What are the benefits of a ceramic cooker?
What is a ceramic cooker? A cooker is an appliance found in kitchens, to cook food and typically consists of an oven, hob and often a grill. There are many different types of cooker and they are powered by either electricity, gas or sometimes both. Ceramic cookers are becoming more popular for a number of reasons including their sleek design and how easy they are to clean. Instead of a traditional burner, they feature a smooth, flat cooking surface that is made out of ceramic.
What are the benefits of ceramic cookers?
Style
Ceramic cookers are often chosen by those who are looking for a more minimalist look in their kitchen. The smooth ceramic surface can blend seamlessly with your kitchen countertops, whilst traditional electric hot plates or gas burners can be a bit of an eye sore.
Affordability
Many people choose a ceramic cooker as they are an affordable midpoint between standard electric cookers and induction. They have the modern look of an induction hob without the often expensive price tag. Willow Appliances have a great range of affordable cookers.
Easy to Clean
The flat surface of the glass is much easier to clean compared to traditional electric hot plates or gas burners. The smooth surface means that there’s no crevices for food spillages to seep into which are hard to clean.
What is the difference between ceramic and induction?
Ceramic and induction hobs look very similar, but the way they both work is completely different. Ceramic refers to the material that the hob is made out of which is a black, tempered glass. These hobs work by passing electrical currents through coiled elements that are underneath the glass. When the hob is on, it will heat up quickly and will maintain an even and consistent temperature. Ceramic hobs will either have touch controls or knobs to change the temperature and settings and to choose between each cooking zone. During and immediately after use, the surface of the hob is hot to the touch.
Induction hobs work differently to ceramic hobs. The copper coils underneath the glass surface generate a magnetic field which directly heats the base of the pans. You can’t use any type of cookware on an induction hob, which can be a drawback. You will need to invest in cookware that is specifically designed and marketed for induction hobs. Unlike ceramic hobs, the surface of an induction hob will not be hot to the touch. It will only heat up once an induction-compatible pan has been placed on the switched on cooking zone. The technology that is in the hob will sense the iron content in the base of the pan and begin to heat it. Touch controls are used to change the heat settings and to switch between the different cooking zones.
What pans can be used on ceramic hobs?
As ceramic hobs are made out of a type of glass, you need to be really careful with the cookware that you use on them. It is also important that you keep them clean to avoid any damage or scratches. To ensure that your hob works as well as it can and to avoid any damage, you should use flat-bottomed cookware and avoid anything with rough or uneven bottoms. Always make sure you lift your pans properly and avoid dragging them across the surface. If there is any sort of food debris on the bottom of the pans, this could scratch the glass.
You should also be careful about the weight of your pans. Anything too heavy runs the risk of cracking the glass if dropped. Similarly, try not to put too much pressure on the hob and don’t leave any heavy objects on the glass when it’s not in use.
How do you clean a ceramic cooker?
Ceramic cookers are relatively easy to keep clean, which is one of the main benefits of the appliance. As with all kitchen appliances, it is recommended that you spot clean as you go. If you have any sort of spillages whilst you are cooking, you should wipe them up before they dry. Dried on food is a lot harder to clean and can also burn next time you use the cooker.
Even if you are spot cleaning as you go, you will still need to clean your ceramic hob at least once a month. If you’re looking down the cleaning aisle of your favourite supermarket, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the vast amount of products available. Although there are so many products available for cleaning ceramic cookers, you don’t need them. It’s so easy to clean both the oven and hob sections of your ceramic cooker with ingredients you’re likely to already have at home. These are:
- Baking soda
- Water
- White vinegar
- Microfibre cloth
- Spray bottle
- Paper towels
Cleaning the ceramic hob
First of all, ensure that your hob is turned off and if you’ve been using it, it has cooled down. When it is cool to the touch, you use a paper towel and water to remove any food debris. If you’ve unfortunately let food burn and it is stuck to the hob, you should soak it off. Trying to wipe it away when it is burnt on runs the risk of scratching the surface of the glass.
Use the white vinegar in the spray bottle to remove any stains or grease off the surface of the ceramic hob. Simply fill the bottle, spray it where needed and leave it to sit for a few minutes before wiping it away with a damp microfibre cloth.
You can also use the baking soda and water, by mixing it into a paste using a 1:1 ration. Cover the areas that need cleaning with this paste and leave it to sit for at least an hour. You can use the damp microfibre cloth to remove the paste, or if you need something extra, you can spray the white vinegar on top before wiping it away.
Cleaning the oven and grill cavities
When cleaning the oven and grill cavities, the first step is to ensure that everything is switched off and cool to the touch. Remove any racks or grill pans and clean them separately. You can do this by using a 1:1 ratio baking soda and water paste and leaving it on the soiled areas for a few hours. Spray with white vinegar to remove the paste along with the dirt and grime. You can then finish the job by cleaning the racks/grill pans in a bowl of warm, soapy water.
Clean the inside of the cavities with the same baking soda and water mix, taking care to avoid the heating elements. Again, leave the paste to do its job for a few hours before removing it with the white vinegar. When you’re sure that all of the dirt and grime has been removed, wipe the cavity down with a cloth and warm, soapy water.
Before you put the wire racks and grill pans back inside, ensure they’re fully dry. You can leave the doors open for a couple of hours to help the insides dry out.
If you have any more questions about ceramic cookers or any of our other appliances, don't hesitate to contact us.