KitchenAid KECS100, KECS161 Using your Cooktop, Home canning information, Optional canning kit

Using your Cooktop

Until you get used to the settings, use the following as a guide. For best results, start cooking at the high setting; then turn the control knob down to continue cooking.

SETTING	RECOMMENDED USE
HI	• To start food cooking.
	• To bring liquid to a boil.
MED-HI or 6-8	• To hold a rapid boil.
	• To quickly brown or sear meat.
MED or 5	• To maintain a slow boil.
	• To fry poultry or meat.
	• To make pudding, sauce, or gravy.
MED-LO or 2-4	• To stew or steam food.
	• To simmer food.
LO	• To keep food warm. Set the heat higher or lower within the
	LO (or 1) band to keep food at the temperature you want.
	• To maintain liquid just below simmer.
	• To melt chocolate or butter.

Home canning information

Center over coil element

Pan

Coil element

• Alternate use of the coil elements between

batches or prepare small batches at a time.

• Start with hot water, cover with a lid,

and bring to a boil; then reduce heat to

maintain a boil or required pressure levels

•Use flat-bottomed canners on all types of cooktops, especially ceramic glass. Canners with rippled or ridged bottoms do not allow good contact with the surface.

•Center the canner over the largest coil element. Do not extend more than one inch outside the coil element. Large diameter canners/pans, if not centered correctly, trap heat and can cause damage to the cooktop.

•Do not place your canner on two coil elements at the same time.

•The type of material the canner is made of determines the length of heating time. Refer to the “Characteristics of cookware materials” chart later in this section for more information.

•When canning for long periods of time, allow elements and the surrounding surfaces to cool down.

in a pressure canner.

• Keep reflector bowls clean so that they

will always reflect heat well.

• For up-to-date information on canning,

contact your local U.S. Government

Agricultural Department Extension Office

or companies who manufacture home

canning products.

Optional canning kit

Most water-bath or pressure canners have large diameters. If you do canning with them at high heat settings for long periods of time, you can shorten the life of regular coil elements. This can also damage the cooktop. If you plan to use the cooktop for canning, we recommend the installation of

a Canning Kit. Order the kit (Part No. 242905) from your dealer or authorized service company.

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