Maytag MER5765RA Use and Care Manual - Page 11

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 11. Low (2): Food maintains a temperature above 140° F without continuing to cook. Food is heated on a higher setting until it reaches this temperature. Med. Low (3-4): Use to continue cooking covered foods or steam foods. Medium (5-7): Use to maintain slow boil for large amounts of liquids and for most frying operations. Med. High (8-9): Use to brown meat, heat oil for deep fat frying or sauteing. Maintain fast boil for large amounts of liquids. High (10): Use to bring liquid to a boil. Always reduce setting to a lower heat when liquids begin to boil or foods begin to cook. Smoothtop Surface Notes: • Cooktop may emit light smoke and odor the first few times the cooktop is used. This is normal. • Smoothtop cooktops retain heat for a period of time after the element is turned off. Turn the elements off a few minutes before food is completely cooked and use the retained heat to complete cooking. When the hot surface light turns off, the cooking area will be cool enough to touch. Because of the way they retain heat, the smoothtop elements will not respond to changes in settings as quickly as coil elements. • In the event of a potential boilover, remove the pan from the cooking surface. • Never attempt to lift the cooktop. • The smoothtop surface may appear discolored when it is hot. This is normal and will disappear when the surface cools. Cooking Areas The cooking areas on your range are identified by permanent circles on the smoothtop surface. For most efficient cooking, fit the pan size to the element size. Pans should not extend more than 1/2 to 1-inch beyond the cooking area. 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. For more information on cookware, refer to Cookware Recommendations on page 11. SINGLE ELEMENT WARMING CENTER SINGLE ELEMENT DUAL ELEMENT (SELECT MODELS) FLEXCHOICETM ELEMENT (SELECT MODELS) Hot Surface Light The Hot Surface indicator light is located on the control panel. The light will be illuminated when any cooking area is hot. It will remain on, even after the control is turned off, until the area has cooled. FlexChoiceTM Element (select models) The FlexChoice element is a fully functioning element that provides an ultra low (Warm) heat setting for holding delicate sauces and keeping cooked foods warm. It is located in the right rear position The Warm setting is located between Low and OFF. Heat settings outside of this area function as a normal element, with Low to High settings. (Control style varies by model.) Important: When using the normal settings for preparing foods, it may take a few minutes for the cooking area to cool to the Warm heat setting. Warming Center Use the Warming Center to keep hot cooked foods warm, such as vegetables, gravies and oven-safe dinner plates. Setting the Control: 1. Push in and turn the knob. Warming temperatures are approximate and are indicated on the control as Min, 2-8 and Max. However, the control can be set to any position between Min and Max. 2. When done, turn the control to OFF and remove food. The Hot Surface indicator light will go off when the Warming Center surface has cooled. Important: • Never warm food for longer than one hour (eggs for 30 minutes), as food quality may deteriorate. • Do not heat cold food on the Warming Center. • Heat settings will vary depending on type and amount of food. Always hold food at proper food temperatures. USDA recommends food temperatures between 140°-170° F. Cont. 10