Cookware For Ceramic Cook Tops
The newest cooking system on the market is the halogen light cook top.
With the halogen unit it is easy to control temperature, somewhat similar to cooking with natural gas.
The surface is made of a new glass-ceramic material known as vitro-ceramic or Ceran produced in West Germany.
It does not discolor with age and is easy to clean and maintain.
This material is also used in other smooth cook tops such as the induction-cooking unit.
The induction unit requires special magnetic cookware.
Here's how the halogen-cooking unit works.
The halogen-heating element is composed of tungsten halogen lamps located underneath the glass ceramic.
A specially developed reflector directs the heat upward through the ceramic surface.
Temperature limiters prevent heat surges and protect the elements from overheating and damaging the cook top surface.
However, you need to be particular about the type of cookware you use.
Light-duty and warped cookware will cook food unevenly and waste energy.
The wrong cookware can also damage your ceramic cook top.
Here are a few things to look at when choosing your cookware.
The base of the healthy cookware should be no more than one inch larger or smaller than the burner you are using.
Your cookware lids should fit tightly and the handles firmly attached.
Following these guidelines, will enrich your ceramic cook-top experience.
With the halogen unit it is easy to control temperature, somewhat similar to cooking with natural gas.
The surface is made of a new glass-ceramic material known as vitro-ceramic or Ceran produced in West Germany.
It does not discolor with age and is easy to clean and maintain.
This material is also used in other smooth cook tops such as the induction-cooking unit.
The induction unit requires special magnetic cookware.
Here's how the halogen-cooking unit works.
The halogen-heating element is composed of tungsten halogen lamps located underneath the glass ceramic.
A specially developed reflector directs the heat upward through the ceramic surface.
Temperature limiters prevent heat surges and protect the elements from overheating and damaging the cook top surface.
However, you need to be particular about the type of cookware you use.
Light-duty and warped cookware will cook food unevenly and waste energy.
The wrong cookware can also damage your ceramic cook top.
Here are a few things to look at when choosing your cookware.
- Look for heavy-gauge pans with a perfectly flat, smooth bottom.
To test the bottom of any pan you plan to use, turn a ruler 360°.
The perfect pan will not have any gaps between the ruler and the bottom of the pan. - Buy 18/10 gauge or higher stainless steel cookware.
You can also purchase cast iron cookware. - Avoid aluminum, glass, ceramic, earthenware and glazed cookware because they cannot hold up to the sudden temperature changes caused by ceramic glass cook tops causing them to break or crack.
Copper cookware can melt and fuse to your cook top.
Always check your owner's manual for manufacturer recommendations. - To test if your cookware is heating evenly, put one inch of water in pan and turn your cook top to high.
When water starts to boil, the bubbles should be evenly distributed for your pan to heat evenly.
If the bubbles are not evenly spaced, do not use or return to the store.
Save the receipts for any cookware you purchase, based on the manufacturer recommendations, should you have any problems or issues with the cookware.
The base of the healthy cookware should be no more than one inch larger or smaller than the burner you are using.
Your cookware lids should fit tightly and the handles firmly attached.
Following these guidelines, will enrich your ceramic cook-top experience.
