General Instructions
6.COOKING TIMES given in the cookbook section are APPROXIMATE. Factors that may affect cooking time are preferred degree of cooking, moisture content, starting temperature, altitude, volume, size, shape of food and utensils used.. As you become familiar with the oven, you will be able to adjust for these factors..
7.It is better to UNDERCOOK RATHER THAN OVERCOOK foods. If food is undercooked, it can always be returned to the oven for further cooking.. If food is overcooked, nothing can be done.. Always start with minimum cooking times recommended..
8.Extreme care should be taken when cooking popcorn.. Cook for minimum time as recommended by manufacturer.. Use the directions suitable for the wattage of your oven.. NEVER leave oven unattended when popping popcorn..
9.Take care when heating food in foil trays.. Trays should be no deeper than 2 cm and should not touch the sides of the oven walls.. If you are unsure of the heating time, do not leave the oven unattended..
Before Operation
Microwaves and How They Work
Microwaves are a form of high frequency radio waves similar to those used by a radio, including AM, FM and CB..
Electricity is converted into microwave energy by the magnetron tube (which is the heart of the microwave oven)..
From the magnetron tube, microwave energy is transmitted to the oven cavity.. The microwaves are converted to heat in the food.. The microwaves enter from the outside of the food and travel through the food.. Continued cooking to the centre occurs by conduction..
Although pacemakers used to be affected by microwaves (as well as by other radio waves), they are now shielded and are not bothered by these interferences.. This allows people with pacemakers to sit calmly by their radio or television and cook with microwave ovens..
When the microwaves come in contact with a substance, any one or a combination of three things may occur.. They can be:
1..REFLECTED
2..TRANSMITTED
3..ABSORBED
Reflection
Metal substances REFLECT microwave energy because there is no absorption and there is no heating.. This is why the oven interior is either stainless steel or
Transmission
Such substances as paper, glass and plastic TRANSMIT microwave energy and do not become hot except from food.. Because these substances do not reflect or absorb microwave energy, they are ideal materials for microwave cooking containers..
Absorption
Food contains moisture and will ABSORB microwave energy, which causes the moisture molecules within the food to vibrate at an incredible rate (2,450,000,000 times per second).. Friction, created by vibration, produces heat energy which is conducted throughout the food..
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