7
BEFORE SETTING SURFACE CONTROLS
Cookware material types
The cookware material determines how evenly and quickly
heat is transferred from the surface element to the pan
bottom. The most popular materials available are:
Aluminum -
Excellent heat conductor. Some types of
food will cause it to darken (Anodized aluminum cookware
resists staining & pitting). If aluminum pans slide across
the ceramic cooktop, they may leave metal marks which
will resemble scratches. Remove these marks immediately.
Copper -
Excellent heat conductor but discolors easily.
May leave metal marks on ceramic glass (see Aluminum).
Stainless -
Slow heat conductor with uneven cooking
results. Is durable, easy to clean and resists staining.
Cast Iron -
A slow heat conductor however will retain
heat very well. Cooks evenly once cooking temperature is
reached. Not recommended for use on ceramic cooktops.
Porcelain-enamel on metal -
Heating characteristics
will vary depending on base material. Porcelain-enamel
coating must be smooth to avoid scratching ceramic
cooktops.
Glass -
Slow heat conductor. Not recommended for
ceramic cooktop surfaces because it may scratch the glass.
NOTES
About the ceramic glass cooktop
The ceramic cooktop has radiant surface elements
located below the surface of the glass. The design of the
ceramic cooktop outlines the area of the surface element
underneath.
Be sure
to match the pan size with the
diameter of the element outline on the cooktop and only
flat-bottomed cookware should be used.
The type and size of cookware, the number of surface
elements in use and their settings are all factors that will
affect the amount of heat that will spread to areas beyond
the surface elements. The areas surrounding the elements
may become
hot enough to cause burns.
Be sure
to read the detailed instructions for ceramic
glass cooktop cleaning in the
Care & Cleaning
and
Before You Call
checklist sections of this Use & Care
Manual.
About the radiant surface elements
The element temperature rises gradually and evenly.
As the temperature rises, the element will glow red. To
maintain the selected setting the element will cycle ON
and OFF. The heating element retains enough heat to
provide a uniform and consistent heat during the off cycle.
For efficient cooking, turn OFF the element several
minutes before cooking is complete. This will allow residual
heat to complete the cooking process.
Radiant elements have a limiter that allows the element
to cycle ON and OFF, even at the HI setting. This helps
to prevent damage to the ceramic smoothtop. Cycling
at the HI setting is normal and will occur more often if
the cookware is too small for the radiant element or if
the cookware bottom is not flat.
Element On & Hot Surface indicator lights
Your appliance is equipped with two different types of
radiant surface control indicator lights located just above
the surface control knobs on the control panel — the
On
and
Hot Surface
indicator lights.
The element
On
indicator light will glow when any surface
element is turned ON. A quick glance at this indicator
light after cooking is an easy check to be sure the surface
controls are turned OFF (See Fig. 1).
The
Hot Surface
indicator light will glow when any
surface cooking area heats up and will
remain on
until
the cooktop has cooled to a
MODERATE
level (See Fig.
2).
element ON indicator light
Fig. 1
hot surface indicator light
Fig. 2
