Southbend P36-CM-PT - Manual (Page 9)

I NFRARED C HEESE M ELTER O PERATION
O WNER ’ S M ANUAL 1186531 REV 2 (09/11) P AGE 9 OF 24
Figure 3
Cheese Melter Operation
Keep the bottom drip pan in place when in use. Without it in place, excessive air is
pulled past the burners, reducing temperature and cooking efficiency.
O PERATION OF I NFRARED C HEESE M ELTER
Southbend infrared cheese melters cook in half the time of ordinary cheese melters. The burners reach operating
temperature in just 90 seconds, and their intense infrared energy quickly heats the food, not the surrounding air. The
rack adjusts to five heights on rack guides.
The cooking area has a removable rack and a drip pan for cleaning. As food cooks, drippings drain into a collection
tray on the bottom of the cheese melter cavity. To operate the cheese melter, do the following:
1. Light the constant-burning pilots located near the front of the cheese melter burners, unless the pilots are already
lit. (See page 9 for directions on how to light the pilots).
2. If necessary, pull out and empty the bottom drip pan. (Always keep the drip pan in place while cooking. Without it
in place, excessive air will be pulled past the burners, reducing the cooking temperature and efficiency.)
3. Turn the burner control to HIGH and visually check that the burners have ignited. When the burners ignite, a blue
haze-type flame will cover the surface of the ceramics, but will gradually disappear within two minutes. When the
burner control is set to HIGH, the ceramics will glow red and the flame on the surface of the ceramics should be
barely visible, with little or no blue haze. When the burner control is set to LOW, the surface of the ceramics will
glow very dull red and the flame will have a blue-haze color. (If the flame flutters or “pops” the cheese melter
requires adjustment by a service technician.)
4. Turn the burner control to HIGH or LOW (as appropriate for the food to be cooked).
5. Raise or lower the cheese melter rack to the height appropriate for the food to be cooked.
6. Cook the food for the appropriate time. Periodically check the cheese melter drip pan and empty it when
necessary.
7. When done cooking, turn the burner control to OFF.
L
IGHTING
C
HEESE
M
ELTER
P
ILOTS
The pilots should burn continuously unless the cheese melter is to be completely shut down. The cheese melter cavity
has two or three pilots, each near the front of a pair of burners. If the pilots are extinguished, the pilot gas supply is
NOT automatically interrupted (unless the flame-failure option was ordered).
To light the pilots on a cheese melter WITHOUT the flame failure option, do the following:
1. Turn the control valves on the front of the cheese melter to OFF.