HOW TO USE YOUR GAS COOKER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW TO USE YOUR GAS COOKER

You use your gas cooker every clay of the week, but do you use it to the best advantage? Or do you burn more gas than you need? The suggestions here will help you to achieve better results and to save money at the same time. THE GAS COOKER. The gas cooker has two main parts: the hotplate and the oven. THE HOTPLATE. The hotplate consists of one or more boiling rings, a simmering burner and a griller. When lighting the boiling burner turn the gas tap full on and light the gas, then adjust so that the tip of the flame just touches the bottom of the kettle or saucepan. The flame should be kept well under the vessel; if it comes up the sides gas is wasted. 'Never leave the gas on when the burn* er is not in use. It is better to relight than to allow the gas to burn to waste. Many newest cookers have a •‘gasmatch” fitted on them, so that matches and lighters are no longer required. ,- The kettles and saucepans used on the boiling rings should be clean and etry, especially underneath. THE OVEN.

Many cookers are fitted with automatic oven control, so that once the oven is heated and the dial'is set, the correct temperature is maintained without further trouble on.the'part, of the cook. Full instructions and time charts are supplied-with-these cookers, and should be carefully followed: The instructions given, below,-refer to the iype of oven without automatic control. . The oven contains two open grid shelves and one solid browning shelf — all moveable. The hottest part of the oven is immediately below the browning shelf, because the heat is thrown downwards by the shelf; the part above the shelf is used for the gentle heating referred to in recipes as “cooking in a slow oven.” Have the lighter or taper ready, open the oven door, turn on the oven tap and light the burners. The flame should be about an inch long at first in cyder to heat the oven. As soon as the even is hot the gas should be lowered. "“'"The drip tin should always be in place when the oven is in use. Several dishes can be cooked in the even at the same time, if the various •lishes are carefully placed in the most suitable parts of the oven. When the even is hot after roasting a joint, a very small flame will be sufficient to •ock milk puddings or fruit cakes.

CLEANING THE COOKER. The gas cooker, like all good .tools, gives better service in return for a little care. It ( will pay you to keep it scrupulously clean. DAILY ATTENTION. After meat has been.' cooked, take some soft paper and rub the sides and top of the oven and the inside of the door while they are still warm. This removes the grease before it congeals and sticks to the enamel. The hotplate, too, snould ne wiped at once if water or grease has splashed over on to it. THE WEEKLY CLEAN. Once a week the oven shelves and burners should be taken out and washed with hot water and soap. The sides and top of the oven and the mside of the door should also be washed. The enamelled surfaces are very easy to keep clean. The bars and burners on the hotplate should also be lifted out occasionally -and rubbed with a rough, cloth or brushed, special attention being given to the grill. ’ A small - prush, will clean the burners;, special brushes to get into corners and crevices are stock* en to the grill. A small brush will useful for removing grease from clogged holes.

The enamel tray should be washedjnhot water, and the enamelled exterior of the oven can be kept clean by wiping with a cloth wrung out of hot water. Unlacquered brass taps can be cleaned by rubbing, with an oily rag; Chromium-plated parts 'can be wiped with a damp cloth and then p/lished with a soft duster. (Any black parts can be kept fresh by rubbing over with a rough cloth and then brushing with a stove brush (without using any stove polish). FOR SPECIAL CLEANING. Some preparations- in- the form, of paste or jelly for cleaning gas staves can be obtained from most gas undertakings and hardwaremen, and if the directions given by the manufacturers are followedsthe .cleaning can be done quickly and easily. . If these directions are carried out the gas cooker should keep in good condition for years. The gas cooker, properly used, can be relied upon to give you good results every time. In case of any difficulty you have only to apply to your gas undertaking, and a representative will call to help you.