I hate electric ranges

About a year ago, my sister and her boyfriend (now husband) moved into a home with an electric range in their kitchen. So, last night (New Years Eve), I was up until around 1:30am making food for my dad's birthday party, which my sister and I made at her house tonight.

I cook with gas appliances; always have. So, the meatballs turned out great. I tried a few for breakfast. Delicious! This afternoon, I loaded the pot of meatballs into my car along with numerous other food items and drove to Jan and Rob's house. I got there right on time.

I proceeded to put the pot of meatballs on my sister's range to warm them up. I cranked up her electric range to about 75% of maximum. A few minutes later, meatballs are bubbling away, so I turned off the heat. I realized I was late picking up a friend from a nearby train station, so I asked my sister to check on the meatballs, then I drove over to pick up my friend. I also did the same thing with the pot of homemade mac & cheese I made this morning.

My sister calls me on my cell phone just as I arrived at the train station. Jan told me the meatballs are incinerated! I asked Jan to taste one. She does. Disgusting. While I was looking for my friend at the train station, Jan and Rob tried to wash off the meatballs, thinking it was the sauce that was burnt. No go. Fortunately, the train station is adjacent to a nice supermarket. My friend Jen and I went into the supermarket and I picked up three of those roasted chickens, and a roll of paper towels (that my sister requested).

I got back to Jan and Rob's a few minutes later and Jan showed me that I must have not turned off the burner, as I thought I had. It was still on, but not on the high setting. I had no idea because the red color of the burner element went off, so I thought it was reasonably cool. If it was gas, I could have easily seen that the burner was not off. Fortunately, I did not make that mistake with the pot of mac & cheese, so it came out fine and it was a big hit at the party.

My sister consoled me and she said it took her a while to get used to her electric range. Rob, the philosophy teacher (literally), also tried to console me, by explaining that the outcome was the same either way, in that we all got to enjoy some great food and nice company and we all had a nice time. But I would have much preferred not to have to spend an extra $20 on dinner (which my sister thanked me for), and I would have preferred those meatballs go into the guests' tummies rather than a garbage disposal. I will deal with the burnt pot tomorrow!

Did I mention, I hate electric ranges? Whomever thought up the idea of an electric range out to be dissolutioned and forced to eat my burned meatballs!