Advice on the use of Cookware

Metal

Do not use metal dishes, tinned food, food wrapped in tin foil and cutlery inside the microwave oven. The metal reflects the microwaves and food is not heated.

The food should be removed from its tin foil containers and placed in dishes adequate for use in the microwave oven. As microwaves don't penetrate tin foil, the food heats only on the surface. By using appropriate dishes, the heat is evenly distributed throughout the food.

EXCEPTIONS:

To cook or defrost pieces of meat of irregular sizes, you may cover the thinner parts with tin foil, which should be kept at least 2 cm away from the oven walls, otherwise these may cause an electric arc.

Metal spits may be used as long as they are smaller than the pieces of meat.

Glass

All heat proof glass containers may be used.

Crystal contains a percentage of lead, which may cause it to crack if used in the microwave oven. The same may happen to glass dishes with jagged edges.

Porcelain

Porcelain dishes may be used but they should not have hollow handles. Humidity may be formed inside the hollow handles, which will causes an increase in pressure that may cause them to break.

Glazed Ceramic Dishes

This type of dish may heat considerably.

Painted glazed ceramic dishes may be used if the painting is done under the glaze.

Many glazes and colours contain metallic substances. If this is the case they should not be used in the microwave as they may be damaged.

Recipients with silver and gold glazes may go dark.

Plastic

Plastic dishes should be heat resistant (at least 180° C) or they may be deformed when used in the microwave. Melamine dishes are not suitable for use in the microwave as they heat up too much.

To cook or heat food in plastic bags, they should be perforated to allow vapour to escape thus preventing the bag from bursting.