Care of hobs and cookers

• Do not clean the appliance when it is switched on — even just wiping it over.
• If anything is spilt on the appliance, switch off immediately and clean the spillage before foodstuffs or liquids have time to set.
• Use pans that match the size of the element. A pan with too small a diameter cannot absorb all the heat output of the element, resulting in inefficient heat loss and additional running costs.
• Good contact of pan base and element is important. If the base of the pan is distorted, it will not have complete contact with the element, resulting in poor transfer of heat into the pan. This allows hot spots to develop within the element due to heat retention which will reduce its lifespan. Solid hob plates are more susceptible to this problem and must not be left on without a pan being placed on them, otherwise they will burn out or distort.
• Avoid using harsh abrasive cleaning products for general cleaning. Products formulated for hobs and oven exteriors and specialized interior oven cleaners only should be used. Use with caution, following the manufacturers’ recommendations and keep them stored well away from children.
• After cleaning, finish by wiping over with a dry paper towel. This will help remove any calcium used in the cleaner. If left, the calcium may stain the surface yellow when heated.
• Solid hob plates often discolour and develop unsightly rust marks. To clean them, heat them slightly and then switch off. The heating will cause any food spillages to carbonize. Next, drizzle just a few drops of cooking oil onto the plate and wipe off quickly with a small pad of newspaper; this will clean the plate and give some protection against rust.
• Do not use water to clean solid plates. If not cared for, these plates can become unsightly. When new, their appearance is a uniform dark greyish colour which can be maintained if they are cleaned correctly and regularly. There is a branded product on the market specifically for solid hobs, designed to clean them and keep the dark uniform colour.

Self-cleaning ovens

The interiors of many ovens are called self-cleaning or have ‘easy-clean’ linings. The inner panels, which can be easily removed, are coated in a special porous enamel compound. This has a catalytic action on the normal build-up of grease and dirt from cooking and eliminates the need for chemical cleaning associated with normal linings.

The catalytic coating causes grease and dirt to oxidize on the panel’s surface while the oven is in use. Some models have a ‘clean only’ setting which requires a very high temperature, whereas other ovens are designed to work at lower temperatures during normal operation. Consult the manufacturer’s instruction book.

As oxidation takes place a combination of carbon dioxide and water is produced. This escapes through the normal oven vents. Stubborn stains caused by ingredients such as milk and sugar may take longer to break down, reducing gradually with each subsequent use.

Do not be tempted to use normal oven cleaning products or abrasives because they will cause severe damage to the surface and reduce the catalytic properties of the panels. If the need for cleaning is absolutely necessary, then rinse the panels with lukewarm water only.

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