Review of the Lex EVI 641B BL induction hob

We continue to study Lex induction hobs, and today we will focus on the new model — EVI 641B BL. This model belongs to the independent built-in stoves of the middle price category. Thanks to its functionality, high power and the presence of four burners in two combined zones, it can successfully compete with more expensive models.

During testing, we will study the panel in detail, find out how easy it is to use, and evaluate the results of its operation.

^* Contrary to popular belief, this is not a period after which the device will necessarily break down. However, after this period, the manufacturer ceases to bear any responsibility for its functionality and has the right to refuse to repair it, even for a fee.

The Lex EVI 641B BL hob is packaged in a durable flat cardboard box. On the front and back sides of the box there is an image of the device, the full model name, the company logo, key features and brief technical specifications.

Inside the box, the cooktop was held securely in place with a pair of foam pads, and the front was protected by a sheet of foam. The package also included an instruction manual, a warranty card and a set of brackets with screws.

An independent model designed for embedding looks stylish and expensive. Glossy glass-ceramic surface in classic black color — frameless. The edges of the panel are smooth, not beveled.

Control elements and heating zones are highlighted in light grey. There are a minimal number of lines on the surface, and the touch buttons are quite small.

Visually, the burners are no different from each other, although there is a difference in power:

The panel has two unitable zones of 210×410 mm. You can connect two left or two right burners. The maximum power for each zone is 2800 W, and when using Boost — 3500.

A metal strip with round holes for ventilation is screwed into the front side part. The height of the structure is almost 6 cm.

The lower part of the body is made of plastic. A foam insert is glued around the perimeter of the panel. At the bottom, in the center, we see the fan grille,

Next to it is a sticker with technical information, and closer to the back of the case there is a cable outlet about 85 cm long without a plug. The panel is connected to a standard power supply with a voltage of 220-240 V and a frequency of 50/60 Hz.

The instruction manual is presented in the form of a black and white brochure printed on thick, high-quality paper. The document covers five models in this series, but thanks to its structured and consistent presentation, its contents are easy to understand.

The instructions consistently provide detailed information about the device, operation and safety, management, correct installation, as well as recommendations for preparation and a table with tips for troubleshooting possible problems without contacting service.

On the Lex EVI 641B BL touch control panel, the central part of the bottom row is occupied by a 9-step slider for adjusting power. The buttons on the sides of the slider are designed to control functions: turning the panel on and off, locking, pause and timer.

The sensor block located above on the panel is designed to select the heating zone. To the right of the sensor block there is a button for combining two burners on the left or right side of the panel. During operation, on the sides of the selected burners the digital values ​​of the power used or the letter “H” are displayed, which appears when the heating is turned off. The letter disappears when the burner cools down to a safe temperature.

During the heating process, if the pan is lifted or shifted too much relative to the center of the burner, a “U” icon will appear instead of the current power indicator. If the dishes return to their place within a minute, heating will resume at the same power; otherwise, the burner will automatically turn off. The same «U» icon appears if the panel determines that the cookware is not suitable for induction heating.

Pause, timer or lock indicators are displayed to the right of the selected cooking zones if these functions have been activated.

Boost, as is usually the case in such devices, is activated for the first 5 minutes of operation, then automatically switches to the maximum, 9th mode. Boost can be used simultaneously on a combined zone and one burner on the opposite side, or on three burners, while the remaining burner can operate at a maximum of 7 power.

The Pause function pauses the heating of all active zones at the same time, rather than individual burners. The timer can be used as a reminder without turning off the heat or to automatically turn off one of the burners. The timer limit is 99 minutes.

A burner operating at a certain power automatically turns off after a set time.

If you remove a pan from the hob and forget to turn it off, the hob will immediately stop heating and automatically turn off after 2 minutes.

We did not find any difficulties during the operation of the Lex EVI 641B BL hob. It performs all functions perfectly and is easy to operate and maintain. The only thing you need to get used to is the minimalistic marking of heating zones. This is a plus for lovers of a laconic style in the kitchen interior, but initially it can be a little confusing due to the lack of visual difference between the burners.

The touchpad buttons respond quickly and clearly to your touch, even with wet fingers. However, those with larger hands may find the sensors a little small.

The single power control dial, while a bit disappointing, is actually very convenient once you get used to it. It prevents large dishes placed on nearby burners from blocking the buttons.

The panel easily accommodates two containers with a diameter of 24-25 cm, and another pair with a diameter of up to 20 cm can be installed on the remaining zones. The location of the burners on the surface is planned in such a way that there is enough free space in the center.

The maximum weight distributed over all four heating zones must not exceed 20 kg. It is not recommended to place dishes weighing more than 5 kg filled with food on one burner.

Caring for the Lex EVI 641B BL hob, like most induction models, is very simple. To keep the surface clean, simply wipe it with a soft cloth with a neutral detergent, and then wipe until shiny. This way the slab will look like new every time. It is important to avoid chemically aggressive products, rough scourers and steam cleaners. If necessary, you can use a special scraper for glass ceramics, but this should be a last resort.

On the near right burner in Boost mode in a saucepan with the lid closed, 1 liter of water at a temperature of 20 °C boiled in 6.5 minutes. Energy consumption was 0.172 kWh.

In modes 1 to 6, each burner operates in pulse mode, periodically turning the emitter on and off at different powers in accordance with the cycle duration indicated in the table. Average power is calculated by the formula: power consumption × total duration of switching on / (total duration of switching on + total duration of pauses).

To determine the size of the heating elements, we placed a large container on the stove and poured in some water. After a few seconds, bottom bubbles appeared, forming a round configuration of the heating element with smooth edges and no voids in the center. The diameter of the circle on all four burners is approximately 19 cm.

In the combined zone, two non-contacting circles of smaller diameter with a void inside occupy a total of 38 cm in length and approximately 18 in width.

The energy consumption of the hob in various modes is as follows: in standby mode it is 0.2 W, when selecting a mode — 5 W, and in the off state with the fan running — 7.8 W.

For 18 minutes of boiling the broth in Boost mode (the first 5 minutes) and then at level 9, the stove consumed 0.444 kWh. The maximum power consumption was 1448 W.

In just 4.5 hours, cooking broth, pancakes, steak and stew, the energy consumption was 2.548 kWh. The maximum recorded power during this time was 3895 W.

Our wattmeter is not capable of correctly measuring consumption above 4000 W, so we were unable to measure the maximum consumption when using all burners at the same time. Based on individual measurements of each of the four burners at maximum power without Boost, it can be calculated that the total energy consumption is 5549 W (1360 + 1369 + 1445 + 1375 W).

Power with Boost function on burners: 5686 W (1360+1426+1445+1455 W). On two burners of the 9th level and with Boost activated, the same figure is observed.

Boost of the combined zones shows the following figures: 3175 W and 3197 W.

When merging zones, a slight but not annoying whistling sound is sometimes heard. Sound signals when pressing buttons have a standard squeak, which does not turn off, but does not cause discomfort due to the optimal volume level. The fan noise level is moderate for this type of device.

When preparing broth, we are interested in the ability of the hob to maintain a low temperature for a long time.

Place three legs and half an onion into the pan, add 2.5 liters of water, add a pea of ​​black allspice, add salt and turn on the Boost function. After 18 minutes the water began to boil. The foam was removed, a temperature probe was placed in the broth with the temperature limited to 93°C and the heating was set to level 5.

The temperature of the broth dropped to 90°C and remained stable for most of the time. Halfway through the process, we added carrots and a couple of potatoes to the broth.

After 40 minutes from the start of cooking, the temperature rose to 98°C, and we changed the heat to 4. For the remaining time, the temperature remained between 88-90°C, which suited us quite well.

Mix eggs with sugar and beat with a whisk. Gradually added kefir and mixed thoroughly. Add the sifted pancake flour piece by piece, add a pinch of salt and continue whisking to eliminate lumps. Add vegetable oil, then hot milk, mix thoroughly again.

We immediately found the optimal power for the test — this is the 6th heating level.

The frying speed and temperature stability throughout the entire time were perfect for delicate dough.

The pancakes were nicely browned, and we, naturally, had a pleasant meal.

We combined the two left burners and placed a large cast-iron container on them. Turned on the 4th heating level and added a little vegetable oil. We laid out diced eggplants and potatoes in layers, and also added a few cloves of garlic, finely chopped bell peppers and tomatoes. Each layer was alternated with salt and hops-suneli. The dish was stewed under a closed lid. After half an hour, lower the heat to 3, stir the vegetables and leave on the stove for another 40 minutes.

The pieces of vegetables were well stewed, remained intact and did not turn into porridge. Nothing stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Place a piece of beef at room temperature, pre-greased with vegetable oil, onto a hot frying pan. We fried it for a minute on each side in Boost mode, then a few more minutes, turning it over, already at level 9.

Place the meat on a plate, pepper and salt on both sides, cover with foil and leave to rest for a while. So we got a confident medium rare.

Juicy and properly cooked.

The Lex Evi 641B BL built-in hob successfully passed all our tests and demonstrated its effectiveness as a simple and convenient device for daily use and the preparation of traditional dishes. Four heating zones combine into two, allowing you to cook large portions in larger-than-usual, irregularly shaped dishes.

This self-contained model with induction heating has smooth power adjustment. Although the actual maximum figures were slightly lower than stated, the range is sufficient for both fast, high-quality frying and slow stewing. The only thing that can be noted as a minus is the lack of differences between modes 9 and Boost on some burners. This becomes noticeable even against the backdrop of successfully prepared dishes, which indicates a potential flaw in this part. In addition, in low power mode, all burners operate in pulses.

Touch control is clear and convenient. All the necessary functions are built in: lock, pause and timer, the latter limited to 99 minutes.

Pros:

• stylish minimalistic design
• Convenient touch controls with Boost, timer, pause and lock functions
• two merged zones
• optimal power for most dishes and a wide temperature control range

Minuses:

• the maximum power is actually slightly lower than stated
• non-disabled sound signals (however, not annoying)