Practical HintsFollow These Safety Precautions When Cooking in Your Oven

Before Operation

IMPORTANT

Proper cooking depends upon the power, the time setting and quantity of food. If you use a smaller portion than recommended but cook at the time for the recommended portion, fire could result.

1)HOME CANNING / DRYING FOODS / SMALL QUANTITIES OF FOODS

DO NOT use your oven for home canning. Your oven cannot maintain the food at the proper canning temperature. The food may be contaminated and then spoil.

DO NOT use the microwave oven to sterilize objects (baby bottles, etc.). It is difficult to keep the oven at the high temperature needed for sterilization.

DO NOT dry meats, herbs, fruits or vegetables in your oven. Small quantities of food or foods with low moisture content can dry out, scorch or catch on fire if overheated.

2)POPCORN

Popcorn must be popped in a microwave oven corn popper. Microwave popcorn which pops in its own package is also available. Follow popcorn manufacturers’ directions and use a brand suitable for the cooking power of your microwave oven.

CAUTION:

When using pre-packaged microwave popcorn, you can follow recommended package instructions or use the Popcorn Button (refer to page 18). Otherwise, the popcorn may not pop adequately or may ignite and cause a fire. Never leave oven unattended when popping popcorn. Allow the popcorn bag to cool before opening, always open the bag away from your face and body to prevent steam burns.

3)DEEP FAT FRYING

DO NOT deep fat fry in your oven. Cooking oils may burst into flames and may cause damage to the oven and perhaps result in burns. Microwave utensils may not withstand the temperature of the hot oil, and can shatter or melt.

4)FOODS WITH NONPOROUS SKINS

DO NOT COOK/REHEAT WHOLE EGGS, WITH OR WITHOUT THE SHELL. Steam buildup in whole eggs may cause them to explode, and possibly damage the oven or cause injury. Reheating SLICED hard-boiled eggs and cooking SCRAMBLED eggs are safe.

Potatoes, apples, whole squash, chicken wing and sausages are examples of foods with non- porous skins. These types of foods must be pierced before microwave cooking to prevent them from exploding.

CAUTION:

Cooking dry or old potatoes can cause fire.

5)CERAMIC TRAY / COOKING UTENSILS / FOIL

Cooking containers get hot during cooking. Use potholders when removing containers and Ceramic Tray from the oven or when removing lids or plastic wrap covers from cooking containers, to avoid burns.

Ceramic Tray will get hot during cooking. It should be allowed to cool before handling or before placing paper products, such as paper plates, napkins or microwave popcorn bags, in the oven for microwave cooking.

During cooking, heat is transferred from the hot food to the cooking container and from the container to Ceramic Tray. Ceramic Tray can be very hot after removing cooking containers from oven.

When using foil, skewers, warming rack or utensils made of metal in the oven, allow at least 1-inch (2.5 cm) of space between metal material and interior oven walls. If arcing occurs (sparking) remove metal material (skewers etc.) and/or transfer to a non-metallic container.

Dishes with metallic trim should not be used during Microwave or Combination cooking, arcing may occur.

6)PAPER TOWELS / CLOTHS

DO NOT use paper towels or cloths which contain a synthetic fiber woven into them. The synthetic fiber may cause the towel to ignite. Use paper toweling under supervision.

DO NOT use paper bags or recycled paper products in the microwave oven.

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