My le creuset cook ware has faded

Here's some helpful tips that can hopefully ensure many years of quality use of your ceramic glass cook-top.


NOTE: It is important to maintain PROPER care of your ceramic glass cook top as they can be very expensive to replace. Prices vary between models, but most are in the $200 to $300 range. With added labor charges, this repair can cost over $600 from an appliance repair company.


WARRANTIES: Most manufacturer warranties DO NOT cover cosmetics. That is, if your cook-top paint starts to wear off from normal use, or from the selection of cookware you choose to use, manufacturers typically WILL NOT replace it. Warranties also DO NOT cover accidents such as dropping something on the top and chipping or breaking it. Some warranties WILL cover, however, blistering, warping and heat related breakage that were no fault of the consumer (as long as you were using the recommended cookware). It is important to become familiar with, and follow, all the manufacturer's use and care instructions that come with your range.


CERAMIC GLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

It is normal for the ceramic glass to change color when heated. This is especially true for lighter colored surfaces. The color should return to normal when cooled. It is also normal for the enameled or painted areas on the cook top to show signs of wear and fade over time. Proper cleaning and cookware selection can extend the cook top appearance.

It is NORMAL for the radiant heat surface elements to glow red and cycle on and off. There is a thermostat associated with each individual element that regulates the temperature. The frequency at which the elements cycle on and off is determined by the heat setting.

PROPER COOKWARE:

Use ONLY flat bottomed cookware for the best results of heat transfer from the surface elements. Cookware with warped, rounded or ribbed bottoms can cause uneven heat transfer which can result in uneven heating of the cooking surface and cause damage to the cook-top such as cracking and/or permanent surface discoloration.

An easy test you can use to determine the flatness of your cookware, is to turn the cookware upside down and place a ruler across the surface. As you rotate the ruler around the surface perimeter, you should not see any light along the ruler edge where it meets the surface. Cookware with slight indentions or expansion grooves can still be used, however.

Make sure the cookware bottom is always clean and dry before use to prevent any foreign matter from burning to the cook-top surface and leaving stains. ALWAYS place your cookware on the cook-top surface BEFORE turning the surface elements on.

Make sure the selected cookware matches the size surface element in use. The cookware surface should NOT exceed one inch beyond the radiant surface element surface.

COOKWARE CHARACTERISTICS:

The material of the cookware you select will determine how well it transfers heat and how evenly it cooks. The ideal cookware should be of medium to heavy thickness.

NOTE: A non-stick surface will take on the characteristics on the base metal used. (i.e., non-stick over aluminum, will take on the heating characteristics of aluminum).

*ALUMINUM - Heats quickly and evenly, light weight, suitable for all types of cooking tasks.

*COPPER - Heats quickly and evenly, light weight, suitable for all types of cooking tasks.

*Both aluminum and copper are great when used as a core metal cover with a non-stick or enamel surface. However, when used as a base metal, alone, they can leave metal transfer marks on the cook-top surface which will have to be cleaned immediately following use.

GLASS or CERAMIC - Heats slowly and unevenly, may scratch cook-top surface if there are any rough edges, best results are when using low or medium heat settings.

CAST IRON - Heats slowly and evenly, maintains heat for slow cooking, great for browning and frying, rough on cook-top surfaces, may scratch.

STAINLESS STEEL - Heats quickly and unevenly, a base or core of aluminum or copper can provide more even heating.


DO's and DON''T's:

DO NOT store heavy items, such as jars, cans, pots and pans above the cook-top surface. Any inadvertent dropping on the cook-top surface and cause cracks or shattering.

DO NOT lay hot lids on the cook-top surface. Heated air can become trapped under the lid creating a hot spot as the rest of the cook-top surface cools. The cook-top surface could potentially crack when the lid is removed.

DO NOT slide cookware across the cook-top surface. LIFT cookware as much as possible when moving from surface to surface. This will minimize metal transfer marks and scratching.

DO NOT cook popcorn in prepackaged aluminum containers. The aluminum could potentially melt and may not be able to be removed from the cook-top surface.

DO NOT store anything on the cook-top surface that could melt (such as plastic and aluminum foil). Once melted to the surface, some of these substances may not be able to be removed.

DO NOT store empty pots and pans on the cook-top surface.

DO NOT attempt to use the cook-top surface while the oven is on a self-cleaning cycle. The oven super heats to temperatures in excess of 500 degrees and causes radiant heat to be exhausted from the oven vent on the stove surface.

DO NOT use a cook-top that is cracked. Any spill overs could potentially leak into the radiant heat elements and create an electrical hazard.

DO clean up any spills from the cook-top surface that contains milk or sugar. You may allow the cook-top surface to cool in order to safely clean, but do not allow these substances to remain on the cook-top for extended periods. If not removed, these substances can cause permanent discoloration and stains.

DO wipe down the cook-top prior to, and immediately following use, to maintain the surface appearance.

DO NOT attempt to cook any foods directly on the cook-top surface without a pan!

CLEANING and CARE:

Clean all spills and boil overs immediately.

Any substances that become adhered to cook-top surface can be removed by wiping up excess with hot soapy water and a kitchen sponge.

Use a non-abrasive pad (the green kitchen pads are considered non-abrasive) and a straight edge razor blade, pushing in one direction to remove stubborn particles.

Some metal transfer marks (copper and aluminum) may be removed by simply wiping cook-top surface with a damp sponge. Any remaining marks can often be removed with an approved cook-top cleaner.

Use only approved, non-abrasive cook top cleaner to keep the surface clean and polished.

DO NOT use scouring pads that will dull or damage cook top surface (i.e., steel wool or SOS pads).

DO NOT use any harsh chemicals such as ammonia or bleach that can etch or dull cook-top surface.