Whirlpool MH1160XSQ Use and Care Guide - Page 8

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 Stirring and turning redistribute heat evenly to avoid overcooking the outer edges of food. Stir from outside to center. If possible, turn food over from bottom to top. 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. 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 as chicken wings, leg tips and fish tail. See "Aluminum Foil and Metal" first. 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. Cookware and Dinnerware Cookware and dinnerware must fit on the turntable. Always use oven mitts or pot holders when handling because any dish may become hot from heat transferred 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. MATERIAL RECOMMENDATIONS Aluminum Foil, Metal See "Aluminum Foil and Metal" section. Browning Dish Bottom must be at least 3/16" (5 mm) above the turntable. Follow manufacturer's recommendations. Ceramic Glass, Glass Acceptable for use. China, Earthenware Follow manufacturer's recommendations. Melamine Follow manufacturer's recommendations. Paper: Towels, Dinnerware, Napkins Use nonrecycled and those approved by the manufacturer for microwave oven use. Plastic: Wraps, Bags, Covers, Dinnerware, Containers Use those approved by the manufacturer for microwave oven use. 8 MATERIAL Pottery and Clay Silicone Bakeware Straw, Wicker, Wooden Containers Styrofoam®† Wax Paper RECOMMENDATIONS Follow manufacturer's recommendations. Follow manufacturer's recommendations. Do not use in microwave oven. Do not use in microwave oven. Acceptable for use. To Test Cookware or Dinnerware for Microwave Use: 1. Place cookware or dinnerware in microwave oven with 1 cup (250 mL) of water beside it. 2. Cook at 100% cooking power for 1 minute. Do not use cookware or dinnerware if it becomes hot and the water stays cool. Aluminum Foil and Metal Always use oven mitts or pot holders when removing dishes from the microwave oven. Aluminum foil and some metal can be used in the microwave oven. If not used properly, arcing (a blue flash of light) can occur and cause damage to the microwave oven. OK for Use Racks and bakeware supplied with the microwave oven (on some models), aluminum foil for shielding, and approved meat thermometers may be used with the following guidelines: ■ Do not allow aluminum foil or metal to touch the inside cavity walls, ceiling or floor. ■ Always use the turntable. ■ Do not allow contact with another metal object during microwave cooking. Do Not Use Metal cookware and bakeware, gold, silver, pewter, nonapproved meat thermometers, skewers, twist ties, foil liners such as sandwich wrappers, staples and objects with gold or silver trim or a metallic glaze should not be used in the microwave oven. Microwave Cooking Power Many recipes for microwave cooking specify which cooking power to use by percent or name. For example, 70%=Medium-High. Use the following chart as a general guide for the suggested cooking power of specific foods. PERCENT/NAME USE 100%, High (default setting) Quick heating convenience foods and foods with high water content, such as soups, beverages and most vegetables. 90% Cooking small, tender pieces of meat, ground meat, poultry pieces and fish fillets. Heating cream soups. †®STYROFOAM is a Registered Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company.