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Checking your cooking utensils
Most heat-resistant, non-metallic cooking utensils are safe to use in your microwave. If you are not sure you
can use a utensil in your microwave, follow this simple test:
1. Put the utensil into the microwave next to a cup of water – use a cup that you know is microwave safe.
Close the door.
2. Turn the microwave on for 30 seconds only.
3. After 30 seconds, carefully check to see if the water has warmed up. If the water has not warmed up
but the utensil has, the utensil is not microwave safe and should not be used in the microwave.
4. Do not use your hands to touch the utensil as it may already be hot.
•
Never use equipment made of metal, except aluminium foil in your microwave.
•
The microwave energy can not pass through the metal so it bounces off and sparks against the
inside of the microwave.
•
Stop the microwave straight away if any equipment does cause sparks.
•
Remember that some crockery has a metal trim around the edge. Even this trim can cause
sparks.
•
Never use scratched, cracked or damaged glass in a microwave. Damaged glass can explode.
Using Aluminium Foil in Your Microwave
It is safe to use aluminium foil in your microwave as long as you follow these safety guidelines.
As with all metals, microwave energy cannot pass through aluminium foil, but provided you keep the
aluminium foil away from the side of the microwave it will not cause sparks and there will not be any
damage to your microwave.
Using aluminium foil is a good way of shielding parts of food that you do not want to cook as quickly as
others – perhaps where the food is narrower and would otherwise overcook.
Place the aluminium foil over the area you want to shield, taking care that the aluminium foil will not touch
the sides of the microwave when the turntable plate rotates. Only use one piece of aluminium foil at a time
so that you do not get sparks between the separate pieces.
Follow these guidelines when using aluminium foil in your microwave:
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Remove aluminium foil lids from containers before using in the microwave. Some lids are made of card
with a aluminium foil covering – these should be removed too. Use a microwave safe transparent lid if
possible.
•
Stir food during cooking if the container has a lid or film cover.
•
Always use the glass turntable plate.
•
Use shallow containers with a large surface area. Do not use containers that are more than 1.25in
(3.5cm) deep.
•
Use gloves when handling hot aluminium foil containers.
•
Do not completely cover food with aluminium foil. The microwave energy cannot pass through the
aluminium foil so the food will not cook.
•
Do not let aluminium foil touch the inside of the microwave.
•
Do not use more than one piece of aluminium foil in the microwave at the same time.
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