Frigidaire PLEB30M9EC Use and Care Guide - Page 7

Microwave Oven Important Information Radio or TV Interference standing time, you can program a "0" power stage of cooking Should there be any interference caused by the microwave oven to your radio or TV, check that the microwave oven is on a different electrical circuit, relocate the radio or TV as far away from the microwave oven as feasible or check position and signal of receiving antenna. cycle. See Multiple Stage Cooking. • Check for doneness. Look for signs indicating that cooking temperatures have been reached. Doneness signs include: - Food steams throughout, not just at edge. - Center bottom of dish is very hot to the touch. ABOUT YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN - Poultry thigh joints move easily. This Use and Care Manual is valuable: read it carefully and - Meat and poultry show no pinkness. always save it for reference. - Fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. A good 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 microwave oven at power levels below 100%, you may hear the magnetron cycling on and off. It is normal for the exterior of the microwave 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 microwave oven. Generally, covered foods will not cause as much condensation as uncovered ones. Ventilation openings must not be blocked. The microwave oven is for food preparation only. It should not be used to dry clothes or newspapers. All microwave ovens are rated by using the IEC Test Procedure at 1200 watts. In using recipes or package directions, check food a minute or two before the minimum time setting elapses and add time accordingly. ABOUT FOODS • Do not pop popcorn in your microwave oven unless in a special microwave popcorn accessory or unless you use popcorn labeled for use in microwave ovens. • Some products such as whole eggs and sealed containers- for example, closed jars-will explode and should not be heated in this microwave oven. Such use of the microwave oven could result in injury. • Do not boil eggs in a microwave oven. Pressure will build up inside egg yolk and will cause it to burst, possibly resulting in injury. • Operating the microwave with no food inside for more than a minute or two may cause damage to the microwave oven and could start a fire. It increases the heat around the magnetron and can shorten the life of the microwave oven. • Foods with unbroken outer "skin" such as potatoes, hot dogs, sausages, tomatoes, apples, chicken livers and other giblets, and egg yolks should be pierced to allow steam to escape during cooking. • Avoid heating baby food in glass jars, even with the lid off. Make sure all infant food is thoroughly cooked. Stir food to distribute the heat evenly. Be careful to prevent scalding when warming formula or breast milk. The container may feel cooler than the ABOUT MICROWAVE COOKING milk really is. Always test the milk before feeding the baby. • Arrange food carefully. Place thickest areas towards outside of dish. • Spontaneous boiling-Under certain special circumstances, • Watch cooking time. Cook for the shortest amount of time liquids may start to boil during or shortly after removal from the indicated and add more as needed. Food severely overcooked microwave oven. To prevent burns from splashing liquid, we can smoke or ignite. recommend the following: before removing the container from • Cover foods while cooking. Check recipe or cookbook for the microwave oven, allow the container to stand in the suggestions: paper towels, wax paper, microwave plastic wrap microwave oven for 30 to 40 seconds after the microwave oven or a lid. Covers prevent spattering and help foods to cook has shut off. Do not boil liquids in narrownecked containers evenly. such as soft drink bottles, wine flasks and especially narrow • Shield with small flat pieces of aluminum foil any thin areas of necked coffee cups. Even if the container is opened, excessive meat or poultry to prevent overcooking before dense, thick steam can build up and cause it to burst or overflow. areas are cooked thoroughly. • Do not defrost frozen beverages in narrow-necked bottles • Stir foods from outside to center of dish once or twice during (especially carbonated beverages). Even if the container is cooking, if possible. opened, pressure can build up. This can cause the container • Turn foods over once during microwaving to speed cooking of to burst, possibly resulting in injury. such foods as chicken and hamburgers. Large items like • Hot foods and steam can cause burns. Be careful when roasts must be turned over at least once. opening any containers of hot food, including popcorn bags, • Rearrange foods such as meatballs halfway through cooking cooking pouches and boxes. To prevent possible injury, direct both from top to bottom and from the center of the dish to the steam away from hands and face. outside. • Do not overcook potatoes. They could dehydrate and catch • Use standing time. Always allow food to stand in or out of the fire, causing damage to your microwave oven. oven after cooking power stops. Standing time after defrosting • Cook meat and poultry thoroughly-meat to at least an or cooking allows the temperature to evenly spread throughout INTERNAL temperature of 160½F and poultry to at least an the food, improving the cooking results. For inside oven INTERNAL temperature of 170½F. Cooking to these 7 temperatures usually protects against foodborne illness.