USING YOUR COOKTOP
Characteristics of cookware materials
The pan material affects how fast heat transfers from the coil element through the pan
material and how evenly heat spreads over the pan bottom. Choose pans that provide the
best cooking results.
Aluminum
Cast iron
Ceramic or
ceramic glass
Copper
Earthenware
Porcelain enamel-on-steel
or enamel-on-cast iron
Stainless steel
Cookware tips
• Select a pan that is about the same size
as the coil element. 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 coil element. Cookware with rounded,
warped, ribbed (such as some porcelain
enamelware), or dented bottoms could
cause uneven heating and poor cooking
results.
• Cookware with non-stick finish has
heating characteristics of the base material.
8
• Heats quickly and evenly.
• Use for all types of cooking.
• Medium or heavy thickness is best for most cooking.
• Used as a core or base in cookware to provide even heating.
• Heats slowly and evenly.
• Good for browning and frying.
• Maintains heat for slow cooking.
• Can be coated with porcelain enamel.
• Heats slowly and unevenly.
• Use on low to medium settings.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions.
• Heats very quickly and evenly.
• Used as a core or base in cookware to provide even heating.
• Can be used for cooktop cooking if recommended by the
manufacturer.
• Use on low settings.
• See cast iron and stainless steel.
• Heats quickly but unevenly.
• A core or base of aluminum or copper on the cookware
provides even heating.
• Can be coated with porcelain enamel.
• Use flat bottom cookware for best heat
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
coil element. The cookware could overheat,
causing damage to the cookware or the
coil element.
conduction from the coil element to the
cookware that has boiled dry, on a hot