SENSOR CONTROL WITHOUT SPECIAL PANS

BSH Home Appliances is presenting two hob series from Siemens at Power's training fair in the final week before Easter. Thomas Nybø Antonsen at BSH highlights in-house production as a key argument.

– We produce our own hobs, and we have done so for years. We are one of the few who actually do that job ourselves, and the development takes place in collaboration with the University of Zaragoza in Spain, says Nybø Antonsen.

The glass on the hobs is supplied by Schott Ceran. According to Antonsen, the surface is five times less susceptible to scratches than normal, and the tests are carried out according to Schott Ceran's own testing guidelines.

Matt surfaces on the rise

Interest in matt hobs is increasing, according to BSH's representative.

– There is definitely a design focus on this, and I believe it will increase over the next three to four years, so we are following the development, Antonsen tells the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen.

Sensor control without special pans

The IQ700 series has a function called Frying Sensor Pro. A sensor on the underside of the hob continuously measures the temperature in the pot or frying pan, without requiring special equipment.

– The temperature can be set at 11 different levels, from 70 to 220 degrees. If you put something cold in it, it will raise the temperature. It will not get too hot, the sensor makes sure of that, says Antonsen.

– Can the customer use all kinds of frying pans and saucepans?

– Yes, they can. It is a major advantage that with us you can use any saucepan or pot that works with induction, says Antonsen.

The technology has been available from Siemens for around 16 years, but has now been further developed with the option of selecting the temperature directly on the hob.

Learning curve with temperature

Antonsen describes the communication around temperature control as a learning process.

– We use temperature when we talk about ovens, and that needs to be transferred to hobs. If you draw parallels with ovens, I think you can make it much easier for the customer to understand what it can actually be used for, he says.

A practical example he uses with the shop sales staff at PowerUp is frying minced beef for tacos.

– People often set the power to 7-8, and when the cold minced beef that is often used hits the pan, you boil the meat instead of frying it. Our frying sensor ensures a temperature increase so that the liquid in the meat does not seep out into the pan, giving you a nice crust and a much better flavour, Antonsen tells the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen.

Another example he highlights is pancakes.

– The first usually turns out quite pale, while the last often becomes brown. You avoid that with a frying sensor. If you set it to 180 degrees, you will get the same result from the first to the last pancake, he says.

Steam oven with two variants

During the presentation, an oven in the IQ700 series is also shown. This year, Siemens is focusing on steam, and is offering two variants here: one with full steam in a full-size model, and one with what is described as pulse steam, a simpler steam function intended for roasting meat or baking bread.

– Pulse steam has a wide range of uses, such as a wonderful crust on bread, proving dough and juicy, delicious meat. With full steam, you get additional possibilities, such as sous vide, fully steamed vegetables and gentle treatment of fish, says Antonsen.