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WHAT ARE MICROWAVES?
SUITABLE OVENWARE
PLASTIC UTENSILS
Heat resistant plastic utensils
which are suitable for use in the
microwave can be used to thaw,
heat and cook food. Follow the
manufacturer's recommendations.
PAPER UTENSILS
Heat-resistant paper made for use in a microwave
oven is also suitable.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
KITCHEN PAPER
can be used to absorb any
moisture which occurs in short
heating methods, e.g. of bread
or products in bread crumbs.
Insert the paper between the
food and the revolving plate. The surface of the
food will stay crispy and dry. Covering greasy
food with kitchen paper will catch splashes.
GLASS AND CERAMIC GLASS
Heat-resistant glass utensils are
ver y suitable. The cooking
process can be observed from all
sides. They must not, however,
contain any metal (e.g. lead
cr ystal), nor have a metallic
overlay (e.g. gold edge, cobalt
blue finish).
CERAMICS
Generally ver y suitable.
Ceramics must be glazed, since with unglazed
ceramics moisture can get into the ceramic.
Moisture causes the material to heat up and may
make it shatter. If you are not certain whether your
utensil is suitable for the microwave, carry out the
utensil suitability test.
PORCELAIN
Very suitable. Ensure that the porcelain does not
have a gold or silver overlay and that it does not
contain any metal.
SUITABLE OVENWARE FOR MICROWAVE COOKING
Like radio and television waves, microwaves are
electromagnetic waves.
Microwaves are produced by a magnetron inside
the microwave oven, and these vibrate the molecules
of water present in the food. The friction this causes
produces heat, which ensures that the food is
defrosted, heated or cooked through.
The secret of the reduced cooking times is the fact
that the microwaves penetrate the food from every
direction. Energy is used to the full. In comparison,
the energy from a conventional hob passes from the
burner through the pan and so to the food. This
method wastes a great deal of energy.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROWAVES
Microwaves penetrate all non-metal objects made of
glass, china, earthenware, plastic, wood or paper.
This is why the microwaves never make these
materials hot. Dishes become hot only because the
food inside them is hot.
The food absorbs the microwaves and is heated.
Microwaves cannot pass through objects made of
metal and so they are deflected. For this reason
metal objects are not normally suitable for
microwave cookery. There are exceptions where you
can actually make use of the fact that the
microwaves cannot pass through metal. If you cover
food with aluminium foil at specific points while it is
defrosting or cooking, you can prevent those parts
from getting too warm, too hot, or overcooked.
Please check out the advice given in the guide.
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