To Test the Flatness of Your Pans
Cookware Tips
Specialty Pans
Getting the Most Out of Your Oven
Oven Cooking Guide
Rack Position
6
5
4
3
2
1
Multiple Rack Cooking
English 20
Turn the pan upside down on the countertop and place a
ruler flat against the bottom of the pan. The bottom of the
pan and the straight edge of the ruler should be flush
against each other.
Another simple test to determine even heat distri-
bution across the cookware bottom is to place 1"
(25.4 mm) of water in the pan. Bring the water to a
boil and observe the location of the bubbles as the
water starts to boil. Good, flat cookware will have
an even distribution of bubbles over the bottom
surface area.
Matching Diameters – The base of the pan should cover or match the diameter
of the element being used. Pans may overhang the element area by 1" (25.4 mm)
all around.
Tight Fitting Lids – A lid shortens cooking/boiling time by holding heat inside the
pot.
•
Use of pots and pans with rounded (either concave or convex) warped or
dented bottoms should be avoided. See drawings below.
•
Make sure the bottom of the pot or pan being used is clean and dry.
•
Use pots and pans with thick, smooth metal bottoms.
•
Do not slide metal pots across the cooktop. Pans may leave marks which
need to be removed immediately. See "Care and Cleaning" on page 26.
•
Do not use glass pans as they may scratch the surface.
Specialty pans such as griddles, roasters, pressure cookers, woks, water bath
canners and pressure canners must have the same features as described above.
Use only a flat-bottomed wok. Never place a support ring, such as a wok ring or
trivet, on the cooking surface.
•
RACK POSITION 6 (highest position) – melting cheese, broiling thin foods
•
RACK POSITION 5 – broiling most meats, toasting bread
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RACK POSITION 4 – broiling thicker meats
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RACK POSITION 3 – most baked goods when baking on one rack, such as
on cookie sheet or baking pan, cakes, frozen foods, biscuits, brownies,
muffins
•
RACK POSITION 2 – Used for pies, casseroles, breads, bundt or pound
cakes, small roasts or poultry.
•
RACK POSITION 1 (lowest position) – Use for angel food cake, large
roasts, turkey.
When using multiple racks, follow the placement recommendations below.
•
Two rack: Use rack positions 1 and 5.
•
Three rack: (for convection bake): Use positions 1, 3 and 6.
Getting the Most Out of Your Appliance
Figure 6: Rack Positions