Whirlpool RC8900XX manual Using Your Cooktop Contmued

Using Your Cooktop

Contmued

Burn and Product Damage Hazard

9 If the pan is too small for the surface unit, you could be burned by the heat from the exposed section of the surface unit. Use correctly sized cooking utensils to prevent injury.

l If a coil surface unit stays red for a long time, the bottom of the pan is not flat enough or is too small for the surface unit. Prolonged usage of incorrect utensils for long periods of time can result in damage to the surface unit, cooktop, wiring and surrounding areas. To prevent damage, use correct utensils, start cooking on HI and turn control down to continue cooking.

Using the optional solid element module 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 surface.

Solid element surface units are made of heavy cast-iron to provide even cooking. Each surface unit has a built-in protective limiter as a safety feature. The limiter senses uneven cooking temperatures and automatically reduces the heat level. The limiter will sense uneven heat when a pan boils dry or when a pan is removed and the surface unit is left on. The heat level may also be reduced automatically if the bottom of the pan is not flat or if the pan is too large or too small for the element. This will result in longer cooking times.

Solid elements hold heat longer than conven- tional surface units. For best cooking 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 surface unit OFF a few minutes before you finish cooking.

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

Use HI to start foods cooking; to bring liquids to a boil. When cooking foods, turn to LO or MED-LO when sizzle starts.

Use MED-HI to hold a rapid boil; to fry chicken or pancakes. Turn to LO or MED-LO when sizzle starts.

Use MED for gravy, puddings and icing; to cook large amounts of vegetables. Turn to LO to finish cooking.

Use MED-LO to keep food cooking after starting it on a higher setting.

Use LO to keep food warm until ready to serve.

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.

Using the optional ceramic cooktop module Cooking on the ceramic cooktop module is almost the same as cooking on surface units. There are, however, a few differences:

. The ceramic cooktop will take slightly longer to heat up than a regular surface unit. It will also take longer to cool down. Turn off the unit a few minutes before you are finished cooking.

. The surface unit will glow red when it is turned on. You will see the element cycling on (glowing red) and off to maintain the proper temperature setting you have selected.

9 Do not use the ceramic cooktop for canning.

l Sliding metal pans on ceramic cooktop surfaces could leave marks. If they are not heated, metal marks can be removed using a special cooktop polishing creme. Other marks may be permanent. See pages 15 and 16 for cleaning and caring suggestions.

Wiping off the cooktop before and after each use will help keep the surface free from stains and provide the most even heating.

NOTE: The surface units may smoke slightly and emit a burning odor during the first few hours of use. This is normal. It is caused by the insulation material of the new ceramic cooktop elements and will not occur again.