Panasonic NN-G335WF Introduction, Cookware and Utensil Guide, Reflection, Transmission, Grilling

￿Introduction￿ ￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿￿

Cooking with Microwave Energy

Microwaves are a form of high frequency electromagnetic waves (approx 12cm wavelength) similar to those used by a radio. Electricity is converted into microwave energy by the magnetron tube. The microwaves travel from the magnetron tube to the oven cavity where they are reflected, transmitted or absorbed.

English Cookbook

Reflection

Microwaves are reflected by metal just as a ball is bounced off a wall. A combination of stationary (interior walls) and rotating metal (turntable or stirrer fan) helps assure that the microwaves are well distributed within the oven cavity to produce even cooking.

Transmission

Microwaves pass through some materials such as paper, glass and plastic much like sunlight shining through a window. Because these substances do not absorb or reflect the microwave energy, they are ideal materials for microwave oven cooking containers.

Absorption

Microwaves are absorbed by food. They penetrate to a depth of about 2 to 4cm. Microwave energy excites the molecules in the food (especially water, fat and sugar molecules), and causes them to vibrate very quickly. The vibration causes friction and heat is produced. In large foods, the heat which is produced by friction is conducted to the center to finish cooking.

Combination

Combination cooking is ideal for roasting meats and poultry. Combination cooking automatically alternates between convection and microwave heating. The advantage to combination cooking is that it gives the browning of convection and often shortens the convectional cooking time.

Grilling

Grilling is done at high temperatures with the food close to the heat. This gives meat a rich brown appearance. Only use high-quality, well-marbled meats for grilling since the high temperatures can dry out the less choice meats.

Cookware and Utensil Guide

	Microwave Oven		Combination	Grill
Aluminuim Foil	For Shielding		For Shielding	Yes
Glass Tray	No		No	Yes
Browning Dish	Yes		No	No
Browning Paper Bags	No		No	No
Dinnerware: Oven/Microwave Safe	Yes		Yes	No
Non Oven/Microwave Safe	No		No	No
Disposable Polyeser	Yes	*	check manufacturers'	No
Paperboard Dishes			recommendation, must
			withstand heat
Glassware: Oven Glassware & Ceramic	Yes		Yes	Yes for short
				term top browning
Non-heat Resistant	No		No	No
Metal Cookware	No		No	Yes
Metal Twist-ties	No		No	No
Oven Cooking Bag	Yes		Yes	No
Oven Rack	No		No	Yes
Paper Towels and Napkins	Yes	*	No	No
Plastic Dishes: Microwave Safe	Yes	*	check manufacturers'	No
Non-microwave Safe	No		recommendation, must	No
			withstand heat
Plastic Wrap	Yes	*	No	No
Straw, Wicker, Wood	Yes	*	No	No
Thermometers: Microwave Safe	Yes		No	No
Conventional	No		No	Yes
Wax Paper	Yes		No	No

*Caution

•Plastics: Plastic dishes, cups and some freezer containers should be used with care in a microwave oven.

Choose plastic containers carefully, as some plastic containers may become soft, melt and scorch.

•Paper Products and Freezer Wrap: Waxed paper, paper plates, cups and napkins should not be used for heating or cooking food by Combination and Grill. Freezer wrap should not be used as it is not heat resistant and bake paper may be safely used for short periods of time for covering or lining.

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