TOP OF RANGE
TOP BURNERS
Gas burners provide a thousand and one shades of heat from high to very low to suit every cooking need. Heat is supplied instantly, and there is no leftover heat when the burner is turned off. To use the burner, turn the burner control until the burner ignites; then turn to adjust the flame size. Some burners have audible “clicks” to indicate heat settings.
FLAME SIZE
Correct flame size is determined by pan size, pan material, what you are cooking and whether you are cooking with liquid. Even when cooking in a liquid or with a pan which conducts heat well, you may want to lower the flame to adjust for pan size (see sketch below). The flame should never extend beyond the outer edge of the utensil. Any higher flame is wasted heat.
For all cooking in aluminum utensils or for cooking in liquid in other utensils, adjust the flame so it touches the pan about ½ inch from the outer edge.
For non-aluminum pans (unless you are cooking in liquid) adjust the flame so it is about half the diameter of the pan.
Foods cook just as quickly at a gentle boil as at a rapid rolling boil—in both cases the water temperature is 212 degrees. A high boil is used only to bring food to the boiling point; then lower the flame and finish cooking with a minimum flame.
EXCESS HEAT RESULTS IN HARD-TO-CLEAN GREASE AND STEAM DEPOSITS ON WALLS, CABINETS AND CEILINGS. WHILE THE FUEL IS OFTEN BLAMED FOR SUCH DIRT, THE REAL PROBLEM IS TOO MUCH HEAT AND/OR FAILURE TO COVER UTENSILS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
HIGH FLAME
For instant heat needed to bring foods to a rapid boil.
MEDIUM FLAME
To brown and fry food.
SIMMER FLAME
To maintain gentle boil for boiling or steaming, cream sauces, gravies, puddings, etc.
KEEP WARM
To keep foods hot without additional cooking; melting and keeping hot beverages at serving temperature. Always cover utensils with this setting.
FLAME ADJUSTMENT
Of all its advantages, the cleanliness of GAS is perhaps the greatest. A properly adjusted Gas flame is one of the cleanest energy sources known.
The color of the flame is the key to proper burner adjustment. A good flame is clear and blue and hardly visible in a well lighted room. Each cone of flame should be steady and sharply defined.