Hints and Tips for using the Hob
Start your cooking with a big flame by turning the knob to the symbol . Then adjust the flame as necessary. The outside of the flame is much hotter than its inside (nucleus). Accordingly , the top of the flame should lick the bottom of the pan. Excessive flames mean a waste of gas. In contrast with electric grids, gas burners do not require flat-bottomed pans: the flames lick the bottom and spread the heat all over the surface. No special pans are required for gas burners. However, thinwalled pans transmit the heat to the food more quickly than thick-walled ones. Since heat doesn't spread evenly on the pan's bottom, the food may only be partially heated. Consequently it is advisable to stir the food many times. A thick pan bottom prevents partial overheating as it allows sufficient thermic compensation. Avoid very small pans. Wide and shallow pans are more suitable than narrow and deep ones as they allow a faster heating. Cooking is not quickened by placing narrow pans on wide burners. The result is just a waste of gas. For a proper usage, place small pans on small burners and large pans on large burners. Remember to cover pans to reduce gas consumption.
Pottery
Remember that a wide-bottomed pan allows a faster cooking than a narrow one. Always use pots which properly fit what you have to cook. Particularly make sure that the pans are not too small for liquids, since these could easily overflow. Moreover, the pans should not be too large for a faster cooking. In fact, grease and juices may spread on the bottom and burn easily. It is better to use non-openable moulds for baking cakes. In fact, an openable mould lets juices and sugar leak through, falling on the bottom of the oven and consequently burning on the bottom of the baking tray, making cleaning difficult. Avoid putting plastic-handled pans in the oven as they are not heat-proof. You should use pans with the right diameter to fit the burner, in order to make the most out of it, thus reducing gas consumption. It is also advisable to cover any boiling casserole and, as soon as the liquid starts boiling, lower the flame enough to keep the boiling point.
