Maytag MER6765BAQ Use and Care Manual - Page 5

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 "ON" 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. 4. After cooking, turn knob to OFF. Remove pan. Dual Elements (select models) The cooking surface has two dual elements located in the right front and left front of the smoothtop. This allows you to change the size of these elements. Turn control knob to OFF before switching element size. Press the switch to the left to use the large element or to the right to use the small element. Triple Element (select models) The cooking surface has one triple element located in the right front position. This element can be used for larger cooking utensils when the triple element is chosen, or for smaller pans when the single or dual settings are chosen. To operate the single element, push in the control knob and rotate to the left. To operate the dual or triple elements, make the selection with the rocker switch and rotate the control knob to the right. Suggested Heat Settings The size, type of cookware and cooking operation will affect the heat setting. For information on cookware and other factors affecting heat settings, refer to Cookware Recommendations on page 7. Warm (right or left rear element): Food maintains a temperature above 140° F without continuing to cook. Food is heated on a higher setting until it reaches this temperature. Never use a hold or warm setting to reheat cold food. Be sure knob is adjusted to produce a consistant temperature. 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. (Adjust the knob between High and Low to obtain the desired simmer action.) 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. (Adjust CAUTION 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. 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. 4