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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 if
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.
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 metal, microwave energy cannot pass through foil, but provided that you keep the foil
away from the side of the microwave it will not cause sparks and there will not be any damage to your
microwave.
Using 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 foil over the area you want to shield, taking care that the foil will not touch the sides of the
microwave when the turntable rotates. Only use one piece of foil at a time so that you do not get sparks
between the separate pieces.
Follow these guidelines when using foil in your microwave:
• Remove foil lids from containers before using in the microwave. Some lids are made of card with a 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.
• 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 foil containers.
• Do not completely cover food with foil. The microwave energy cannot pass through the 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 foil in the microwave at the same time.
• Never use equipment made of metal, except aluminium foil in your microwave oven.
• The microwave energy can not pass through the metal so it bounces off and sparks against the
inside of the oven.
• 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.
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