Pots and pans should have thick, smooth, flat bottoms. This
ensures that there is the maximum heat transfer from the hob
to the pan, making cooking quick and energy efficient.
Never use a round bottomed Wok even with a stand:
The very best pans have bases that are very slightly curved
in when cold. If you hold a ruler across the bottom you will
see a small gap in the middle. When they heat up the metal
expands and lies flat on the cooking surface.
Make sure that the base of the pan is clean and dry to prevent
any residue burning onto the hob panel. This also helps
prevent scratches and deposits (such as lime specks).
Always use pans that are the same size as (or slightly larger
than) the areas marked on the hob top. Using smaller pans
wastes heat, and any spillage will be burnt on. Using a lid will
help the contents boil more quickly.
There are indicator lights for each of the cooking areas. The
lights come on when a hob control is turned on and stay lit
while the surface cools. Always take care before touching the
surface even when it is turned off - it may be hotter than you
think.
The ratings of the cooking areas are shown above.
The areas marked with two concentric circles have an inner
and an outer element. Turn the control knob clockwise to
heat the whole area for larger pans - turn it the other way to
just heat the inner part for smaller pans.
When cooking on the hob you may see the hob area you
are using switch off and on. This is caused by a safety
device that limits the temperature of the hob. It is quite
normal, especially when cooking at high temperatures.
If it happens a lot with a particular pan however it may
mean the pan is not suitable – perhaps too small or too
uneven - for a ceramic hob.
There is a dual purpose area on the right of the hob. The inner
ring marks out a 1.2kW hob area, whilst the outer line marks
the extent of a Warmer, which you can use for keeping food
warm while the final touches are put to a meal.
Turn the control to the first (Warmer) position to heat the
whole area to a low temperature. Turn it further to use the
inner ring as a normal hob plate.
The Glide-Out Grill
Open the door and pull the grill pan carriage forward using
the handle:
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