The ceramic hob
Which heat setting should you use? You will soon
learn which setting and heating zone to choose
depending on your pans and what you are cooking.
Here is a brief guide to choosing the correct setting:
Boiling
You normally start cooking with the hotplate switched
to maximum heat before turning it down to a lower
heat. The sound and size of the water bubbles can help
you to choose the correct setting:
: Simmering with tiny bubbles as in carbonated
GENTLE HEAT
water. Suitable for cooking rice, fish and vegetables such as
sugar peas and broccoli.
: Gently boiling with larger bubbles.
MEDIUM HEAT
Suitable for boiling most foods, such as meat,
root vegetables and potatoes.
: The sound disappears before the water starts
HOT
bubbling vigorously. Suitable for boiling water for
pasta and rice. Then turn the heat down for more
gentle cooking.
Frying
It is best when frying not to use food that has come
straight out of the refrigerator. Only about 2/3 of the
bottom of the pan should be covered by food.
Put the margarine or butter in the frying pan and
turn on to the recommended heat. In order to get the
best results, it is important that the fat is the right
colour (temperature) when you start frying. Hold a
light-coloured spatula to the bottom of the pan to see
the colour of the fat.
: Suitable for eggs, onions, raw
LIGHTLY BROWNED FAT
potatoes, chops and steaks and whole fish, etc.
: Suitable for frying most foods such as
BROWNED FAT
pancakes, minced meats, sausages, thin fish fillets and
stewing steak.
: Suitable for thin steaks. Be careful
WELL BROWNED FAT
as the fat can easily become burnt.
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