Whirlpool RC8430XT, RC8436XT manual I I’, Using the Solid Element Surface Units, Cookware

I I’

Using the Solid Element Surface Units

Before placing a pan on solid element surface units for the first time, heat on HI setting for five minutes. The surface units will give off smoke as the protective coating, applied at the factory, finishes bonding to the surfaces.

Solid element surface units are made of heavy cast-iron to provide even cook- ing. Each surface unit has a built-in protective limiter. The limiter senses

uneven cooking temperatures and automatically reduces the heat setting. The limiter will sense uneven heat when a pan boils dry, when a pan does not have a flat bottom, or when a pan is removed and the surface unit is left on.

Solid elements hold heat longer than conventional surface units. For best cook- ing results, use a high setting for only a very short period of time. Then use

a lower setting to complete the cooking. You may want to turn the solid element OFF a few minutes before you finished cooking.

CAUTION: Solid elements stay hot for a long time. Do not use the HI setting for long periods of time or leave pans on hot elements when cooking is done. Burned food and damage to the cookware could result.

For some foods you may be able to start and complete cooking on MEDIUM- HIGH. If solid elements are new to you, you will need to learn to use different settings than you have in the past.

Until you get used to the settings, use the following as a guide.

Use HI to start		Use MED-HI to			Use MED for		Use MED-LO		Use LO to
foods	cook-	hold	a	rapid	gravy,	pud-	to keep	food	keep	food
ing; to	bring	boil;	to start		dings	and	cooking	after	cooking		after
liquids	to a	frying		chicken	icing;	to cook	starting	it on a	starting		it on a
boil. When		or pancakes.			large	amounts	higher	setting.	higher		setting,
cooking	foods,	Turn to a LO			of vegetables.				to keep		food
turn to a LO		or MED-LO			Turn to a LO				warm		or to
or MED-LO		setting		when	setting	to			melt	choco-
setting	when	sizzle		starts.	finish	cooking.			late	or
sizzle3arts.									shortening.

Cookware

Pans should be the same size or larger than the surface unit to prevent boil-overs and hot handles. Avoid pans that extend more than 1-2 inches beyond side of element.

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Only use pans with flat bottoms.

Flat bottoms allow maximum contact between the pans and surface units for fast, even cooking. Pans with un- even bottoms or with a raised pattern on the bottom are not suitable. Flat- ness of a pan can be checked by placing an edge of a ruler across it. There should not be space between the ruler and the bottom of the pan.