Cooking with Crosley Electric and Gas Ranges
General Baking
Modern electric and gas ovens/ranges offer many features and conveniences making our lives
easier. While we have been introduced to newer features like larger oven capacities (up to 5.4
cubic feet on a Crosley) and a wide variety of surface burner sizes in smooth top ranges, basic
cooking is still much the same. Conventional ovens bake evenly due to a small amount of air
movement inside the oven cavity. All ovens have vents in the top to allow for air flow out the top (hot air rising).
They also have gaps in the lower part of the door seal to allow for additional air flow in from the bottom.
Thermostats allow for small variances in the set temperature helping to create this air flow inside the oven.
Approximately 75% of the heat comes from the bake unit and 25% comes from the broil element. The bake and
broil element will cycle on and off in some fashion to maintain the set temperature. We are also limited as to
where and how many items are placed inside the oven.
Quick Convection
With the touch of a switch, Crosley’s Quick Convection System cooks up to 30% faster than a
conventional oven. Heat transference in the food is sped up along with the chemical reactions that
normally occur while cooking. Circulating the air and creating even heat in every part of the oven
allows for baking on multiple racks simultaneously while achieving even cooking results. Meats are
juicier, pastries are flakier and cooking time is reduced. Rule of thumb; reduce cooking temperature by 25 degrees
for regular baking items, time will remain the same or be slightly reduced. When roasting, leave temperature the
same and reduce cooking time by approximately 25 to 30 percent.
Coil Top Ranges
Traditional coil top ranges are designed to be easy to clean and offer a slight variety of cooking elements. 6” and
8” elements are the norm. Entry level models have 2100 watt 8” elements, while upgraded models offer 2600
watt 8” elements. 8” elements can also be replaced by canning elements offering better results for canning.
Crosley’s main top lifts up and locks into place allowing for easier access under the cooking surface. Porcelain
surfaces underneath and on top are easy to clean and offer durability. Cooking tops are recessed and most
models have upswept rear surfaces for retaining spills, making cleanup easier still. Elements will cycle on and off
to maintain a higher or lower temperature. This is normal. Elements on coil top ranges simply plug in making them
easy to remove for cleaning or replacement.
Smooth Top Ranges
If you’ve ever used a smooth top range you may never want to go back to a coil top again. Smooth
top ranges offer greater flexibility in burner sizes, offering warming zones and easier clean up. A
radiant element is thinner than a traditional cal rod element (similar to your toaster). These
elements heat up and respond to changes in temperature more quickly (offering a step closer to
gas cooking) than a cal rod unit. Elements are placed under the glass and eliminate direct contact with pans
keeping food and wear and tear away from the element. Rule of thumb, pans should not exceed burner size by
more than ½” on either side. Do not use glass or cast iron pans as these may scratch the glass surfaces. Good
quality pans with flat bottom surfaces work best. The pan must contact the glass in order to transfer heat. Bowed
pans only allow for a very small portion to contact the glass and will not perform well. The cooking surface on
smooth top ranges is fastened down eliminating the need to clean underneath. Expandable elements allow for
either a small or large pan to be used offering greater flexibility. Models equipped with a 3000 watt Power
Element will give more heat and are able to boil water 20% faster. Warming Zone elements are only 100 watts
allowing for food to be kept warm without continued cooking. Smooth top models are also equipped with a “hot
surface” light on the control panel that will remain on until the glass has cooled.
Gas Ranges
As with any gas appliance, gas ranges are more cost efficient. Sometimes it is just simply preferred by those who
use them. Cooking professionals choose primarily gas surface burners because of their precise consistent cooking
temperature and ability to get hotter than electric elements. Burners come on at the desired heat instantly and
give an even constant flame. Most ranges have sealed burners. Sealed burners are burners that are built in to the
main top and don’t allow spills to run underneath the cooking surface (which doesn’t lift up).
They include burner caps that go over the burners themselves and keep food from clogging the
ports. In the oven, manual clean ranges have one burner underneath the floor of the range
which provides the heat for cooking. Broiling is done below in the broiling drawer. Self cleaning
ranges have an additional burner at the top of the oven. This allows for “waist high” broiling inside the oven and
the lower part now accommodates a storage drawer. Most ranges are equipped with electronic ignition. There is
no pilot light that is constantly burning. Surface units spark when turned on and ignite the flame. Ovens use a
glow coil to ignite the gas and will turn on and off to maintain the set temperature. All Crosley gas ranges are
convertible to LP gas with an optional kit.
BTU’s
British Thermal Units, otherwise known as BTU’s are how gas energy is measured. It is defined as
the amount of heat it takes to raise one pound of water one degree. Gas burners are measured
in BTU’s. 1 BTU = .293 watts. 1 watt = 3.41 BTU’s. A standard size surface unit is typically around
9,000 to 9,500 BTU’s. Anything larger than that is called a Power Burner. Burners that are smaller
are referred to as a Simmer Burner. Simmer Burners will have a lower low output and are able to reach lower
temperatures for simmering delicate sauces or melting chocolate. Power Burners will have a higher high setting
and are able to boil water more quickly and are good choices for canning, or cooking with a large pot. Crosley
offers up to 16,000 BTU’s, and as low as 5,000 BTU’s with a low setting of 500 BTU’s on select models.
Broiling
Broiling or grilling is accomplished in an oven by using the broiling element at the top of the oven. Food is placed
nearer or further away from the flame depending upon the amount of heat desired. The oven door is kept open
to allow for smoke and steam to escape and is left in the “broiling” position. That is the spot the oven door
naturally settles to approximately 4 to 6 inches open. Broiling pans are generally used so clean up is easier. Select
Crosley ranges are equipped with Vari Broil which allows for a high or low setting to be used.
CRE3890 models have a 6 pass broiling element. Standard is 4 pass. This is how many times
the electric broiling element runs from the front to the rear of the oven. More passes through the center allows
for more even broiling.
Self Cleaning
Ranges that are labeled “Self Cleaning” get up to 900 degrees and burn spills to an ash. Self cleaning ranges also
have additional insulation around the oven cavity and more panes of glass in the door. This makes them more
energy efficient. The oven door remains locked during the self clean cycle and will not unlock until the
temperature has come down to around 600 degrees. Quick Convection models feature a Speed Clean setting. This
incorporates a 2 hour self clean cycle for light soil. Normal self cleaning cycle will run for 3 hours.
Clocks/Thermostats
Entry level ranges offer thermostats, but no clocks. A dial thermostat allows the user to
set the temperature according to the marks on the knob. It is turned all the way around
to broil. Models with electronic clocks incorporate the thermostat into the clock itself.
These modern day thermostats are very accurate and can be set in five degree increments allowing more precise
control to the user. All oven functions are controlled through the clock including; self cleaning, delay, bake,
broiling, and setting the temperature. The clock also features a control lock out. Holding down the Clear/Off
button for 3 seconds on self cleaning models will engage the door lock and disengage the clock. To unlock this
feature take the same steps to engage it.
Understanding Features on Crosley Electric and Gas Ranges
Lift Up Porcelain Cooktop
Porcelain coated cooking surface lifts and locks into place making cleanup easy. Surface underneath is also
porcelain coated.
Raised Side Panels
Available on every Crosley range. The front/side panels on the sides of the oven are raised to keep heat away
from valuable cabinetry from everyday use and during the self cleaning cycle.
Seamless Upswept Cooktop
Main top flows up into the rear portion of the cooking surface allowing for a seamless surface.
High Watt Coil Elements
2600 watt 8” and 1500 watt 6” elements allow for additional cooking power. Compare to 2100 watt and 1250
watt elements as standard.
Vari Broil
Select from 2 broiling temperatures. Low and High.
Advanced Bake Cooking System
Electronic thermostat allows for better baking results.
SmoothTouch Backguard Design
Durable powder coat backguard stays looking great even after years of cleaning.
Warming Zone
100 watt element on select smooth top models. Designed to keep food warm without continuing to cook it.
Power 3000 W Element
20% higher wattage ribbon element produces more heat.
Quick Convection Baking System
Cooks up to 30% faster than conventional baking.
Speed Clean
Offers a shortened 2 hour self cleaning cycle for light soil.
Bull Nose Sump Rack
Baking rack in the lower position creates larger usable oven space for cooking large or additional items.
Easy Set ‘A’ Electronic Control Panel
Electronic oven controls with clock and timer. Vari Broil low and high setting.
Easy Set B’ Electronic Control Panel
Electronic oven controls with clock, timer and Oven Lockout controls. Self Clean control with preheat, oven and
door locked indicator lights.
Easy Set ‘C’ Electronic Control Panel
Electronic oven controls with clock, timer, delay bake or clean and Oven Lockout controls. Self Clean control with
preheat, oven and door locked indicator lights.
Easy Set ‘D’ Electronic Control Panel
Electronic oven controls with clock, timer, delay bake or clean, Speed Clean and Oven Lockout controls. Self Clean
control with preheat, oven and door locked indicator lights. Also includes oven light control.