Selecting the Proper Cookware
Utensils will affect the overall safety and performance of cooktop cooking. It is impor- tant to select them carefully. An improperly selected utensil will not cook efficiently or evenly. For best results, follow these guide- lines:
1.Use medium to heavy gauge metal cookware with flat and smooth bottoms for greatest efficiency. Aluminum and sandwich stainless steel utensils conduct heat quickly. Cast iron and especially glass or ceramic cookware are slower to heat.
Glass or ceramic cookware should only be used as recommended by the cookware manufacturer.
2.Avoid using pots and pans with rounded (concave or convex) or uneven bottoms, or cookware that warps under heating.
The bottom of the utensil should touch all grate support fingers evenly. Utensil flatness can also be checked by placing a straight edge (ruler) against the bottom of the cooking vessel. There should be no gap between the straight edge and the utensil bottom. Utensils, whether full or empty, should never rock on the grates. A rounded utensil is more unstable and may cause scorching or burning of food due to uneven heating.
3.Match the utensil to the cooking process. Best cooking results are usually achieved when utensils are nearly full. Choose the utensil size accordingly. Specialty cookware such as woks, pressure cook- ers, canning madules, and deep fat fryers must be carefully chosen to ensure that they meet all safety guidelines contained in this manual.
4.Use utensils with tight fitting lids to retain heat, odors, and steam. Lids also enable food to be prepared with less water, thereby retaining the vitamin content.
5.Use cooking vessels that are clean and dry.
Important
•Do not use undersized utensils with unbal- anced handles. These can tip easily. See “Burner and Grill Operation” section for information on small pot support ring (trivet).
•Use of utensils having rough bottoms can result in permanent damage to the top edges of the porcelainized grates.
•Large utensils may cause burner flames to spread and curve around edge of utensil. Turn heat down to reduce flames.
•Large utensils may cause flames to be smothered and result in reignition to commence. Do not use these utensils if flames flutter and escape burners. We recommend pots no larger than 11”
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