Melissa 653-115 Operating The Microwave Oven, Preparation Of Food, Positioning the microwave

Models: 653-115

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Positioning the microwave

653112_IM 11/10/07 11:03 Side 19

You should check before installation that you have removed all packaging has been removed from the microwave oven both inside and outside.

Positioning the microwave

The microwave oven should be placed on a flat surface, with clearance of at least 7-8 cm from the sides of the microwave (including rear and top) to ensure sufficient ventilation. This microwave oven is not suitable for fitting in, and you must check that the vent holes on top of the cabinet are not covered. If they are covered while the microwave oven is in use, there is a risk of it overheating. The microwave oven cannot then be used until it has cooled down.

Do not place the microwave oven next to hot areas, for example gas rings and electric hotplates.

Connecting the microwave oven

The microwave oven must be connected to a 230-volt AC current, 50 Hz. The guarantee is not valid in the event of connection to the wrong voltage.

Installation of the glass turntable

Before using the microwave ensure that:

the turning ring is fitted to the spindle and that

the glass turntable is fitted to the turning ring.

OPERATING THE MICROWAVE OVEN

1.Place the food in the oven and close the door.

2.Choose the required microwave power using the top knob

(B) on the operating panel.

3.Set the timer (A) on the operating panel to the required cooking time.

The oven starts automatically when you have selected the microwave power and cooking time.

Once the cooking time has passed, the oven stops automatically and a signal rings.

Cooking can be interrupted at any time by opening the oven door. If the oven door is closed again, cooking resumes. When the oven is not in use, the timer should be at 0.

PREPARATION OF FOOD

When preparing food in the microwave oven, the following basic rules apply:

Preparation time

Smaller quantities of food are prepared more rapidly than large quantities. If the amount of food is doubled, the preparation time must be correspondingly increased to almost twice.

Smaller pieces of meat, small fish and chopped vegetables cook more quickly than large pieces. For the same reason, it is recommended, if, for example, you wish to make goulash, stews or similar, that the meat be cut into maximum 2 x 2 cm pieces.

The compactness of the food is also very important for the cooking time. The more compact the food is, the longer it takes to cook it.

Complete steaks require a longer cooking time than stewed dishes.

A steak requires a longer time than a dish with minced meat.

The colder the food, the longer the cooking time needs to be. Food at room temperature will therefore cook faster than food from a fridge or freezer.

When cooking vegetables, the cooking time depends on the freshness of the vegetables. Therefore check the condition of the vegetables, and add or deduct a little time accordingly.

The short cooking time when using a microwave oven means that the food does not overcook.

If required, a little water can be added.

When cooking fish and vegetables, you only need to use the minimum of water.

Microwave power

The choice of power setting depends on the condition of the food to be cooked.

In most cases, the food is cooked on full power.

Full power is used, among other things, for reheating food quickly, boiling water or similar.

Low power is principally used to defrost food and prepare dishes containing cheese, milk and egg. (Whole eggs in their shell cannot be cooked in the microwave oven, as there is a risk of the eggs exploding). In addition, lower power settings are also used for finish off and for retaining the excellent aroma of a dish.

Summary of the five power steps:

HIGH (full power)

100 %

M. HIGH (medium-high power)

77 %

MED (medium power)

55 %

M. LOW (medium-low power)

33 %

LOW (low power)

17 %

General information on cooking

If the whole meal is to be prepared in the microwave oven, it is recommended that you start with the most compact foods, such as potatoes. Once these are ready, cover them while the rest of the food is prepared.

Most food should be covered. A close-fitting cover retains the steam and moisture, which shortens the cooking time in the microwave oven. This is particularly the case when cooking vegetables, fish dishes and casseroles. Covering food also distributes the heat better, thus ensuring rapid and excellent results.

In order to achieve the best possible results, it is important to position the food correctly, as the microwave rays are most powerful in the centre of the oven. If, for example, you are baking potatoes, you should position them along the edge of the glass turntable so that they cook evenly.

In order to cook compact dishes such as meat and poultry evenly, it is important to turn the pieces of meat a few times.

You can bake in the microwave oven, although not with recipes that include yeast.

When preparing food in a "traditional" oven, you normally avoid opening the oven door as much as possible. This is not the case with a microwave oven: no energy or significant heat is lost. In other words, you can open the microwave door and look at the food as often as you want.

Important safety measures when preparing food!

If using the microwave oven to heat baby food or liquids in a feeding bottle, you must always stir the food/liquid and check the temperature thoroughly before serving. This ensures that the heat is evenly distributed and avoids scalding injuries.

The lid and/or teat must not be fitted on a feeding bottle when it is placed in the microwave oven.

If some foods are heated too long, they may char and give off smoke. If this happens, you should leave the door closed and switch off the microwave oven completely.

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Melissa 653-115 manual Operating The Microwave Oven, Preparation Of Food, Positioning the microwave, Preparation time