Whirlpool RF387PX User manual

%+l of
4”
Home Appliances
Use &CareGuide
Electronic automatic
MEALTIMER’” oven
Model and serial
Bake element
Anti-tip bracket
Removable
storage drawer
SELF-CLEANINGELECTRICRANGE
RF387PXW

Contents
Important Safety
Instructions.
Using Your Range
Using the surface units
The electronic oven controls
Setting the clock
Using the electronic
Minute Timer
Using the Oven-Off button.
Using the oven
Using the electronic automatic
MEALTIMER’” control
Theovenvent . .._..........
The storage drawer
Optional door panel pat
Caring For Your Range
Control panel and knobs
Solid element surface units
Using the Self-Cleaning cycle
Cleaning tips
The oven light
If You Need Service
Or Assistance.
Whirlpool Range Warranty.
Page
8
9
9
11
15
16
16
17
17
18
19
23
25
26
28
‘@21990Whirlpool Corporation
Remove the Consumer Buy Guide
label. It will be easier to remove before
the range is used. To remove any re-
maining glue:
l Rub briskly with thumb to make a ball,
then remove.
or
l Soak area with liquid hand dishwash-
ing detergent before removing glue as
described above.
Do not use sharp instruments,
rubbing alcohol, flammable fluids or
abrasive cleaners. These can damage
the finish. See “Important Safety
Instructions” on page 3.
Thank you for buying a Whirlpool
appliance. Please complete and
mail the Owner Registration Card
provided with this product. Then
complete the form below. Have this
Information ready If you need service or
call with a question.
l Copy model and serial numbers
from plate (behind the oven door on
the frame) and purchase date from
sales slip.
l Keep this book, the Cooking Guide
and sales slip together in a handy
place.
Model Number
Serial Number
Purchase Date
Service Company Phone Number
You are responsible for:
l Installing and leveling the range on a
floor strong enough to support its
weight, and where it is protected from
the elements. (See the Installation
Instructions.)
l Making sure the range is not used by
anyone unable to operate it properly.
l Properly maintaining the range.
l Using the range only for jobs
expected of a home range.
l Making sure the range is secured by a
properly installed anti-tip bracket, with
a rear leveling leg positioned under
bracket.

ImDortantSafetvInstructions
To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock,
injury to persons, or damage when using the
range, follow basic precautions, including
l Read all instructions before using in or near the range. They could
the range. explode or burn.
l Install or locate the range only in l Do not use water on grease fires.
accordance with the provided Never pick up a flaming pan.
Installation Instructions. It is rec- Smother flaming pan on cooktop
ommended that the range be in- by covering with a well-fitted lid,
stalled by a qualified installer. The cookie sheet or flat tray. Flaming
range must be properly connected grease outside of pan can be
to electrical supply and grounded. extinguished with baking soda or,
$~!A,~ ..d..d~ if available, a multipurpose dry
chemical or foam-type extinguisher.
l Use only dry potholders. Moist or
damp potholders on hot surfaces
may result in burns from steam. Do
l To reduce the risk of tipping of the not let potholder touch hot heating
appliance, the appliance must be elements. Do not use a towel or
secured by a properly installed bulky cloth for a potholder. They
anti-tip bracket. To check if the could catch on fire.
bracket is installed properly,
l Select a pan with a flat bottom that
remove the storage drawer (see is about the same size as the sur-
page 16) and verify that the anti-tip face unit. If pan is smaller than the
bracket is engaged. surface unit, some of the heating
l Do not use the range for warming element will be exposed and may
or heating the room. Persons could result in the igniting of clothing or
be burned or injured, or a fire could potholders. Correct pan size also
start. improves cooking efficiency.
l Do not leave children alone or
l Never leave surface units
unattended in area where the unattended at high heat settings.
range is in use. They should never A boil-over could result and cause
be allowed to sit or stand on any smoking and greasy spill-overs
part of the range. They could be that may ignite.
burned or injured.
l Check to be sure glass cooking
l Do not wear loose or hanging gar- utensils are safe for use on the
ments when using the range. They cooktop. Only certain types of
could ignite if they touch a hot sur- glass, glass-ceramic, ceramic,
face unit or heating element and earthenware or other glazed uten-
you could be burned. sils are suitable for cooktops with-
* Do not repair or replace any part of out breaking due to the sudden
the range unless specifically rec- change in temperature.
ommended in this manual. All
l Turn pan handles inward, but not
other servicing should be referred over other surface units. This will
to a qualified technician. help reduce the chance of burns,
l Do not store flammable materials igniting of flammable materials,
and spills due to bumping of the pan

Important Safety Instructions
Continued
l Use care when opening oven door.
Let hot air or steam escape before
removing or replacing food.
l Do not heat unopened containers.
They could explode. The hot con-
tents could cause burns and con-
tainer particles could cause injury.
l Keep range vents unobstructed.
l Always position oven racks in
desired location while oven is cool.
If rack must be moved while oven
is hot, do not let potholder contact
hot heating element in oven.
l Do not clean door seal. It is essen-
tial for a good seal. Care should be
taken not to rub, damage, or move
the seal. Clean only parts recom-
mended in this Use and Care
Guide.
l Do not use oven cleaners. No com-
mercial oven cleaner or oven liner
protective coating of any kind
should be used in or around any
part of the oven.
l Before self-cleaning the oven,
remove broiler pan, broiler grid,
oven racks and other utensils. Do
not use your oven to clean mis-
cellaneous parts.
- SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS -
l Do not store things children might
want above the range. Children
could be burned or injured while
climbing on it.
l Do not touch surface units, areas
near units, heating elements or in-
terior surfaces of oven. Surface
units and heating elements may be
hot even though they are dark in
color. Areas near surface units and
interior surfaces of an oven be-
come hot enough to cause burns.
During and after use, do not touch,
or let clothing or other flammable
materials contact surface units,
areas near units, heating elements
or interior surfaces of oven until
they have had sufficient time to
cool. Other surfaces of the range
may become hot enough to cause
burns; such as, the oven vent
opening, the surface near the vent
opening, the cooktop, the oven
door and window.
. FOR YOUR SAFETY.
DO NOT STORE OR USE
GASOLINE OR OTHER
FLAMMABLE VAPORS AND
LIQUIDS IN THE VICINITY OF
THIS OR ANY OTHER
APPLIANCE. THE FUMES
CAN CREATE A FIRE
HAZARD OR EXPLOSION.

UsingYourRange
Usingthesurfaceunits
Control knobs must be pushed
in before turning them to a setting.
They can be set anywhere between
HI and OFF.
Surface unit markers
The solid dot in the surface unit marker
shows which surface unit is turned on
by that knob.
Surface unit indicator lights
One of the Surface Unit Indicator
Lights on the control panel will glow
when a surface unit is on.
Burn and Fire Hazard
Be sure all control knobs are
turned to OFF and all indicator
lights are OFF when you are not
cooking. Someone could be
burned or a fire could start if a
surface unit is accidentally
left ON.
Until you get used to the set-
tings, use the following as a guide.
For best results, start cooking at the
hrgh settings; then turn the control knob
down to continue cooking.
Use HI to start foods cooking; 10
bring liquids to a boil.
Use MED-HI to hold a rapid boil; to
fry chicken or pancakes.
Use MED for gravy, puddings and
icing; to cook large amounts of
vegetables.
Use MED-LO to keep food cooking
after starting it on a higher setting.
Use LO to keep food warm until
ready to serve. Set the heat higher or
lower within the LO band to keep food
at the temperature you want.
5

Using Your Range
Continued
Solid elements stay hot for a long
time. Do not use the HI setting for
long periods of time or leave pans
on hot elements when cooking is
done. Burned food and damage to
the cookware could result.
Solid element surface units
Before placing a pan on solid element
surface units for the first time, heat on
HI setting for five minutes. The surface
units will give off smoke as the protec-
tive coating, applied at the factory,
finishes bonding to the surface.
Solid element surface units are made
of heavy cast-Iron to provide even cook-
ing. Each surface unit has a built-in pro-
tective limiter as a safety feature. The
limiter senses uneven cooking temper-
atures and automatically reduces the
heat level. The limiter will sense uneven
heat when a pan boils dry or when a
pan is removed and the surface unit is
left on. The heat level may also be
reduced automatically if the bottom of
the pan is not flat or if the pan is too
large or too small for the element. This
will result in longer cooking times.
Solid elements hold heat longer than
conventional surface units. For best
cooking results, use a high setting for
only a very short period of time. Then
use a lower setting to complete the
cooking. You may want to turn the solid
element surface unit OFF a few min-
utes before you finish cooking.
Cookware
Pans should be the same size or
larger than the surface unit to prevent
boil-overs and hot handles.
Use only flat-bottomed utensils.
Flat bottoms allow maximum contact
between the pans and surface units for
fast, even cooking. Pans with uneven
bottoms or with raised patterns on the
bottoms are not suitable. Do not use
trivets, woks with skirts, or can-
ners with concave or ridged
bottoms.
To check your cookware for flatness,
place a straight-edge across the bottom
of each piece. Move the straight-edge
around. If light shows anywhere
between the pan and the straight-edge,
the pan is not flat. Do not use it.
See the Cooking Guide for additional
cookware information.
Theelectronicovencontrols
There are three parts in the oven control
section.
-The digital display.
-The command buttons.
-The Set Knob.
Instructions for each oven control are
covered on the followrng pages. Read
them carefully.
When you first plug in the range, the
display will show four flashing 8’s. If,
after you set the clock (page 8) the dis-
play agatn shows four flashing 8’s; your
electricity was off for a while. Reset
the clock.

Digital display/clock
pressed.
When showing the time of day, the
display will show the hour and minutes.
When using the Minute Timer, the
display shows minutes and seconds in
the following sequence:
. For settings from l-59 seconds, each
second will show in the display.
l For settings from l-10 minutes, the
display will increase in 10 second
increments.
. For settings from IO-99 minutes, the
display will increase in 1 mrnute
increments.
When using the Bake Hours and/or
Stop Time, the display shows hours and
Command buttons
The light comes on when you touch the
command buttons.
Set Knob
clockwlse decreases the number on the
display.

Using Your Range
Continued
Settingtheclock
I. Push the Time Of Day button. The
TIME light will show in the display.
2. While pushing the Time Of Day
button, turn the Set Knob until the
correct time shows in the display.
3. Release the Time Of Day button.
Usingtheelectronic
MinuteTimer
The Minute Timer does not star-l or stop
the oven. It works like a kitchen timer. It
can be set in minutes and seconds up
to 99 minutes. You will hear four beeps
when the set time ISup.
1. Push the Mtn/Sec Timer button
The TIMER light will come on and
the display will show “0:OO.”
2 Turn the Set Knob until the desired
time shows in the display. The
Mrnute Timer will begin counting
down 2 seconds after the time is set.
When time is up, “End” ~111 show
in the large display and you will hear
four beeps.

To cancel the Minute Timer:
l Push the Mrn/Sec Timer button and
turn the Set Knob until “0:OO“ shows
In the display.
or
l Qurckly push the Mrn/Sec Timer
button twice.
UsingtheOven-Offbutton
The Oven-Off button wtll cancel any
command button except for the Min/
Set Timer button. When the Oven-Off
button is pushed, “Off” WIIIshow In the
large display. The display will then show
the time of day or, If Minute Timer is
also being used, the time remarnrng.
Usingtheoven
Baking
1. Postron the rack(s) properly before
turning on the oven. To change
rack position, lift rack at front and
pull out.
The rack(s) should be placed so
the top of the food will be centered In
the oven. Always leave at least 1% to
2 inches (4-5 cm) between the sides
of the pan and the oven walls and
other pans. For more information,
see the Cookrng Guide.
2. Push the Bake button. “35O’F” WIII
show in the small display to Indicate
the preset temperature and the
PRE-BAKE and ON lights WIII
come on.
9

Using Your Range
Continued
3. To cook at a dlfferent temperature,
push the Bake button. Turn the Set
Knob until the desrred temperature
shows In the small drsplay.
4. The oven ISpreheated when you
hear three beeps and the PRE- light
goes off.
5. Put food In the oven.
Durtng baking, the elements will turn
on and off to keep the oven temperature
at the setting.
The top element helps heat dur-
ing baking, but does not turn red.
6. When baking ISdone, push the Oven-
Off button. “Off” will show in the dis-
play and all other displays will go off
NOTE: The oven automatically turns off
after 11hours, 59 minutes
Broiling
1. Position the rack before turning the
oven on. See “Broil Chart” In the
Cooking Guide or a reliable cook-
book for recommended rack
positions.
2. Put the broiler pan and food on
the rack.
3. Close the door to the Broil Stop posi-
tron (open about 4 inches, 10.2 cm).
The door will stay open by itself.

4. Push the Broil button. “brl” will show
tn the small display and the BROIL
and ON ltghts will come on.
5. When broiling ISdone, push the
Oven Off-button. “Off” will show in
the large display and all other
displays will go off.
Custom broil
l If food is cooking too fast, push the
Broil button and turn the Set Knob
counterclockwise untrl 325°F shows in
the small display. The CUST BROIL
and ON lights will come on.
9 If you want food to broil slower from
the start, push the Broil button and
turn the Set Knob so a temperature
between 15O’F and 325°F (65.5”C
and 162.7%) shows in the small dis-
play. The lower the temperature, the
slower the cooking. The CUST BROIL
and ON lights will come on.
NOTE: The door must be partly open
whenever the oven ISbeing used to
broil. Leaving the door open allows the
oven to maintain proper temperatures.
Usingtheelectronicauto-
maticMEALTIMER’”control
The automatic MEALTIMER’” control
will turn the oven on and off at times
you set.. .even when you are not
around.
Automatic baking is ideal for foods
which do not require a preheated oven,
such as meats and casseroles. Do not
use the automatic cycle for cakes,
cookies, etc...undercooking will
result.
11

Using Your Range
Continued
To start baking now and stop
automatically:
1. Position the oven rack(s) properly
and place the food in the oven.
2. Make sure the clock is set to the
right time of day. (See “Setting the
clock” on page 8.)
6. The display will count down
in minutes.
The oven will beep three times when
the PRE- light goes off.
7. When the baking time is completed,
the oven will turn off automatically,
beep four times and “End” will show
in the display.

To delay start and stop
automatically:
1. Position the oven rack(s) properly
and place the food in the oven
2. Make sure the clock is set to the
right time of day. (See “Setting the
clock” on page 8.)
3. Push the Bake Hours button. “0:OO”
WIIIshow In the display and the
BK/HR light will come on.
4. Turn the Set Knob clockwise until
the desired baking time shows in the
display.
5. Push the Stop Time button. The
ST/TM light will come on. Turn the
Set Knob clockwise until the desired
stop time shows in the display.
The time of day will show in the dis-
play and the ST/TM light will flash
until Bake is selected.

Using Your Range
Continued
7. Changes can be made at any time
by pressing a command button.
on. The display will count down in
minutes.
The oven will beep three times when
the PRE- light goes off.
9. When the baking time is completed,
the oven will turn off automatically,
beep four times and “End” will show
in the display.

Ok
vent
To avoid sickness and food waste
when using the MEALTIMER’”
control:
l Do not use foods that will spoil
while waiting for cooking to
start, such as dishes with milk
or eggs, cream soups, and
cooked meats or fish. Any food
that has to wait for cooking to
start should be very cold or
frozen before it is put in the
oven. MOST UNFROZEN FOODS
SHOULD NEVER STAND MORE
THAN TWO HOURS BEFORE
COOKING STARTS.
l Do not use foods containing
baking powder or yeast when
using delay start. They will not
rise properly.
l Do not allow food to remain in
oven for more than two hours
after end of cooking cycle.
Theovenvent
Hot air and moisture escape from the
oven through a vent on the backguard
below the control panel. The vent is
needed for air circulation. Do not
block the vent. Poor baking can
result.
Burn Hazard
When the oven is ON, pans and
pan handles left near the oven
vent can become hot enough to
burn the user and to melt plastics.
Use pot holders to move pans.
Never store plastics, paper or
other items that could melt or
burn near the oven vent, or any
of the surface units.

Using Your Range
Continued
Thestoragedrawer
The storage drawer is for storing pots
and pans. The drawer can be removed
to make it easier to clean under the
range, and to check for installation of
the anti-tip bracket. Use care when
handling the drawer.
Removing the storage drawer:
1. Empty drawer of any pots and pans
before removing drawer. Pull drawer
straight out to the first stop. Lift front
and pull out to the second stop.
2. Lift back slightly and slide drawer all
the way out.
Replacing the storage drawer:
1. Fit ends of drawer slide rails into
the drawer guides on both sides of
openrng.
2. Lrft drawer front and push In until
metal stops on drawer slrde rails
clear white stops on drawer guides.
Lrft drawer front again to clear
second stop and slide drawer closed.
To verify the anti-tip bracket
is engaged:
l Remove the storage drawer.
l Look to see if the anti-tip bracket is
attached to floor with screws,
l Make sure one rear leveling leg is
positioned under the anti-tip bracket.
l See Installation Instructions for
further details.
Optionaldoorpanelpat
If you would like to change the color
of your oven door glass to white or
almond, you can order one of these
kits: White (Kit No. 814069) or Almond
(Kit No. 614070) from your Whirlpool
Dealer. The kits include easy installa-
tion instructions.

CaringForYourRange
Burn and Electrical Shock Hazard
Solid element surface units do
not glow red when hot. Make sure
all controls are OFF and the range
is COOL before cleaning. Failure
to do so can result in burns or
electrical shock.
Controlpanelandknobs
1. Turn control knobs to the OFF
position.
2. Pull control knobs and buttons
straight off.
3. Use warm soapy water or spray
glass cleaner, and a soft cloth, to
wipe the control panel. Rinse and
wipe dry.
4. Wash control knobs and buttons in
warm soapy water. Rinse well and
dry. Do not soak.
5. Replace control knobs and buttons
by pushing them firmly into place.
NOTE: When cleaning, never use steel
wool, abrasives, or commercial oven
cleaners which may damage the finish.
After cleaning, make sure all control
knobs point to the OFF position. Make
sure you have not turned oven ON
when replacing buttons. If oven has
been turned on, push Oven-Off button.

Caring For Your Range
Continued
Solidelementsurfaceunits
1. For best results, wipe off surface
units with a damp soft cloth and
soapy water after each use. Burned-
on food may be removed with a
soapy scouring pad. The red spot in
the center of the surface unit will
gradually wash off. This is normal
and will not affect the operation of
the surface unit.
2. IMPORTANT: After cleaning, apply
a thin coat of salt-free oil to the
COOL surface units, then heat 3-5
minutes. It may stallsmoke slightly
when heated. If surface units have
dark spots caused by grease and
food, the oil treatment will improve
their appearance but not eliminate
the spots.
NOTE: Optional Electrol’ dressing
can be applied to the surface units to
improve their appearance.
3. The stainless steel trim rings will
yellow from the heat of the surface
units and pans. This is normal. The
yellowing can be removed by using
stainless steel cleaner or Cook Top
Polishing Creme on the trim rings.
To obtain order information for
Cook Top Polishing Creme (Part
NO.814009) or ElectroIP dressing
(Part No. 814030), write to:
Whirlpool Corporation
Attention: Customer Service Dept.
1900 Whirlpool Drive
LaPorte, IN 46305
18

1
Hand clean frame I
Hand clean door
around edge
Do not hand
:lean seal
UsingtheSelf-Cleaningcycle
The Self-Cleaning cycle uses very
high heat to burn away SOII.Before
you start, make sure you understand
exactly how to use the Self-Cleaning
cycle safely.
Before you start
1. Clean the areas shown by hand.
They do not get hot enough during
the Self-Cleaning cycle for soil to
burn away. Use hot water and
detergent or a soapy steel wool
pad on.
l The inside of the door. (The center
area of the door does not need to
be hand cleaned.)
l The frame around the oven.
Do not clean, move or bend the
fiberglass seal. Poor cleaning and
poor baking will result.
2. Remove the broiler pan and any
pots and pans you may have stored
in the oven.
NOTE: The broiler pan (without grid)
can be cleaned in the oven only if most
of the soil has been removed by hand-
cleaning or a dishwasher. The chrome
broiler grid will discolor if cleaned in
the Self-Cleaning cycle.
3. Wipe out any loose soil or
grease. Thus will help reduce smoke
during the Self-Cleaning cycle.
4. If you want the oven racks to
remain shiny, remove from the
oven and clean by hand. Other-
wrse. put oven racks on second and
fourth guides (guides are counted
from bottom to top). After racks are
cleaned In the Self-Cleaning cycle,
they become harder to slide. See
page 24
Turn on a vent hood or other krtchen
vent during the Self-Cleaning cycle.
This will help remove heat and odors
that are normal during the cycle.
19

Caring For Your Range
Continued
Personal Injury and
Product Damage Hazard
l Do not touch the oven during
the Self-Cleaning cycle. It could
burn you.
l Do not use commercial oven
cleaners in your oven. Cleaners
may produce hazardous fumes
or damage the porcelain finish.
l Do not force the Lock Lever, you
could bend or break it. The lever
is designed to stay locked until
the oven is cool enough to
safely open. Wait until it moves
freely.
l Do not use foil or other liners in
the oven. During the Self-Clean-
ing cycle foil can burn or melt
and damage the oven surface.
l Do not block the vent during the
Self-Cleaning cycle. Air must
move freely for best cleaning
results.
l Do not leave plastic utensils
near the vent. They may melt.
- Setting the controls
1. Make sure the clock ISset to the right
.A, time of day. (See “Setting the clock”
--- on page 8.)
e 2. Move the Lock Lever all the way to
the right-the Clean posltlon
20