Surface Cooking; Surface Controls - Maytag SMOOTHTOP 500 Use And Care Manual

Surface Cooking

Surface Controls

Use to turn on the surface elements. An infinite choice of
heat settings is available from Low to High. The knobs can
be set on or between any of the settings.
Setting the Controls
1. Place pan on surface element.
2. Push in and turn the knob in either direction to the desired
heat setting.
• The control panel is marked to identify which
element the knob controls. For example, the
graphic at right indicates left front element.
3. There is an element indicator light on the control panel.
When any surface control knob is turned on, the light will
turn on. The light will turn off when all the surface
elements are turned off.
When a control is turned on, a glow can be seen through
the smoothtop surface. The element will cycle on and off
to maintain the preset heat setting, even on High.
4. After cooking, turn knob to OFF. Remove pan.
Suggested Heat Settings
The size and type of cookware, type and amount of food
being heated, and wattage of individual elements will
determine where to set the knob for cooking operations.
Some elements have a predetermined simmer and melt
BEFORE COOKING
• Always place a pan on the surface unit before you turn it
on. To prevent damage to range, never operate surface
unit without a pan in place.
• NEVER use the cooktop as a storage area for food or
cookware.
DURING COOKING
• Be sure you know which knob controls which surface
unit. Make sure you turned on the correct surface unit.
• Begin cooking on a higher heat setting then reduce to a
lower setting to complete the operation. Never use a
high heat setting for extended cooking.
• NEVER allow a pan to boil dry. This could damage the
pan and the appliance.
• NEVER touch cooktop until it has cooled. Expect some
parts of the cooktop, especially around the surface units,
to become warm or hot during cooking. Use potholders
to protect hands.
setting that will require only minor adjustment up or down
depending on the food being prepared. The other elements
have settings printed around the knobs that are also unique
to those elements. Adjust the heat settings to the numbers
that give the desired cooking results. The following
descriptions will aid in choosing the settings that will give
optimum results.
Hold or Warm: Food maintains a temperature above 140° F
without continuing to cook. Food is initially hot and then heat
is reduced. Never use a hold or warm setting to reheat cold
food.
Simmer: Food forms bubbles that barely break the
surface. Foods are between 185° F and 200° F. A simmer
setting can also be used to steam or poach foods or continue
cooking covered foods.
Slow Boil: Food forms bubbles at a moderate pace. A slow
boil setting can also be used for most frying and for
maintaining the cooking of large amounts of liquids.
Boil: Liquid forms bubbles at a rapid pace. A fast boil setting
can also be used to brown meat, stir fry, sauté, and heat oil
for frying before turning to a lower setting. The highest 3 or 4
settings on the knob are used for these cooking
operations. The highest setting is always used to bring water
to a boil. Some elements offer an even higher speed for
boiling liquids.
CAUTION
AFTER COOKING
• Make sure surface unit is turned off.
• Clean up messy spills as soon as possible.
OTHER TIPS
• If cabinet storage is provided directly above cooking
surface, limit it to items that are infrequently used and
can be safely stored in an area subjected to heat.
Temperatures may be unsafe for items such as volatile
liquids, cleaners or aerosol sprays.
• NEVER leave any items, especially plastic items, on the
cooktop. The hot air from the vent may ignite flammable
items, melt or soften plastics, or increase pressure in
closed containers causing them to burst.
• NEVER allow aluminum foil, meat probes or any other
metal object, other than a pan on a surface element, to
contact heating elements.
• NEVER store heavy items above the cooktop that could fall
and damage it.
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