10
USING YOUR RANGE
USING THE SURFACE COOKING AREAS (CONT.)
Home canning information
To protect your range:
•
Use flat-bottomed canners on all types of cooktops,
especially ceramic glass.
Canners with rippled or
ridged bottoms do not
allow good contact with
the surface.
• Center the canner over
the largest surface
cooking area. Do not
extend more than one
inch outside the surface
cooking area. Large
diameter canners/pans, if not centered correctly,
trap heat and can cause damage to the cooktop.
•
Do not place your canner on two surface cooking
areas at the same time.
•
The type of material the canner is made of
determines the length of heating time. Refer to the
“Characteristics of cookware materials” chart later
in this section for more information.
•
When canning for long periods of time, allow
elements and the surrounding surfaces to cool
down.
•
Alternate use of the surface cooking areas
between batches or prepare small batches at a
time.
•
Start with hot water, cover with a lid, and bring
to a boil; then reduce heat to maintain a boil or
required pressure levels in a pressure canner.
•
For up-to-date information on canning, contact
your local U.S. Government Agricultural
Department Extension Office or companies who
manufacture home canning products.
Pan
Surface
cooking area
Cookware tips
•
Select a pan that is about the same size as the
surface cooking area. Cookware should not extend
more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) outside the area.
•
For best results and greater energy efficiency,
use only flat-bottomed cookware that makes good
contact with the surface cooking area. Cookware
with rounded, warped, ribbed (such as some
porcelain enamelware), or dented bottoms could
cause uneven heating and poor cooking results.
•
Cookware designed with slightly indented bottoms
or small expansion channels can be used.
•
Cookware with a non-stick finish has heating
characteristics of the base material.
•
Check for rough spots on the bottom of metal or
glass cookware which will scratch the ceramic
glass surface.
•
Use flat bottom cookware for best heat conduc-
tion from the surface cooking area to the cookware.
Determine flatness with the ruler test. Place the
edge of a ruler across the bottom of the cookware.
Hold it up to the light. No light should be visible
under the ruler. Rotate the ruler in all directions and
look for any light.
•
Do not leave empty cookware, or cookware which
has boiled dry, on a hot surface cooking area. The
cookware could overheat, causing damage to the
cookware or the surface cooking area.
