Precautions When Using the Cooktop

Before CookingDo not cook on a broken cooktop. If the cooktop is broken, cleaning solutions and spillovers may penetrate the broken cooktop and create a risk of electric shock. Contact a qualified technician immediately.During CookingTurn cookware handles inward so they don't extend over adjacent surface units. This reduces the risk of burns, ignition of flammable materials, and spillage due to unintentional contact with the cookware.Always place the pan in the center of the surface unit you are cooking on. Never leave surface units unattended at high heat settings. Proper contact of cookware to burner also will improve efficiency. Boilovers cause smoking and greasy spills that may catch on fire.After CookingClean cooktop with caution. Do not use sponges or cloth to wipe spills on a hot cooking area. Use a proper metal scraper. If a wet sponge or cloth is used to wipe spills on a hot cooking area, it can cause steam burns. Some cleaners can produce noxious fumes if applied to a hot surface.Before CookingDo not use the glass cooktop surface as a cutting board.Do not turn surface units on before placing cookware.Do not store heavy items above the cooktop surface that could fall and damage it.Do not place or store flammable or heat sensitive items on the induction cooktop, even when the cooktop is not in use.Place cookware on the cooking elements before turning on the induction cooktop.Do not place sealed containers on the cooktop.During CookingNever cook directly on the glass. Always use cookware.Do not place metallic objects such as knives, forks, spoons, and lids on the induction cooktop surface; they can get hot.Use this appliance only for normal household use. It is not designed for commercial or industrial use.Never use the appliance to heat the room. Use caution when plugging electrical appliances into power outlets near the cooktop. Keep power cords from any contact with the cooktop or cookware.Overheated fat and oil can catch fire quickly. Never leave surface elements unattended when frying foods.Do not use the induction cooktop to heat aluminum foil, products wrapped in aluminum foil, or frozen foods packaged in aluminum cookware.Use caution when plugging electrical appliances into outlets near the cooktop to keep power cords away from the hot cooktop or cookware.Users with pacemakers and active heart implants must keep their upper body at a minimum distance of 1 ft (30 cm) from active induction cooking elements. If in doubt, consult the implant manufacturer or your doctor.After CookingImmediately clean spills on the cooking area to prevent a tough cleaning chore later.Do not use a steel-wool pad or scrub pad or abrasive cleaning pads. They can scratch the surface.After use, switch off the induction cooking element using its control. Do not rely on the pan sensor.Induction cooking may decrease the amount of time required to preheat cookware compared to cooking on a radiant element cooktop or gas surface burner.Pay close attention to all food items while cooking on the cooktop or in the oven, and until all cooking processes are complete.Remember that induction surface cooking initially heats the cookware very quickly if the cookware does not contain food.Induction Sound: The electronic processes involved with induction cooking create some unfamiliar background noises such as a slight buzzing sound. These noises are a normal part of the induction cooking process.Cookware Vibration Sound: Some cookware will buzz, depending on its construction or base material. The buzz may be more noticeable if the pan or its contents are cold or if the bottom of the pan is not flat. As the pan heats up, the noise will decrease. The noise will also decrease if the power level setting is reduced.Cooling Fan Sound: The fan may operate while the induction cooktop is in use to reduce the temperature of the product. The cooling fan may also operate after the cooktop is turned off.When using the induction cooktop, operational noises are more noticeable while cooking in Boost mode. But very loud noises are not normal when induction cooking.Unlike radiant surface elements, induction cooking elements do not glow red when hot. You can be burned if the glass surface is hot from the residual heat transferred from the cookware. Do not touch hot cookware or pans. Use oven mitts or potholders to protect hands from burns.

Cooking Areas

The cooktop is equipped with four induction cooking elements of different sizes and a radiant heat warming zone. The wattage ratings below are maximum outputs. The second rating is the maximum output for Boost mode.Induction Left Front Cooking Element:8", 2100 W / 3200 W (240 V)Induction Right Front Cooking Element:11", 2400 W / 4300 W (240 V)Induction Left Rear Cooking Element:6", 1300 W / 1800 W (240 V)Induction Center Rear Cooking Element:6", 1300 W / 1800 W (240 V)Radiant Heat Warm Zone6", 100W (240 V)

Benefits of Induction Surface Cooking

Induction cooking elements heat faster and use less energy. Induction power levels quickly boil liquids and are efficient when simmering.Whether induction cooking elements are turned on or off, they remain cooler than radiant elements. Virtually no heat is wasted because the heat begins with the presence of cookware.Cooler cooking elements make for easier cleaning. Spills resist sticking or burning so they wipe up easily.A sensor automatically detects and adapts the induction cooking element to the pan size in use for more consistent, even cooking.Induction cooking elements are more responsive than their electric or gas counterparts because only the pan heats. Induction elements heat more easily and are just as responsive when reducing temperatures to a simmer.

Induction Cookware

Before using the induction cooking elements, carefully read and follow these cookware recommendations and the instructions in the pan sensing sections.When purchasing pans for use on the induction cooktop, look for cookware identified by the manufacturer as "induction ready" or "induction capable", or that is marked by the manufacturer as specifically designed for induction cooking.Symbols of Induction Compatible CookwareThe base material of the cookware must be magnetic for the cooking elements to activate. Use a magnet to check if the cookware base material is suitable. If the magnet sticks to the bottom of the cookware, the cookware can be used for induction cooking.For the best possible surface cooking results, use only high-quality, heavy gauge steel cookware on the induction cooking elements. Follow manufacturer's recommendations when using induction cookware.The three most common induction cookware types available are stainless steel, cast iron, and porcelain-enamel-coated metals.Stainless Steel is generally excellent for induction cooking. It is durable, easy to clean, and resists staining.Not all stainless steel cookware is magnetic; stainless steel is not always suitable for induction cooking.Cast Iron cooks evenly and is also good for induction cooking. Do not slide cast iron cookware on the cooktop; cast iron cookware with a rough surface will scratch the ceramic cooktop.Porcelain-enamel-coated metals have variable heating characteristics depending on the quality of the base metal. Make sure the porcelain-enamel coating is smooth to avoid scratching the ceramic cooktop.

Cookware Placement

Use the proper cookware and place it correctly on the cooktop. One or more of the cooking elements will not heat if any of the incorrect conditions shown is detected by the sensors located below the ceramic cooktop surface. Correct the problem before attempting to use the cooktop.Correct UseCookware is centered correctly on surface of cooking element.Pan has flat bottom and straight sides.Pan size meets or exceeds the recommended minimum size for the cooking element.Pan rests completely on the cooktop surface.Pan is properly balanced.Incorrect UseCookware is not centered on surface of cooking element.Pan has curved or warped bottom or sides.Pan does not meet the minimum size required for the cooking element used.Pan bottom rests on cooktop trim or does not rest completely on the cooktop surface.Pan is unbalanced by heavy handle.

Pan Sensing

The cooking-element sensors located below the cooktop surface require certain cookware conditions to be met before the induction cooking elements can operate.The cooking zone LED bar may display a pan sensing error message. If a cooking element is activated and no cookware is detected, the affected induction cooking zone LED bar will fluctuate. If the cookware does not meet the correct conditions, the cooking zone may not heat.If the problem is not corrected, the affected cooking element will automatically deactivate after one minute.

Minimum and Maximum Pan Size

There are four cooking elements on the induction cooktop. Each element requires a appropriate pan size to be used effectively. The bottom size of the pan must be between the maximum and minimum diameter A for proper cooking to occur.Cooking AreaHeaterDiameter of Pan Bottom ATypeSize (inch)Min.Max.aInduction87.5 inch (190 mm)9.2 inch (224 mm)bInduction119.5 inch (241 mm)11.8 inch (300 mm)cInduction65.5 inch (140 mm)7.0 inch (178 mm)dInduction65.5 inch (140 mm)7.0 inch (178 mm)eWarm6--The pan must make full contact with the glass surface without the bottom of the pan touching the metal cooktop trim.If the correct induction cookware—centered on any of the active cooking elements—is too small, the affected cooking element’s LED bar fluctuates and the pan does not heat.

Cookware Compatibility Indicator

The cookware compatibility indicator shows how efficiently the cookware will heat on the induction cooktop elements.Turn off all cooktop elements in use. Put enough water in the cookware to cover the bottom. Place the cookware on the center of the desired cooktop element. Select an element that is appropriate for the size of the cookware.Set the power level on the selected element to 10.Press Control Lock f and the number of the desired cooktop element( a through d ) at the same time for at least 3 seconds. The indicator g is shown on the display for 5 seconds. This test does not apply to the Warm Zone e .Turn off all cooktop elements before starting to avoid getting a false result.The indicator is not available if more than two cooktop elements are in use. The cookware compatibility indicator is based on the manufacturer's internal standards and is for reference only.The indicator may vary depending on the usage environment, power voltage and cookware temperature. The indicator may vary from element to element even for the same type of cookware.For efficient cooking, use cookware with an indicator of 9 or above.IndicatorCompatibility0 - 3Low4 - 8Medium9 - 10HighIf the indicator is low, check the base material, size and shape of the cookware. Cookware with a low indicator, even if it has an IH mark, may heat less efficiently or make noise when heated. This is normal, and the cookware can still be used safely.

Home Canning

Canning can generate large amounts of steam. Use extreme caution to prevent burns. Raise the lid so that steam is vented away from you. Safe canning requires that harmful micro-organisms are destroyed and jars are sealed completely. When using a water bath canner, maintain a gentle but steady boil for the required time.Read and observe the following precautions when home canning. Read the information on the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) website and follow the recommendations there for home canning procedures.Use only quality, flat-bottomed canners when home canning. Use a ruler to check the bottom of the canner for flatness.Canners with ridges that radiate from the bottom center are not suitable for use on a ceramic glass cooktop.The diameter of the canner should not exceed the maximum cooking element markings by more than one inch. Use smaller diameter canners on ranges with ceramic-glass or open-coil-electric cooktops.Start with hot tap water to boil water more quickly. Bring water to an initial boil using the highest heat setting. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat as much as possible while maintaining the boil.It is best to can small amounts and keep the canner light enough to lift.Do not leave the water bath or pressure canner on high heat for extended periods.Alternate surface elements between each batch to allow the elements and surrounding surfaces to cool down. Do not can using the same element all day.

Using the Cooking Elements

Push the control knob in.Turn the knob in either direction to select the desired setting. A short beep sounds and the cooking element’s LED bar shows its current setting.The range provides an LED bar for each cooking element on the cooktop. Check messages in the display window and use the LEDs with the corresponding control knobs to monitor the power levels of the elements.Boost mode is only available immediately after activating a cooking element. When the cooking element is set to the Boost mode, the LED bar flashes and the Boost mode stays in operation for up to 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the cooking element automatically returns to the Hi setting.The hot surface indicator light glows as long as any surface cooking area is too hot to touch.It remains on after the element is turned off and until the surface has cooled to approximately 130 °F.It is normal for the surface elements to cycle on and off when cooking at lower temperature settings.

Recommended Surface Cooking Settings

Start most surface cooking on a higher setting and then adjust to a lower setting to finish cooking.The suggested settings may need adjustments, depending on cookware design and quality and on the amount of food being prepared.Use quality cookware that is constructed with a magnetic base material and that meets the minimum and maximum pan size requirements.SettingRecommended UseHI/BoostUse to heat a large amount of food or to bring large pans of water to a boil10-HI/BoostBring liquid to a boilStart most cookingMED-10Hold a rapid boil, fry, deep fat fryQuickly brown or sear foodSteaks, cutlets, grilled meat3-MEDMaintain a slow boilFry or sauté foodsCook soups, sauces and graviesEggs, pancakesSimmer-3Stew or steam foodSimmerLo-SimmerKeep food warmMelt chocolate or butterSimmerSuggested cook settings are only a guide. Results may vary depending on the type of cookware being used on the induction surface or the quantity of food being cooked. Adjust the settings as needed to achieve the desired results.

Power Management

The cooking zones, which consist of paired cooking elements, are restricted to drawing a certain maximum amount of power.If you turn on the Boost function for one element while its paired element is in use, the Power Management function may automatically reduce the power of both elements. For consistent performance when using multiple elements, use elements in separate cooking zones.If the combined heat of the oven and the surface burners is sufficiently high, the output of the surface burners is reduced to avoid damage to the product.Both elements in a set of paired elements cannot use the Boost mode at the same time. To use the Boost mode on two elements simultaneously, use non-paired elements.

Turning on the Warm Zone

FOOD POISON HAZARD : Bacteria may grow in food at temperatures below 140 °F.Always start with hot food. Do not use the warm setting to heat cold food.Do not use the warm setting for more than 2 hours.The Warm Zone, located in the back right of the glass surface, will keep hot, cooked food at serving temperature. Use the Warm Zone to keep food warm after it has already been cooked. Attempting to cook uncooked or cold food on the Warm Zone could result in a food-borne illness.Push the Warm Zone element knob in.Turn the knob in either direction to the desired setting.For best results:When warming pastries or breads, leave an opening in the cover to allow moisture to escape.Do not use plastic wrap to cover food. Plastic may melt onto the surface and be very difficult to remove.Use only dishware, utensils and cookware that are recommended for oven and cooktop use.Food on the warmer should be kept in its container or covered with a lid or aluminum foil to maintain food quality.Do not allow aluminum foil to contact the hot induction cooktop surface.If a particular food is not listed, start with the medium heat level and adjust as needed. Most foods can be kept at serving temperatures by using the medium heat level.SettingFood ItemLow(Lo-3)VegetablesRicePastaSugary sauces (tomato sauce, BBQ sauce)Medium(3-7)Cream-based soups and saucesStews and chiliWarming empty plates or serving dishesHigh(7-Hi)Broth-based soupsHot beverages (hot cider, hot chocolate)