hoods can be ducted or re-circulated, depending on the way the kitchen is designed.
Ducted cooker hoods has an exhaust pipe that links the hood and expels the fumes directly outside the home. Usually not applicable to high rise units like our HDB and condo flats. More for landed properties.
The common one used are the re-circulated hoods, where the fumes are filtered and the exhaust expelled back to the kitchen.
The cooker hoods are usually available in stainless steel or aluminum and they come in various widths of 600mm, 700mm or 900mm. The standard features that come with a cooker hood are typically variable speeds of suction and a powerful illumination to brighten up the cooking area. The controls allow you to vary the rate of extraction depending on how much cooking you are doing.
Look at the suction power of the hood. Don't just read the data printed on the brochures... do a test if possible.
what is written on the brochures usually states the suction power before the installation of the charcoal filters, so it is usually more powerful than it actually is when the whole setup is installed in your home. Get a piece of cardboard to test. Turn the hood on and let the cardboard be sucked to the filter. Try to remove the cardboard. You can feel the suction of the cardboard to the hood when doing so. This way, you can discern whether the suction is good or not. Do a few test with various brands and models and you will be able to decide which hood is good for your needs.
The cooker hoods generally comes in two forms... chimney and slim hoods.
Chimney hoods
Like the name suggest, there is a short chimney from the hood to guide filtered fumes out at a higher location to prevent them from directly blowing back at your hair as and when you are cooking.
Slim hoods
These hoods are designed to be slim to maximize the space in the kitchen. Not as powerful as chimney hoods, they do a pretty decent job in filtering cooking fumes.
Charcoal filter
Its purpose is mainly to reduce the smells of the fumes that are being passed through the hood, thus reducing the smells in the kitchen when the air is expelled out at the exhaust. This filter has to be changed at least once a year for regular cooking, twice if you are a frequent cook.
Oil Filter
Usually the metal plates that cover the hood that has to be removed before you can view the inside of the hood to access the charcoal filter and motor. This filters also come in a variety of design, specific to the brands they are made for. They come in various thickness depending on how many layers of wire mesh is used. Most come in three to four layers and are sufficient for normal use in a typical kitchen.
Oil Reservoir
Some models boast of a small cup or container that collects the oil from the cooking fumes. This is additional feature which I personally think is cumbersome, cos the container has to be constantly cleared away so that the oil collected do not harden and start to smell when left alone.
Prev:Setting up a kitchen - Sinks
# posted by GnM @ 11:03 PM 
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I sorta assumed that when you build your customed kitchen cabinets, the contractor will usually be the one who will lay it out nicely for you.
hmm... interesting...
what kinda info do you need that will be useful for laying out the kitchen cabinets?
hmm... interesting...
what kinda info do you need that will be useful for laying out the kitchen cabinets?
Got your mail... in the midst of packing to shift, so will post more articles once i settle down next month ;)
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