 |
|
Burners are no gassing matter
MOST gas cooktops are of stainless steel or porcelain enamel, which can be easily cleaned when cooled, with a damp cloth (warm water) or towel. If greasy or sticky, use warm sudsy water on cloth, paper towel, or sponge; rinse with clean cloth; wipe dry. If it has stubborn stains, lay sudsy wet cloth or towel over spot and leave a few minutes to loosen soil (semi-soaking). And/or rub with a nylon net scrubber or soft plastic mesh pad. Do not use abrasive pads or scouring powders as these can permanently scratch the finish. Take control Control knobs can be washed in warm suds with cloth or brush, rinsed, and dried. If they come off, they're easier to clean, but do not soak them. The area under drip pans
may be washed with warm suds, rinsed, and dried. Use paste of baking
soda and water on difficult spots. A soap-filled steel wool pad may be
used occasionally if necessary, or use a plastic mesh pad.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Heavy spills can be wiped off with a damp cloth when the burner is completely cold. Gas burners and the metal frame may be removed for cleaning. Soak them in very hot water and detergent for about half an hour if very dirty; then scrub with a brush, rinse and dry. A little ammonia may be added to the soaking solution if they are very greasy. Soak ing helps to soften the grease and grime. Clean with a brush. Do not use scouring powder which will clog the holes. Tame the flame The metal ring with holes or the gas jets may come off the burner for cleaning. If the holes in the burner are clogged, clean with a fine wire, hair pin or needle. Don't use toothpicks as they could break off and clog the holes. Rinse burners in hot water and place them upside down in a warm oven (300 F.) to dry for about 15 minutes. Adjust the shutters For maximum efficiency, burners fueled with natural gas should burn with a bright blue flame that has a soft blue green interior and no yellow tips. To correct the air-natural gas ratio, you'll need to adjust the air shutters. Turn up the thermostat so the burners light. Loosen the lock screws. Slowly open each shutter until the flames are bright blue. Close the shutters gradually until yellow tips appear. Slowly reopen the shutters until the yellow tips just disappear. Tighten the screws. Check the tubes Over time, the burners of a gas stove may refuse to light automatically, even though the knob is on. This usually means that the burners and/or the small tubes that transfer gas to the burners are dirty or plugged. Check the tubes. Raise the metal cover of the stove. (The cover is usually hinged at the rear so you can lift the front.) You will see little tubes leading from the burners to one or two pilot lights. Clean these tubes. Reflector bowls Reflector bowls under burners may be taken out and washed in hot suds. Soak for several minutes to loosen heavy dirt; up to 20 minutes may be needed if grease is burned on the bowls. Wipe off trim rings with sudsy cloth. On stubborn spots on chrome bowls and rings, use a paste of baking soda and water with a plastic mesh pad. Rinse and dry. Porcelain reflector bowls can be washed in sudsy water. Wiping spills off bowls immediately after cooking prevents stain build-up which requires stronger measures. — Compiled by
Chetna Banerjee |
 |
 |
