Your Lustre Craft Cookware arrives packaged with a recipe book and a very helpful video for your review. You can use all of your current recipes as well as oil, water and seasoning if you choose. However, with a few slight alterations, you will discover delicious dinners with little or no fat or sodium. The ABC's A. If anything is damaged in shipment, call Lustre Craft Customer Service at 1-352-589-1711 or email us at customerservice@lustrecraftcookware.com. B. Wash all your cookware in hot soapy water or a dishwasher before first use. This removes packing oils and reduces discoloration. Clean with Cameo, Barkeepers Friend or Kleen Keen. Cameo is a favorite and is normally found with Brass or Stainless Steel cleaners at grocery stores. Stainless Steel is non-porous and lets you see any residue on surfaces. Most metals are porous, dark and it is difficult to tell if they are clean. With Lustre Craft, you will always know your cookware is clean. The chemicals and minerals in most water will sometimes leave a white or blue film. Cameo, mixed with a little water to make a paste, and a damp towel will remove all residues. Cleaning your cookware while it's "hot" is a good idea to prevent food from drying and adhering to the surface. If it does dry on, soak the utensil for a few minutes and clean as usual. C. TURN THE HEAT DOWN. Your cookware has 5 layers of special metals to conduct heat. Medium to low is all you need to know. NOTE: If you have a gas range, hold your hand 6 inches above the flame. If you do not feel the warmth from the flame, it is the ideal heat to cook with. HELPFUL COOKING INSTRUCTIONS 1. The diameter of the burner on your range top stove should be equal to the diameter of the cookware selected. When using a gas range, make sure the flame does not extend up the sides of the cookware 2. Choose the unit that accommodates the quantity of food you need to prepare. Do not over fill your cookware. 3. To brown or sear meat: With the lid on the unit and the vapor valve CLOSED, preheat the unit while EMPTY. 4. To cook food, that does not need to be seared: Rinse food. Place in unit. Place the lid on the unit with the vapor valve open. Use medium to low heat. (Until you are comfortable using the waterless method, use 1-2 tablespoons of water per cup of food. Also, do not leave the kitchen area until you are used to your new cookware with your stove.) After the whistle blows or you see vapor escaping for 60 seconds: Close the vapor valve. Remove the unit from heat. DO NOT THE LIFT LID until the desired cooking time has elapsed. (By closing the vapor valve, you keep moisture from food in the unit, rather than letting it escape.) When your food has finished cooking: Remove food from unit. Immediately put warm water in the unit. Let stand while you enjoy your meal. Clean with warm soapy water. 5. Occasionally, food will stick. We suggest the following: Make a paste with stainless steel cleaner. Clean the unit using a circular motion, with either a paper towel or a soft cloth. DO NOT use cleaner containing bleach. WATERLESS COOKING BASICS 1. Fry an egg. When frying an egg, you will need to preheat your skillet on medium low and use some sort of cooking oil. You can use your choice of a spray-on cooking oil, butter or oil, and then fry as usual. 2. Boil an egg without water. Place a wet paper towel in the bottom of small pan. Insert 3 eggs for starters, place the lid on the unit with the valve open. Cook on medium heat until the whistle blows then turn to low and close the valve. Cook for 10 minutes on low (never lift cover). Pour cold water over eggs, leave a bit of water and remove the paper towel. With the cover on, shake the eggs to crack the shells. Peel and serve. NOTE: No green rings on yoke! 3. Fried Chicken, without grease. Start with breasts or thighs and remove all the skin. Preheat on medium. (Increase heat to medium-high if you like your chicken crispy. Or, set the Electric Skillet to 375 degrees.) Place chicken in pan, meaty side down - do not over fill skillet. Cook for a few minutes with the cover off to brown then cook meat for 10-12 minutes with the cover on. Turn and serve.