Kenmore 4689 Use and Care Guide - Page 10

Selecting Surface Cooking Cookware Cookware should have flat bottoms that Correct incorrect make good contact with the entire surface heating element. Check for flatness by rotating a ruler across the bottom of the cookware (See Figure 1). Be sure to follow the recommendations for using cookware as shown in Figure 2. Note: The size and type of cookware used will influence the setting needed for best cooking results. Figure 1 t t • Flat bottom and straight sides. ® Tight fitting lids. • Weight of handle does not tilt pan. Pan is well balanced, o Pan sizes match the oooo,t to0o prepared and the size of the surface element, • Made of a material that conducts heat well, ® Easy to clean, ® Always match pot diameter to element surface ® Curved and warped pan bottoms. 44 I_ o Pan overhangs element by more than one-half inch. ÷1 I_ o Pan is smaller than element. diameter. ® Heavy handle tilts pan. Cookware Material types Figure 2 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 glass cooktop, they may leave metal marks which will resemble scratches. Remove these marks immediately. See Cleaning Recommendations for the Ceramic Glass Cooktop section. COPPER - Excellent heat conductor but discolors easily. May leave metal marks on ceramic glass (see Aluminum above). STAINLESS STEEL - Slow heat conductor with uneven cooking results. Is durable, easy to clean and resists staining. CAST IRON - A poor 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. 10