Car
e and Cleaning
Burner Grates
Lift out when cool.
Grates should be
washed regularly
and, of course, after
spillovers. Wash
them in hot, soapy water and rinse with clean water. After
cleaning, dry them thoroughly by putting them in a warm
oven for a few minutes. Don’t put the grates back on the
range while they are wet. When replacing the grates, be
sure they’re positioned securely over the burners.
To prevent rusting on cast iron grates, apply a light
coating of cooking oil on the bottom of the grates.
To get rid of burned-on food, place the grates
in a covered container (or plastic bag) with 62 ml
(1/4 cup) ammonia, for approximately 12 hours or
overnight, to loosen the soil. Let sit overnight
(or approximately 12 hours), then scrub with a
soap-filled scouring pad if necessary. Rinse grates
thoroughly and dry completely before replacing
them on the range top.
Although they’re durable, the grates will gradually
lose their shine, regardless of the best care you can
give them. This is due to their continual exposure to
high temperatures. You will notice this sooner with
lighter color grates.
Do not operate a burner for an extended period of
time without cookware on the grate. The finish on
the grate may chip without cookware to absorb the heat.
CAUTION: Do not clean the grates in a
dishwasher or in a self-cleaning oven.
31
Cooktop Surface
Oven Bottom
To avoid damaging
the porcelain
enamel surface of
the cooktop and to
prevent it from
becoming dull,
clean up spills right
away. Foods with a
lot of acid (tomatoes,
sauerkraut, fruit juices, etc.) or foods with high sugar
content could cause a dull spot if allowed to set.
When the surface has cooled, wash and rinse. For
other spills such as fat spatterings, etc., wash with
soap and water once the surface has cooled. Then
rinse and polish with a dry cloth.
The oven bottom has a porcelain enamel finish. To
make cleaning easier, protect the oven bottom from
excessive spillovers by placing a cookie sheet on the
shelf below the shelf you are cooking on. This is
particularly important when baking a fruit pie or other
foods with a high acid content.
We don’t recommend using aluminum foil on the
oven bottom. It can affect air flow if the holes are
blocked and it can concentrate heat at the bottom of
the oven, resulting in poor baking performance.
Hot fruit fillings or other foods that are highly acidic
(such as milk, tomatoes or sauerkraut, and sauces with
vinegar or lemon juice) may cause pitting and damage
to the porcelain enamel surface and should be wiped
up immediately. To clean up spillovers, use soap and
water, an abrasive cleaner or scouring pad. Rinse well
to remove any soap before self-cleaning.
Do not store flammable materials in an oven or
near the cooktop. Do not store or use combustible
materials, gasoline or other flammable vapors and
liquids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance.
Brushed Chrome Cooktop
(on some models)
Clean the brushed chrome top with warm, soapy water or Bon Ami
®
brand
cleanser and immediately dry it with a clean, soft cloth. Take care to dry the
surface following the “grain.”
To help prevent finger marks after cleaning, spread a thin film of baby oil
on the surface. Wipe away excess oil with a clean, soft cloth.
