How to Keep Your Cooktop in Shape
Before cleaning or performing maintenance on your appliance, disconnect it from the electrical power supply.
To extend the life of the cooktop, it is absolutely indispensable that it be cleaned carefully and thoroughly on a frequent basis, keeping in mind the following:
•The enameled parts and the glass top, if present, must be washed with warm water without using abrasive powders or corrosive substances which could ruin them;
•The electric hobs should be cleaned using a damp cloth and then rubbed with oil while still warm;
•Stainless steel can be stained if it remains in contact with highly calcareous water or aggressive detergents (containing phosphorous) for an extended period of time. It is recommended that these parts be rinsed thoroughly with water and then dried well. It is also a good idea to clean up any spills.
Practical Advice
Practical Advice on Using the Electric Hot Plates
In order to avoid heat loss and damage to the hot plate, use cookware with a flat bottom the diameter of which is not less than that of the hot plate.
Setting | Normal or Fast Plate | |
|
| |
0 | Off | |
|
| |
1 | Cooking vegetables, fish | |
|
| |
2 | Cooking potatoes (using steam) soups, | |
chickpeas, beans. | ||
| ||
|
| |
3 | Continuing the cooking of large quantities of | |
food, minestrone | ||
| ||
|
| |
4 | For roasting (average) | |
|
| |
5 | For roasting (above average) | |
|
| |
6 | For browning and reaching a boil in a short | |
time. | ||
| ||
|
|
Before using the hot plates for the first time, you should heat them at maximum temperature for approximately 4 minutes, without any pans. During this initial stage, their protective coating hardens and reaches its maximum resistance.
Use of the hob
To obtain the best cooking results from your hob there are a few basic rules to follow.
•Use pans with a level and even base. This ensures full contact of the base of the pan to the ceramic heat zones. Use heavy pans with level bases
•Use pans with a large enough diameter to completely cover the heat zone as this ensures the most efficient use of the heat.
•Always ensure that the bases of the pans are dry and clean as this allows good contact and will prolong the life of your ceramic hob and pans.
•Never leave cooking rings on without a pan on top as maximum heat is reached in a very short time and could damage heating elements.
•Remember that cooking rings remain hot for at least half an hour after being turned off. Be careful not to inadvertently place containers or cups on the cooking rings whilst they are still hot.
•Do not turn on the cooking rings if there are pieces of aluminium foil or plastic on the hob.
•Do not lean over the rings whilst they are still hot or touch them with your hands.
4