Affinity withstands heat better than ordinary surface materials. However, all solid surface products will expand and contract with changes in temperature. Excess heat may result in scorching, cracking, or seam separation. We offer the following suggestions to avoid heat related issues:
Hot Pots
Never place them directly on your countertop. Use a solid trivet with rubber feet.
Portable Appliances
Please use them with caution. This includes electric frying pans, deep fat fryers, portable woks, crock pots and the like. Such appliances should only be used on solid trivets with rubber feet. Items such as toasters and coffee pots generally do not generate enough heat to cause problems, but caution should be exercised. While portable appliances on rubber feet may seem harmless, such appliances can radiate an enormous amount of heat down onto the surface of the countertop. Place such items on a solid trivet with rubber feet.
Cook Tops and Ranges
Heat damage next to cook tops and ranges is possible, most often seen as cracks in corners or near the largest burners. Vent hoods or downdraft fans should be used while cooking as the constant air flow will help moderate hot spots. Oversized pots that cantilever past the edge of the range or cook top can also radiate excessive heat down into the countertop and should be avoided whenever possible.
Pots should not be allowed in close proximity to a back splash and high output burners should be used sparingly. Once a pan has reached the proper cooking temperature the heat setting should be reduced to prevent overheating.