HearthKit ™ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is HearthKit?
A: HearthKit is a revolutionary new product that faithfully converts most home ovens into a Brick oven, allowing the home cook to experience the exceptional benefits of hearth oven baking and cooking.
Q: What is HearthKit made of?
A: HearthKit is manufactured from a blend of cordierite, a specialized blend of earthen materials, bonded to create a ceramic material.
Q: How is HearthKit manufactured?
A: HearthKit is pressed at over 175 tons of pressure and then heated to 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit, after which it is allowed to cool and cure.
Q: How is hearth-oven baking or cooking different from using a regular modern electric or gas oven?
A: A modern oven utilizes only ambient and minimal radiant heat. When baking in a hearth oven, three principles are at work: conductive, radiant, and ambient. When designed properly, these three heat types work together to form a hearth environment. This creates a highly stable environment allowing for greater control and a more evenly cooked product.
Q: Why is hearth-oven cooking better?
A: The key to a hearth oven is its unique ability to cook foods from the inside out, not just the outside in! Typically, roasted products may be baked at higher temperatures, allowing the food to sear on the outside and maintain juiciness inside. The incredible benefits to hearth-baked products are well documented and unchallenged.
Q: Is HearthKit designed only for baking breads, pizzas, pastries, etc.?
A: No. HearthKit enhances baking, cooking, and roasting of meats, poultry, vegetables, and casseroles, as well as slow-cooked stews.
Q: Is HearthKit difficult to assemble?
A: No, HearthKit typically takes less than 60 seconds to install.
Q: Where should HearthKit be positioned in the oven?
A: HearthKit is designed to create a cavity 7.5" to 9.5" high from the ceiling of your oven.
Q: How long will HearthKit last?
A: HearthKit is a ceramic product designed to absorb heat. It has no moving parts with the exception of the replaceable custom HearthKit Thermometer and multi-purpose cooling, baking and broiling rack. The ceramic material is breakable if misused (See Use & Care Guide). HearthKit will last for many, many years and may be transferred to a same size oven in the event the homeowner replaces their current oven or moves
Q: Does HearthKit carry a manufacturers warranty?
A: HearthKit carries a 10-year limited manufacturers warranty.
Q: Does HearthKit come in several oven sizes?
A: Yes. It is currently available in three sizes--17", 19" and 20.5" widths--to fit most 30" and 27" (exterior contractor dimensions) conventional home ovens. Although Hearth Kitchen Company currently satisfies the 36" ovens by installing the 20.5" HearthKit oven insert, Hearth Kitchen expects to have a unit available for 36" Professional ovens in 2003.
Q: Is there a different price for different sized ovens?
A: No, currently the HearthKit 17", 19" and 20.5" Oven Inserts are priced the same, but the new unit for 36" ovens will command a slightly higher price.
Q: How do I know which HearthKit will fit in my oven?
A. The best way to select the HearthKit that is right for your oven is to measure the interior width of your oven between the oven rack supports. For more details, click How to Choose Your HearthKit.
Q: Is it necessary to preheat the HearthKit before use?
A: Yes, HearthKit typically requires a few more minutes to preheat and charge its mass of cordierite. Setting the oven to a higher temperature during the preheating phase and then backing it down to the desired temperature will reduce this time. Also, if your oven has a convection feature, using it will also shorten the preheating time. Just remember to turn the convection feature off once your oven has preheated and you begin baking.
Q: Is there any danger in using the HearthKit?
A: No, with the exception that HearthKit maintains heat over a very long period of time. The user should be cautioned that after bringing the temperature up to 400 or 500 degrees Fahrenheit, HearthKit will maintain a significant amount of heat well after the oven has been turned off.
Q: How do I accommodate baking/cooking/roasting different items sequentially?
A: We suggest you cook the lowest temperature item first and then raise the temperature of the HearthKit to meet the requirements of the second or third item being cooked.
Q: How do I clean HearthKit?
A: Most modern ovens have a self-cleaning feature and it is recommended that you leave HearthKit in place during the self-cleaning cycle. This will restore the color to "like new" and can be repeated as often as is necessary. Please read the cleaning segment of the Use & Care guide. It is important to understand that there are some self-cleaning ovens that require the removal of the oven racks from the oven prior to the start of self-cleaning. If that is the case, it will be necessary to carefully remove the sides and then remove HearthKit base from the oven. Cleaning instructions for the removed HearthKit are detailed in the Use & Care guide. CAUTION: Be sure and remove the Custom HearthKit Thermometer and multi-purpose rack prior to the start of any self-cleaning process. See Use & Care Guide for details.
Q: Are there any similar devices available?
A: No. HearthKit is unique. Multiple patents in the United States, 10 countries in Europe, Mexico, Canada, Japan and Australia, protect it.
|
