electric cookers

[lederstiefel1]

I've a question:
Can anyone tell me why they don't make these radiant ring plates anymore (or nearly anymore) but have switched to solid plates like the German cookers always have had? (Not mentioning these ceramic hobs we have meanwhile nearly solely here in Germany and which I do not like at all!)
I do not like the German solid plate cookers as they take too long a time to heat up and cool down and overgoing is a common problem here if you do not monitor the range al the time... But we never had these rings here as far as I know!

Ralf

 

[rapunzel]

Standardization, I am afraid, is the main reason. Here in Australia coils are still available on some low-end, free-standing ranges, made locally (but for how long?). The choice of free-standing or drop-in electric ranges is now relatively small, compared to gas cookers and ceramic hobs. I,too, like coils, especially the monotubes, which used to be very common until ten or fifteen years ago.

I agree with you, the solid hotplates take far too long and respond much slower to selected temperature changes. In addition, they also tend to rust after a while, even if one regularly treats them with that messy conditioning cream.

I read somewhere once that coils are more energy efficient than solid hotplates. They are also easier and cheaper to replace. Generally all you have to do is unplug the broken element and plug in a new one.

I guess having to clean out the spill bowls underneath the hot plates may have been an issue for some people. Then again, one can still buy disposable aluminium spill bowl inserts for coil elements.

As globalization rationalizes manufacturing and governmental regulations impinge on design diversity, we will see even more standardization and homogenization of products. Eventually our homes will have the same (re-branded) products in them, regardless of where in the world we are. Most of these products will come from a handful of manufacturing plants in China, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. True product diversity, as we once knew it, is already very much a thing of the past.

Cheers

Rapunzel

 

[toggleswitch]

If not flat-bottomed the pots may spin on their own. Call th

~Can anyone tell me why they don't make these radiant ring plates anymore (or nearly anymore) but have switched to solid plates like the German cookers always have had?

Who is "they" and in what country do you mean? We still have radiant rings (coils); solid metal hobs came and went so fast in this country that they are probably barely remembered.

Glass-ceramic smooth-tops are quickly overtaking coil elements especially as the cost gap narrows. Due to the nature of the beast, the heat is perfectly even, but extremely flat pan bottoms are required.

 

[gizmo]

I suggest you look at an induction hotplate. I asked for opinions here a few weeks ago and several people said how much they liked them. Louis in NL hs one, I have now bought one too. They are amazingly fast to respond and very energy efficient.

Mine is a Tefal brand, link below.

I have only had mine a short time but I am happy with it.

The Tefal has a number of inbuilt programs such as a "soup" program. Unfortunately the engineers who designed the hotplate don't know how to make soup, the program is hopeless. Similarly, the "boil" program says in the book it should bring water rapidly to the boil, then maintain at boiling point. What is really does is boil the water flat out for several minutes till the whole house is full of steam, then shut off and start beeping.

So the unit is a bit "Chinese" in its execution, but if you ignore the special programs and just select temperature or wattage output, it works brilliantly.

Chris.

http://products.tefal.de/view_products.php?group=N50260

 

[rapunzel]

Induction sounds nice, but I don't like ceramic hobs. Accidentally drop something heavy on one of those and you're up for big bucks. After a while and with heavy use, they become unsightly as well. Don't they only work on pots with copper and cast iron bases?

 

[toggleswitch]

The "real" built-in or top-of-the-cooker induction units look exactly like smoothtop glass-ceramics, except perhaps for the convention of square "burner" markings instead of round ones with some brands. The surface may actually be glass-ceramic.

My Japanese portable induction hot-plate "burner" has a plastic surface. That is wild!

 

[gizmo]

Induction only works with pots with bases made from a metal that attracts a magnet. Cast iron works perfectly, also most but not all stainless steel. Aluminium, glass, copper pots don't work at all. If you use an unsuitable pot, the hotplate beeps at you. You can apply a magnet to the base of any pot, if it sticks it will work.
Unfortunately my Arcosteel stainless steel pressure cooker has an aluminium base and doesn't work on induction. My other pans are good stainless steel and work fine, the cast iron "Chasseur" pan works beautifully.

The response for induction is amazingly fast. When I switch off the kettle, the whistle stops immediately, faster even than my gas stove. You can also set it to maintain a constant temperature in degreesC, though that doesn't seem as responsive - the temp sensor is under the ceramic top and there seems to be a delay before the sensor detects the pot has reached temperature, it swings a little too hot at first before it settles down to holding the correct temp. Bear in mind mine is a single, benchtop hotplate not a full cooktop or stove. It cost $169 including a stainless steel Tefal pot that I would estimate worth about $50.

Chris.

 

[rapunzel]

I guess if you want that integrated, 'modern' look these units are fine. The other thing I've noticed, all these new cooktops are usually black. That's so boring. At least over in the US they come in white, cream, ivory and grey.

Personally, my next kitchen stove will be retro. I'm going to get myself one of those big double oven numbers with chrome, coil hotplates and lots of buttons on the control backsplash. They just have so much more character and the aesthetic value is priceless (to me anyway).

Cheers )

 

[rapunzel]

It sounds pretty nifty in terms of fucntionality and exact temp control. Still, there is nothing like the red glow of a hot coil as it cooks food to perfection. With these induction and ceramic tops the cooking process lacks something that I would describe as personal, involving - it kind of makes the process sterile.

I normally cook on gas, which is kind of organic and, in some ways quite sensual.

Cheers

Rapunzel

 

[panthera]

radiant ring vs. solid

I guess I am just plain dumb. I know exactly what a solid unit is, after I bought my washing machine, this absolutely worst cooking system the world has ever seen was the first thing to go in my new German flat. How I hated those solid elements! They are always too hot or not warm enough and the delays before they reach the desired temperature...
But what is a radiant ring? Do you mean the open nichrome elements? Or the enclosed "Calrod" design? When I left Munich in November, the exposed elements were only available for special laboratory uses, but the Calrods were to be had at Karstadt, Kaufhof, etc.
I will take induction anytime I can afford it - all the advantages of gas. Only one disadvantage: If a magnet doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot or pan, it won't work.

 

[rapunzel]

Hi panthera,

Now I am curious! Are you saying that calrod elements (as in standard coils found on your average US or English electric stove/cooktop), are actually available in Germany? Can you tell me who makes these stoves? Or are they imported from the UK or the US? How long have they been available? Would they actually meet with German standards?

I have attached a link to a picture of a calrod element - to make sure that we are talking about the same thing.

http://www.appliancepartsofamerica.com/images/wb30m1.jpg

 

[rapunzel]

Here is a picture of a standard Australian free-standing range with monotubes. Now, years ago we used to get monotubes that were even fatter than those in the picture. They used to twist up so one could clean the spill bowls underneath.

Loading…

www.westinghouse.com.au

 

[panthera]

Calrod and solid

I have seen both in Munich, the calrods were in 'designer' units, I think I saw them at Kaufhof Galaria at Karlsplatz Stachus, but it could have been at Media Markt, we were at both looking for a "Doppelplatte Tischherd" a few months ago. Bought induction, in the end, for our friend. The solid plates are everywhere.

 

[rapunzel]

Hi panthera,

It's a shame that you didn't find out where these 'designer units' came from. Are they still available? Calrod elements, like vertical axis washers, are simply not the kind of thing I would expect to see on sale in Germany.

Germans, who are used to solid cast-iron, gas or ceramic hotplates, would probably find them too unusual, flimsy and cumbersome to clean. They would be a difficult item to sell, especially knowing how Germans are a little awkward with anything unfamiliar.

I can just imagine the tut-tutting, shaking of heads and discourse at the store: "Also das sind aber bloede Kochplatten? Das sind ja nur so ne billigen Spiralen. Kriegt man da auch keinen gefunkt? Man die gluehen ja richtig, ist dass nicht gefaehrlich?! Igitt, da kleckert ja alles durch wenn's ueberkocht! Wo kommt denn so'n Scheiss her? Was?! Aus Amerika?! Das hab ich mir gleich gedacht. Nee, also fuer so'nen Scheiss geb ich doch kein Geld aus!" ;0)

Cheers

Rapunzel

 

[lederstiefel1]

Rapunzel!

I laughed sooo much reading this!!
You are sooo right to say so! Exactly like Germans are!
And I hate my people for being like that! Always did! This is the trouble I have in my country....I'm different!

No, they aren't available here at all!
Once during the 1980s, I guess, Quelle had one in stock but only for half a year and they were never seen again here! They offered them with 30% less energy use!
And I hate these German solid plates!! Every day at home when using the range!!

But also they are so fond of these ceramic hobs...
Because the women can use them as a worktop for cutting veges, roll out doughs for cookies, they say...
What an absurd argumentation! A range is a range is a range! But of course...they all can only open cans for the microwave anymore!
They have the ceramic hobs just for prestige reasons!
And induction is nice when you have an old aunty with a heart pacemaker and a lot of money at the bank that she is willing to hand it down to you and has already mentioned in her testament...

"Look, Aunty, how quick my new cooker works.....urghhhhh#+!ß+$§!!!!"

Ralf

 

[rapunzel]

LOL - I guess my aunt can thank her lucky stars that we cook with gas here.

There is a certain intensity about Germans that one doesn't get from other nationalities so much. When we've had relos drop by from the 'fatherland' they were always very forward about volunteering their opinions on what was good, bad and indifferent about our place. Sometimes they were right, other times they didn't have a clue, but, I've learned to let things go. We tend to not encourage so many visitors from the old country anymore. Lucky for us the novelty of being airborne for 30 hours or more has worn off for them, I think. We still talk on the phone.

Germany is a very beautiful country and you guys over there are very lucky and spoilt for choice, even if you can't get some of the things that we have here. If it is that important there is always the UK. I think the 'spoilt' part is the reason why Germans are so hypersensitive to the unfamiliar. They are always comparing themselves to everyone else because of the social and cultural trauma suffered during WWII and Germans are quite competitive as a nation. If they weren't, they wouldn't be amongst the eight major global economic players and, if it wasn't for the crappy weather, I'd come visiting more often.

Take it easy Ralph and have a good holiday season.

Rapunzel

 

[gizmo]

Hi Rapunzel and Panthera

Can you translate the German please?

Thanks

Chris.

 

[rapunzel]

This translation is just for you gizmo - "These are really stupid hotplates. They are just cheap spirals. Can they electrocute you? Wow, they actually glow, isn't that dangerous? Yuch, boilovers just drip right through! Where did this s**t come from?! What? From America?! Why doesn't that surprise me. Nah, I won't spend money on crap like that."

In my mind's eye I can picture two Germans inside a store having this conversation, being able to observe their facial expressions, body language, hear the nuances and intonations in their voices - very amusing. I could provide you with an authentic recreation, but for an appropriate surcharge only. Alternatively, I'll sell you some German lessons - wanna buy some? ;0)

Cheers

Rapunzel

 

[toggleswitch]

*LOL* yes....total scheiss.

Except they work better than sold hobs/ hotplates! They are actually responsive to temperature change "requests"