Dacor DCM24 Use & Care Manuals - Page 6

Information You Need To Know About Your Microwave Oven About Microwave Cooking This use and care manual is valuable: read it carefully and always save it for reference. The Dacor Convection Microwave Cookbook is a valuable asset. Check it for microwave cooking principles, techniques, hints and recipes. NEVER use the microwave oven without the turntable and support nor turn the turntable over so that a large dish could be placed in the microwave oven. The turntable will turn both clockwise and counterclockwise. ALWAYS have food in the microwave oven when it is on to absorb the microwave energy. When using the oven at power levels below 100%, you may hear the magnetron cycling on and off. It is normal for the exterior of the oven to be warm to the touch when cooking or reheating. Condensation is a normal part of microwave cooking. Room humidity and the moisture in food will influence the amount of moisture that condenses in the oven. Generally, covered foods will not cause as much condensation as uncovered ones. Vents on the oven back must not be blocked. After using convection, automatic mix or broil, you will hear the sound of the cooling fan. The fan may continue to operate as long as 5 minutes, depending on the oven temperature. Be aware that, unlike microwave-only ovens, convection microwave ovens have a tendency to become hot during convection, automatic mix and broil cooking. The oven is for food preparation only. It should not be used to dry clothes or newspapers. Your microwave output is rated 900 watts using the IEC Test Procedure. In using recipes or package directions, check food at the minimum time and add time accordingly. • Arrange food carefully. Place thickest areas towards outside of dish. • Watch the cooking time. Cook for the shortest amount of time indicated and add more as needed. Food severely overcooked can smoke or ignite. • Cover foods while cooking. Check a recipe or cookbook for suggestions like: paper towels, wax paper, microwave plastic wrap or a lid. Covers prevent spattering and help foods to cook evenly. • Shield with small flat pieces of aluminum foil any thin areas of meat or poultry to prevent overcooking before dense, thick areas are cooked thoroughly. • Stir foods from outside to center of dish once or twice during cooking, if possible. • Turn foods over once during microwaving to speed cooking of such foods as chicken and hamburgers. Large items like roasts must be turned over at least once. • Rearrange foods such as meatballs, halfway through cooking both from top to bottom and from right to left. • Add standing time. Remove food from microwave oven and stir, if possible. Cover during standing time, allowing the food to finish cooking without overcooking. • Check for doneness. Look for signs indicating that cooking temperatures have been reached. Signs of doneness include: - Food steams throughout, not just at edge. - Poultry thigh joints move easily. - Meat and poultry show no pinkness. - Fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. E4