Suggestions for gas burners
Start cooking with a big flame by turning theknob to . 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.
Suggestions for using the oven
Traditional cooking
As heat originates from top and bottom, dishes should preferably be placed in the middle. If cooking requires more heat from the bottom or the top, use the upper or lower level. temperature and longer cooking time. On the contrary, a �dry� texture would have required a shorter time and higher cooking temperature.
For the cooking of meat:
Fan cooking
Heat is transmitted to dishes by hot air forcibly circulated inside the oven by a fan placed at the back of the oven. By this method, heat is quickly and evenly circulated throughout the oven, permitting several different dishes to be cooked at the same time on different levels (Fig. 7). With this cooking method, through the elimination of humidity in the air and a drier environment, smells and tastes are not given off and do not mix with those of other dishes. Thanks to this possibility of cooking on several levels, you can cook up to three different dishes at the same time, to be consumed immediately or frozen. You can also cook on only one level. In this case, it is advisable to place the dish on the lower level for better cooking control. This oven is particularly suitable for defreezing rapidly, sterilizing preserves, homemade jams and, finally, for drying mushrooms and fruit.
Meat to be cooked in the oven should weigh at least 1 kilo to avoid its becoming too dry. If you want roasts with a good colour, use very little oil. If the piece is lean, use oil or butter or a little of both. Butter or oil are on the other hand unnecessary if the piece has a strip of fat. If the piece has a strip of fat on one side only, put it in the oven with this side upwards; when melting the fat will grease the lower side sufficiently. Red meat should be removed from the fridge one hour before cooking otherwise the sudden change of temperature could cause it to become tough. A roast, especially if of red meat, must not be salted at the beginning of cooking as salt causes juices and blood to seep out of the òmeat, thus preventing the formation of a well-browned crust. It is advisable to salt the outside of the meat after just over half the cooking time. Place the roast in the oven in a dish having a low rim; a deep dish shields heat. Meat can be placed on an ovenproof dish or directly on the grill, under which the dripping pan will be inserted to collect juice. Ingredients for gravy should only be put in the dish immediately if cooking time is brief, otherwise they should be added during the last half hour. Begin cooking rare meat at a high temperature, reducing the temperature to finish cooking the inside. The cooking temperature for white meat can be moderate throughout. The degree of cooking can be checked by pressing the meat with a fork; if it does not give the meat is cooked. At the end of cooking it is advisable to wait at least 15 minutes before cutting the meat in order that the juices are not lost. Before serving plates can be kept warm in the oven at minimum temperature.
