com Dietrich DPI7686GP: Review, price and specification

February 22, 2020

[ad_1]

Difficult for the DPI7686 to deny its "Dedietrichian" origins: this induction hob, launched at € 899, in fact proudly displays a stainless steel band signed com Dietrich and the hunting horn on a small copper medallion emblematic of the brand . From a more technical point of view, this model has a maximum power of 7,400 watts, adjustable over 19 levels (plus a boost mode to accelerate the rise in temperature in the containers). Little different from DPI7572, it is nevertheless distinguished by the presence of a twinnable zone; thus it is possible to combine the two inductors on the left to form a large cooking zone (Horizone technology).

Like the com Dietrich DPI7572 before it, the DPI7686 induction hob came to us in an unusual color. The glass plate covering the inductors is adorned with an attractive deep gray (reference DPI7686GP). Obviously, it exists in black (DPI7686XP) and in white (DPI7686WP) whose technical characteristics – and, com facto, performance – is exactly the same.

A glance at the cooking zones tells us that the left-hand inductors can be combined to enlarge the heating surface in order to accommodate large dishes such as a cast-iron frying pan or atypical shape such as a fishmonger . On the right, we find the screenprints already used on the DPI7572, lines which are still as impractical for placing utensils, but whose length indicates the power of the inductors. Good point, each inductor has a different maximum power; thus, from right to left and from top to bottom in boost mode they deploy 15.2 amps, 10.1 A, 7.7 A and 5.5 A. We therefore theoretically have four different fires, suitable for many situations in the kitchen, from searing red meat to keeping a sauce warm.

Obviously the manufacturer has largely taken over the control panel from the DPI7572, adapting it to the presence of a twinnable zone. We therefore find the different icons (sometimes not very telling) dedicated to special functions, placed on either side of the electronic displays. It should also be noted that each household has its own screen; you can see at a glance how each inductor is set, even if all four are used at the same time.

The selection of the fireplace is always instinctive since it is enough to touch one of the tiles on the far left for this. By touching the long icon, you combine the two linkable inductors; It's hard to make it simpler.

Once the cooking zone is defined, you can move on to the choice of power. Good point, we can proceed quickly using the numeric keypad and indicating the level chosen. And if that didn't work, com Dietrich provided "plus" and "minus" keys to precisely adjust the power when cooking is in progress. We can reduce or increase the heat depending on the circumstances to accelerate the temperature rise or prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the utensils. If these operations take place most of the time without a hitch, we still noticed that the sensitive buttons (especially those for selecting the cooking zones) sometimes lacked responsiveness.

The DPI7686 has a large number of functions, to be activated via the icons, which are still not very expressive. The ICS (Intelligent Cooking System), for example, suggests an inductor adapted to the size of the container used. If the plate has been switched off for less than 3 minutes, you can also restore the settings previously used by pressing the key decorated with an arrow. Finally, the settings can be transferred from one household to another with a simple press of the button on the two arrows. If they have the merit of existing, these functions ultimately do not add much to everyday use.

On the right side of the electronic displays, the sensitive buttons just in front of the user allow you to start a countdown or to know how long the power of an inductor has been modified (Elapsed Time system). Those placed just behind activate the boost (easy to spot since its name is displayed in full) or one of the three preset powers (Keep warm, Simmer, Sear) that the user can modify at his convenience, however respecting the limits imposed by com Dietrich; between 1 and 3 for keeping warm, 4 and 11 for simmering, 12 and 19 for entering. Finally, the last button decorated with a pan is used to activate the Boil function, to which we have dedicated a news lab.

Because of these many options, the DPI7686 takes a little longer than most of the other induction hobs in our comparison to be fully mastered, unless we are content with the basic cooking functions.

com Dietrich plates heat up the temperature very quickly in containers and DPI7686 is no exception. It ranks among the fastest in our comparison by passing three liters of water from 25 ° C to 95 ° C in 5 min 35 s. It is a little more difficult to reach 100 ° C since it must be left to operate for exactly 60 seconds more so that it glows the last 5 degrees Celsius.

But like the DPI7572, it has a hard time curbing its enthusiasm. Indeed, after two hours of use, at minimum power, the temperature in the containers reaches almost 80 ° C. If this is not enough to boil water, such heat damages the chocolate, whose ideal texture is reached at 55 ° C. Pastry chefs will therefore be well advised not to forget this ingredient on the fire, otherwise they will see it burn.

The com Dietrich DPI7686 ensures temperature uniformity when using the large or small inductor. Admittedly, it will always be necessary to stir the hazelnut apples to avoid that they are too browned on one side and not enough on the other, but cooking a steak turned and turned should not require special handling for that it be entered homogeneously.

On the other hand, when we use the twin zone, the temperature disparities are more striking as shown by the pictures of our thermal camera. Long-term simmering of a dish in sauce should not suffer, but using a fishmonger may require moving the pan or fish regularly so that some parts are not burnt while others remain floods. It is however difficult to blame the com Dietrich DPI7686 because this phenomenon is encountered on the vast majority of hobs equipped with a twinnable zone.

The maximum power of the DPI7686 is 6,810 watts. Thanks to her, we were able to use all the lights at their highest level (19). However, it is not possible to activate the two boosts located on the same side of the plate, but you can trick by activating the twin zone on the left before using the boost mode. In this configuration, there is still a little room to trigger the boost on one of the two homes on the right and the other at power level 10.

To bring 3 liters of water from 25 ° C to 100 ° C, the DPI7686 consumes 0.40 kWh, which places it in the average of the other plates in our comparison for this exercise.

When the DPI7686 is pushed to its last entrenchments, the sound level reaches 48 dB (A). It is still insufficient to cover a normal conversation (60 dB (A)), but it is still heard in a quiet kitchen. More annoying, the fans responsible for dissipating heat start to work very quickly and we then reach 54 dB (A).

Strong points

  • Four very different inductors.

  • Accuracy of power settings.

  • Very rapid rise in temperature.

Weak points

  • Additional functions not always relevant.

  • Poorly controlled low temperatures.

  • Sensitive keys that sometimes lack responsiveness.

Conclusion

Basically, the DPI7686 induction hob is not much different from the same manufacturer's DPI7572. They share the same qualities and the same faults. The presence of four inductors and a linkable area, however, brings a little more versatility to our competitor of the day who will fulfill her mission effectively. However, unless you want to harmonize the color of your plate with the rest of the kitchen at all costs, other models, more affordable, seem just as recommendable, like the Samsung NZ64K7757BK. 

  • Convenience of use

  • baking

  • Consumption

  • Noise

[ad_2]