Maytag MES5875BAF Use and Care Manual - Page 7

Surface Cooking Smoothtop Surface 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 Hi. For more information on cookware, refer to Cookware Recommendations on page 7. 6" FLEXCHOICETM ELEMENT 9"/6" DUAL ELEMENT WARMING CENTER 6" REGULAR ELEMENT 12" TRIPLE ELEMENT Hot Surface Light The Hot Surface indicator light is located at the front of the cooking surface. 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. Tips to Protect the Smoothtop Surface Cleaning (see page 21 for more information) • Before first use, clean the cooktop. • Clean your cooktop daily or after each use. This will keep your cooktop looking good and can prevent damage. • If a spillover occurs while cooking, immediately clean the spill from the cooking area while it is hot to prevent a tough cleaning chore later. Using extreme care, wipe spill with a clean dry towel. • Do not allow spills to remain on the cooking area or the cooktop trim for a long period of time. • Never use abrasive cleansing powders or scouring pads which will scratch the cooktop. • Never use chlorine bleach, ammonia or other cleansers not specifically recommended for use on glass-ceramic. To Prevent Marks & Scratches • Do not use glass pans. They may scratch the surface. • Never place a trivet or wok ring between the surface and pan. These items can mark or etch the top. • Do not slide aluminum pans across a hot surface. The pans may leave marks which need to be removed promptly. (See Cleaning, page 21.) • Make sure the surface and the pan bottom are clean before turning on to prevent scratches. • To prevent scratching or damage to the glass-ceramic top, do not leave sugar, salt or fats on the cooking area. Wipe the cooktop surface with a clean cloth or paper towel before using. • Never slide heavy metal pans across the surface since these may scratch. To Prevent Stains • Never use a soiled dish cloth or sponge to clean the cooktop surface. A film will remain which may cause stains on the cooking surface after the area is heated. • Continuously cooking on a soiled surface may/will result in a permanent stain. To Prevent Other Damage • Do not allow plastic, sugar or foods with high sugar content to melt onto the hot cooktop. Should this happen, clean immediately. (See Cleaning, page 21.) • Never let a pan boil dry as this will damage the surface and pan. 6