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Gas Range Surface Operation 18
CENTER
PLATE
French top center plate. French top heating zones.
HIGH
HIGH
HIGH
LOW
LOW
LOW
LOW
MED MED
SEASON THE FRENCH TOP
• The French top is shipped with a protective oil coating
the surface, use hot water and detergent to clean.
Rinse and dry.
• Turn on the ventilation hood five minutes prior to using
the French top.
• The French top needs to go through a “burn in” period.
Turn on the French top for 30 minutes to clean oils
from the bottom side of the surface. After 30 minutes,
turn the French top off and allow it to cool.
• To season, spread a light coating of peanut or
vegetable oil on a towel or cloth. While surface is still
slightly warm, apply oil evenly until it is absorbed into
the cast iron. Be careful not to apply too much oil.
Excess oil will leave a gummy residue that will have to
be removed.
• It is normal for the cast iron to darken with use to a
bluish-black color.
When this seasoning technique is applied correctly, food
spatters will not stain and the surface will be protected
from moisture. Its appearance darkens with use, a sign
that the French top has been fully tempered and is
properly seasoned. Regular maintenance will become
easier.
French Top
T
he optional French top provides a graduated cooking
surface with the hottest temperature under the center
plate and the lowest temperature near the edges. This
design makes it possible to use several pans at once for a
variety of cooking tasks. For example, fry chicken toward
the center, while simmering a sauce in one corner and
keeping vegetables warm in a different corner. Place the
pan or pans toward the edge according to their contents
and quantity. Refer to the illustrations below.
The cooking surface is made of polished cast iron that is
an excellent heat conductor. The rings allow for the solid
surface to expand with the heat while remaining flat. The
rings also provide thermal breaks in the cast iron that
distribute heat in a graduated intensity, hottest in the
center and coolest around the edges.
To protect the cast iron surface from moisture, it is neces-
sary to “season” the French top prior to use. This season-
ing process as well as general use will change the
appearance of the French top.