Corning Ware Electromatic Use & Care Info!

[danemodsandy]

Just a heads-up to anyone who owns any Corning Ware Electromatic products like the coffeemaker, the skillet or the platter: The always-terrific Corelle Corner website has posted copies of the 1963 Use & Care Guide.

Here's a link:

http://www.corellecorner.com/cornin...-ware-electromatic-skillet-tray-use-care.html

 

[polkanut]

Thanks Sandy!

I was fortunate to find a NIB blue cornflower Electromatic perc at an estate sale a few years back.  It had all of the care literature with it, even the trivet.

 

[swestoyz]

Ooo, that's sweet! I pulled out the platter a few weeks ago during a potluck gathering. A friend brought a potato casserole and it needed to stay warm, but she wasn't sure how to make that happen. Everyone was amazed when I pulled out the platter. They all wanted one! LOL

Ben

 

[abcomatic]

As I recall. Several years ago there was a defect with the percolator. The handle would suddenly fail and hot coffee and the pot could spill, causing injury. Anyone else remember that? Gary

 

[ovrphil]

Gary - we have two of these percolators. There's info. about it, but...we use ours delicately. No problems, after buying two from the thrifts in very good condition. Maybe we're taking chances anyways, but after it's done perc'ing, it's just how we handle it - with a pair of grip-tight hot-pads, holding the bottom with the left hand and top with the right hand....just not using the handle.

Link below discusses problem.

While we are aware of what could happen, we just avoid using the handles and when it's done brewing, we don't let it sit, but transfer right away to a dispenser..and if we detect a problem...we have the other stainless steel electric percolator (Regal Easy-Flo 7581).

Extensive article in link about it.

http://www.corellecorner.com/company-history/241-corning-ware-percolator-recall-1976-1979.html

 

[polkanut]

 It's interesting to note that the use & care guide that Sandy linked to says that the heating unit should be handwashed.  My use care and care literature dated 3/75 makes no mention about it not being dishwasher safe.  Mine says it's all dw safe.

 

[ovrphil]

I wouldn't toss that heating unit into the dishwasher, no matter what they said. Just me - mr.-over-cautious. I hand wash it - hell, I've even used metal cleaner on it and then cleaned it with soap, alcohol and my own hot air, which isn't documented yet for sterilization. hee.

 

[combo52]

Corning Electro-Matics

Sandy thanks for the link, it is neat that they mention the self-timing sauce pan, I have never even seen this cool appliance mentioned let alone a owners manual, I guess I need to post a picture of one of mine, I have at least four of them but only one correct ground flat Cook-Mate pan for it.

 

[polkanut]

My guide says to use steel wool on the metal parts, nothing about metal cleaners though.  I've never had any problems putting it in the dishwasher.  I always position it so the water is able drain out freely.

 

[ovrphil]

That's cool, Tim. I think whatever works is fine. I'm just not trusting my luck with some things.

As to the metal cleaner, I meant a polish - I like the thing to look new - wasn't dirty when we bought it, actually, except for the coffee staining.

shamless photos added

 

[polkanut]

Phil,

I have the exact same pot as the one you have, and a MIB blue Cornflower one also.  I gifted a complete Spice O' Life Electromatic perc to a friend of mine last year.  She loves it.

 

[ovrphil]

Tim - cool, but ....what is MIB? Did you mean New In Box?

I found the very common Corn Flower first, then the other pattern(forgot what it's called now). Does your have slight stain - if I didn't want coffee from it, I could get it spotless, but vinegar, baking soda, hot water and lemon...helped...even overnight and that's the best. Oh well, if you have any links for ideas, let me know.

 

[polkanut]

MIB means "Mint In Box".  This means it was maybe used at most a couple of times.  None of my pots were stained.  I read where you can put 2 or more tsps of chlorinated dishwasher detergent in the basket and perk like you would for coffee.  Leave this sit overnight and wash as usual the next day.

 

[ovrphil]

thanks

polkanut! I'll give it a try - 2 or or more tsps of chorinated dishwasher(any brand come to mind?)...and perk, then let sit overnight -

and "WASH as usual?" You're funny.

Thanks for the MIB explanation...showing the green side again, with acronyms.

 

[polkanut]

As for a chlorinated detergent I use Fleet Farm's Hytron (green label).  I meant that the pot be washed out as usual to remove any remaining residues etc.

 

Hytron is actually made by Stearns Packaging Corp. of Madison, WI.

http://www.stearnspkg.com/hfa/h-hytron-chlorinated-automatic-dishwasher-detergent.html

 

[polkanut]

As for a chlorinated detergent I use Fleet Farm's Hytron (green label).  I meant that the pot be washed out as usual to remove any remaining residues etc.

 

Hytron is actually made by Stearns Packaging Corp. of Madison, WI.

http://www.stearnspkg.com/hfa/h-hytron-chlorinated-automatic-dishwasher-detergent.html

 

[polkanut]

As for a chlorinated detergent, I use Fleet Farm's Hytron (green label).  I meant that the pot be washed out as usual to remove any remaining residues etc.

 

Hytron is actually made by Stearns Packaging Corp. of Madison, WI.

http://www.stearnspkg.com/hfa/h-hytron-chlorinated-automatic-dishwasher-detergent.html

 

[gadgetgary]

Cleaning the inside of the pot

Put some bleach in the pot and fill to max with water and run thru a perk cycle.
Cleans out all the coffee stains.
I do that regularly in my Farberware 4 cup daily driver.

 

[sarahperdue]

Cleaning

I've used Mother's Mag Wheel polish as well as auto polishing and rubbing compounds on my Corning ware with good results. It's vitreous--solid, non porous all the way through. It should be possible to clean it back down to the original white; however, I have a 3 cup teapot that has resisted all efforts to clean...

Ideas anyone?

Sarah

 

[danemodsandy]

Sarah:

There are three major things that can contribute to Corning Ware staining, and two of the three are related by a common factor: surface erosion.

Some chemicals, like over-use of bleach and acidic substances, can etch the surface. Once it's etched, it can hold stains pretty readily. There is not a whole lot to be done here; etching on Corning Ware is pretty much permanent.

There is also mechanical abrasion; this usually comes from cleaning with things like scratchy cleansers or cleaning pads. Cleanser isn't nearly the problem it used to be; most have been reformulated in recent years to be much gentler than before. Today's bad boy is the green Scotchbrite pad, which is evidently intended to remove barnacles from ships' hulls, it's so scratchy. Use the scratch-free BLUE Scotchbrite if you want some scrubbing power on Corning Ware. However, like etching, abrasion on Corning Ware is not removable once it occurs.

The other situation that can lead to stains is mineral buildup. The buildup itself can appear to be a stain, or its slight roughness can give other stains something to "grab" onto. Mineral buildup is addressable; you can use Lime-Away or CLR on the piece to get it shiny again. After the mineral buildup is gone, washing and drying the piece by hand can help to prevent recurrences if you're in a hard-water area like I am.

Hope something in here helps.