Testing your microwave oven

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN

To test the oven put about 1 cup (250 ml) of cold water in a glass container in the oven. Close the door. Make sure it latches. Cook at 100% power for 2 minutes. When the time is up, the water should be heated.

Testing your dinnerware or cookware

Test dinnerware or cookware before using.

To test a dish for safe use, put it into the oven with a cup of water beside it. Cook at 100% cook power for one minute. If the dish gets hot and water stays cool, do not use it. Some dishes (melamine, some ceramic dinnerware, etc.) absorb microwave energy, becoming too hot to handle and slowing cooking times. Cooking in metal containers not designed for microwave use could damage the oven, as could containers with hidden metal (twist-ties, foil lining, staples, metallic glaze or trim).

Operating safety precautions

•Never lean on the door or allow a child to swing on it when the door is open. Injury could result.

•Use hot pads. Microwave energy does not heat containers, but heat from the food can make the container hot.

•Do not use newspaper or other printed paper in the oven. Fire could result.

•Do not dry flowers, fruit, herbs, wood, paper, gourds, or clothes in the oven. Fire could result.

•Do not start a microwave oven when it is empty. Product life may be shortened. If you practice programming the oven, put a container of water in the oven. It is normal for the oven door to look wavy after the oven has been running for a while.

•Do not try to melt paraffin wax in the oven. Paraffin wax will not melt in a microwave oven because it allows microwaves to pass through it.

•Do not operate the microwave oven unless the glass turntable is securely in place and can rotate freely. The turntable can rotate in either direction. Make sure the turntable is correct-side up in the oven. Handle your turntable with care when removing it from the oven to avoid possibly breaking it. If your turntable cracks or breaks, contact your dealer for a replacement.

•When you use a browning dish, the browning dish bottom must be at least 3⁄16 inch (5mm) above the turntable. Follow the directions supplied with the browning dish.

•Never cook or reheat a whole egg inside the shell. Steam buildup in whole eggs may cause them to burst and burn you, and possibly damage the oven. Slice hard-boile eggs before heating. In rare cases, poached eggs have been known to explode. Cover poached eggs and allow a standing time of one minute before cutting into them.

•For best results, stir any liquid several times before heating or reheating. Liquids heated in certain containers (especially containers shaped like cylinders) may become overheated. The liquid may splash out with a loud noise during or after heating or when adding ingredients (coffee granules tea bags, etc.). This can harm the oven and possibly injure someone.

•Microwaves may not reach the center of a roast. The heat spreads to the center from the outer, cooked areas just as in regular oven cooking. This is one of the reasons for letting some foods (for example, roasts or baked potatoes) stand for a while after cooking, or for stirring some foods during the cooking time.

•Do not deep fry in the oven. Microwavable cookware is not suitable and it is difficult to maintain appropriate deep frying temperatures.

•Do not overcook potatoes. Fire could result. At the end of the recommended cooking time, potatoes should be slightly firm because they will continue cooking during standing time. After microwaving, wrap potatoes in foil and set aside for 5 minutes. They will finish cooking while standing.