Magic Chef HMM1611B User Manual - Page 11

MICROWAVE OVEN USE A magnetron in the microwave oven produces micro waves which reflect off the metal floor, walls and ceiling and pass through the turntable and appropriate cookware to the food. Microwaves are attracted to and absorbed by fat, sugar and water molecules in the food, causing them to move, producing friction and heat which cooks the food. 1. To avoid damage to the microwave oven, do not lean on or allow children to swing on the microwave oven door. 2. To avoid damage to the microwave oven, do not operate when it is empty. Cooking Guidelines Covering Covering food helps retain moisture, shorten cook time and reduce spattering. Use the lid supplied with cookware. If a lid is not available, wax paper, paper towels or plastic wrap approved for microwave ovens may be used. Plastic wrap should be turned back at one corner to provide an opening to vent steam.Condensation on the door and cavity surfaces is normal during heavy cooking. Stirring and Turning 3. Baby bottles and baby food jars should not be heated in microwave oven. 4. Clothes, flowers, fruit, herbs, wood, gourds, paper, Stirring and turning redistribute heat evenly to avoid over cooking the outer edges of food. Stir from outside to center. If possible, turn food over from bottom to top. including brown paper bags and newspaper,should not be dried in microwave oven. 5. Paraffin wax will not melt in the microwave oven because it does not absorb microwaves. 6. Use oven mitts or pot holders when removing con tainers from microwave oven. Arranging If heating irregularly shaped or different sized foods, arrange the thinner parts and smaller sized items toward the center.If cooking several items of the same size and shape, place them in a ring pattern, leaving the center of the ring empty. 7. Do not overcook potatoes. At the end of the reco mmended cook time, potatoes should be slightly firm. Let potatoes stand for 5 minutes. They will finish cooking while standing. 8. Do not cook or reheat whole eggs inside the shell. Steam buildup in whole eggs may cause them to burst, requiring significant cleanup of microwave oven cavity. Cover poached eggs and allow a standing time. Piercing Before heating, use a fork or small knife to pierce or prick foods that have a skin or membrane, such as potatoes, egg yolks,chicken livers, hot dogs, and sausage. Prick in several places to allow steam to vent. Shielding Use small, flat pieces of aluminum foil to shield the thin pieces of irregularly shaped foods, bones and foods such Food Characteristics as chicken wings, leg tips and fish tail. See "Aluminum Foil and Metal" first. When microwave cooking, the amount, size and shape, starting temperature, composition and density of the food affect cooking results. Standing Time Food will continue to cook by the natural conduction of heat even after the microwave cooking cycle ends. The length of standing time depends on the volume and density of the food. Amount of Food The more food heated at once, the longer the cook time needed. Check for doneness and add small increments of time if necessary. Size and Shape Cookware and Dinnerware Cookware and dinnerware must fit on the turntable. Always use oven mitts or pot holders when handling Smaller pieces of food will cook more quickly than larger pieces, and uniformly shaped foods cook more evenly than irregularly shaped food. because any dish may become hot from heat transf erred from the food. Do not use cookware and dinnerware with gold or silver trim. Use the following chart as a guide, then test before using. Starting Temperature Room temperature foods will heat faster than refrigerated MATERIAL RECOMMENDATIONS foods, and refrigerated foods will heat faster than frozen foods. Composition and Density Foods high in fat and sugar will reach a higher temper ature, and will heat faster than other foods. Heavy, dense foods, such as meat and potatoes, require a Aluminum Foil, See "Aluminum Foil and Metal" section. Metal Browning Dish Bottom must be at least 3/16" (5 mm) above the turntable. Follow manufacturer's recommendations. longer cook time than the same size of a light, porous food, such as cake. Ceramic Glass, Acceptable for use . Glass EN-9