Is it safe cooking w/ the electric element facing up? Or did we put it together incorrectly? Seems like food drippings would cause the element to burn
494083
It is safe to use, But with me living in a condo I have to bring the parts in to clean which makes it a pain in the butt. What you need to do is the tray below the burner should be wrapped in alumium, it protects the tray.Also make sure you keep an eye on the metal tin below the grill if it fills up it will spill over. But other then that I love the grill.
494084
I have used this grill for a year and have never had a problem with flare ups!
494085
Yes. Totally safe. In fact having the element exposed let's the drippings fall onto them and the pan underneath to produce some great smokey flavor.
494086
It is as safe as any gas grill in this regard. Yes, the element gets dripped on and will cause a grease fire, but that's part of the appeal of the grill. You get all the advantages of an open flame grill and an IR grill all in one. Like any grill, keep a fire extinguisher handy and keep the grill away from flammables.
494087
You need to clean the plate and the bottom of the unit after each use. If you don't you risk of a grease fire.
655156
We never had that problem with ours. It worked great. We only had it for about 4 months; our house burnt down. But hey, we loved it before it melted!
198624
I have used mine several times and as long as I have the proper fluid I have never had this problem, be sure and use proper or more fluid while cooking.
217342
Hi Mark, I have had no problems whatsoever with this grill! I have this one as well as the 075 model which is larger. They both still work perfectly!!! I only regret that I neglected to use foil over the drip tray as suggested to make cleanup much, much easier. While I know it's suggested not to clean the inside of it too often (except removing the ashes), I will tell you that when I use the grill to cook chicken thighs/legs at 400+ degrees, the grill drips down the front lid and, it drips from the sidewall where the smokestack is located. Other than that nuisance, the grill is excellent and still performs as such! Hi Mark, I have had no problems whatsoever with this grill! I have this one as well as the 075 model which is larger. They both still work perfectly!!! I only regret that I neglected to use foil over the drip tray as suggested to make cleanup much, much easier. While I know it's suggested not to clean the inside of it too often (except removing the ashes), I will tell you that when I use the grill to cook chicken thighs/legs at 400+ degrees, the grill drips down the front lid and, it drips from the sidewall where the smokestack is located. Other than that nuisance, the grill is excellent... » Read More Hi Mark, I have had no problems whatsoever with this grill! I have this one as well as the 075 model which is larger. They both still work perfectly!!! I only regret that I neglected to use foil over the drip tray as suggested to make cleanup much, much easier. While I know it's suggested not to clean the inside of it too often (except removing the ashes), I will tell you that when I use the grill to cook chicken thighs/legs at 400+ degrees, the grill drips down the front lid and, it drips from the sidewall where the smokestack is located. Other than that nuisance, the grill is excellent and still performs as such! « Show Less
1802232
Depending on condition of oven, and how close dish is to heating element, heat rises. I don't care for electric ovens. I find electric cooks to quick. I buy vintage casserole dishes, and bake and cook on a gas stove or oven. I use a rimmed edge cookie sheet slightly larger than the glass baking dish, underneath all my pyrex (old and new) and as long as I monitor my timing and check my item I am making, I have never burned, scorched or broken a pyrex product in 55 years. The cookie sheet is an extra safety measure for me, for remove from oven to stove (gas) for pan to cool and keep warm until being served. You can also cool a pan by placing standard bath towel doubled, on your counter top, and letting your pan cool. I like the cookie sheet under my pans to avoid scratching the glass pan's (metal against glass in oven and on gas burner grate when cooling) I also love glass for baking my Pineapple UPside Down Cakes, with the cookie sheet underneath the pyrex dish, because it browns the top evenly during baking and leaves a crunchy sweet edge around the cooled cake. I than use my baking, sheet cover it with foil and flip my cake on it. I usually don't get a chance to do this last part since everyone in my house fights for the edge of the cake, while it is cooling (husband and 3 boys). I hope this helps, the only time (one time) I blew up a casserole dish was cooking it in a Convection Air Oven cooking a roast @ 350 with a lid on it and I cracked the lid, and ruined my dinner, in 1979, Never Again!!! Barbara SELLER OF VINTAGE KITCHEN ITEMS ON AMAZON @ BeeBargains Thank You!
981365
I have a gas stove. Once I turn off the burner the metal grate is hot for a short while. If I had a cat like yours and was going to leave the kitchen, I would put the cover on first even if the grate is not cool. But if you have an electric stove I would wait until it cools down or else you may scorch the underside of the cover. Close the kitchen door?
583287
I suspect that you didn't have the top properly attached; it is a little tricky to get it right. I've found the best way to learn how to use it is NOT to prepare some elaborate meal where there is a lot at invested (time and money.) You know you can cook nothing, then try it till you get it right. (Tip: get a round shaped, chrome-plated heat diffuser for the bottom to cut down on cooking errors.) Good look, it's worth it to master this cooker. Lance
761052
First of all I'm sure you realize this thing generates heat so placing it in any kind of box would probably cause it to cook itself in short order. My solution was to mount it up high and use plumbers tape to strap it down. Here is a picture of plumbers tape here on Amazon if you don't know what I'm talking about.
966226
I believe they are referring to the plastic lid. There is growing concern about heating and storing food in plastic. Chemicals leach into the food and are carcinogenic. If you just leave the lid open when heating water, the steam will escape and not drip back into the pot, thus eliminating the majority of possible contamination. It won't effect the heating process or pose any steam-burn if the unit is set away from skin contact. And thanks for the heads up about the warning - i'll start leaving the lid open on mine now!!
1875012
Hi, yes my oven is electric but now a friend has one & her oven is gas. Just don't put near open flameCheers
768412
I believe the elements you are thinking you should see as red are actually inside of the tubes on the grate.This would allow cleaning of the grates, etc. that would damage the elements if they were exposed.Yes, it does take warm up time as you describe probably as a result of what I described above, but I have had no problem with that as it gives me time to get things ready. I think they had done a lot of home work on proper cooking temps and times for various foods and thicknesses, so the 16 min's probably has some education around it. If I remember correctly, the manual goes in some detail on this. I believe the elements you are thinking you should see as red are actually inside of the tubes on the grate.This would allow cleaning of the grates, etc. that would damage the elements if they were exposed.Yes, it does take warm up time as you describe probably as a result of what I described above, but I have had no problem with that as it gives me time to get things ready. I think they had done a lot of home work on proper cooking temps and times for various foods and thicknesses, so the 16 min's probably has some education around it. If I remember correctly, the manual goes... » Read More I believe the elements you are thinking you should see as red are actually inside of the tubes on the grate.This would allow cleaning of the grates, etc. that would damage the elements if they were exposed.Yes, it does take warm up time as you describe probably as a result of what I described above, but I have had no problem with that as it gives me time to get things ready. I think they had done a lot of home work on proper cooking temps and times for various foods and thicknesses, so the 16 min's probably has some education around it. If I remember correctly, the manual goes in some detail on this. « Show Less
1920659
We heat on gas stove with a small inner flame that just fits the bottom. So the handle does not get hot. On an electric element I would think you would place on edge of element so again no the handle should not get hot.
1920835
I have made bacon it and it was fine. The grease runs to the side and the flames are in the center area so it went fine. It did cause a huge mess though with all the grease and likely wouldn't do it again. I find it better to do bacon in a pan over the open plame.
599300
The heating element doesn't appear to be exposed at all on the bottom. All that I can see is a metal tube running up the inside of the kettle along the handle. I'm not sure if that's the heating element or something else.
11864
I used it indoors. Loved it, but the element proved so heavy it kept shutting off. It would not keep the heat because. The element had to be propped up.
1393916
Just lift up the electrical element and place the bib on top of the drip pan. That's it, you're done. :)
403527
The main enemy of this type of cookware is high heat. Since gas flame is cooler than an electric element, you should be OK.