5
Important Safety Instructions
ABOUT YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN
This Use and Care Manual is valuable: read it carefully and always
save it for reference.
A good microwave cookbook is a valuable asset. Check it for
microwave cooking principles, techniques, hints and recipes.
NEVER use the microwave oven without the turntable and support
nor turn the turntable over so that a large dish could be placed in
the microwave oven. The turntable will turn both clockwise and
counterclockwise. See page 18 for complete instructions.
ALWAYS have food in the microwave oven when it is on to absorb
the microwave energy.
When using the microwave oven at power levels below 100%, you
may hear the magnetron cycling on and off. It is normal for the
exterior of the microwave oven to be warm to the touch when
cooking or reheating.
Condensation is a normal part of microwave cooking. Room
humidity and the moisture in food will influence the amount of
moisture that condenses in the microwave oven. Generally,
covered foods will not cause as much condensation as uncovered
ones. Ventilation openings must not be blocked.
The microwave oven is for food preparation only. It should not be
used to dry clothes or newspapers.
Your microwave oven is rated 1000 watts by using the IEC Test
Procedure. In using recipes or package directions, check food a
minute or two before the minimum time and add time accordingly.
ABOUT MICROWAVE COOKING
• Arrange food carefully. Place thickest areas towards outside of dish.
• Watch cooking time. Cook for the shortest amount of time
indicated and add more as needed. Food severely overcooked
can smoke or ignite.
• Cover foods while cooking. Check recipe or cookbook for
suggestions: paper towels, wax paper, microwave plastic wrap or
a lid. Covers prevent spattering and help foods to cook evenly.
• Shield with small flat pieces of aluminum foil any thin areas of
meat or poultry to prevent overcooking before dense, thick areas
are cooked thoroughly.
• Stir foods from outside to center of dish once or twice during
cooking, if possible.
• Turn foods over once during microwaving to speed cooking of
such foods as chicken and hamburgers. Large items like roasts
must be turned over at least once.
• Rearrange foods such as meatballs halfway through cooking both
from top to bottom and from the center of the dish to the outside.
• Add standing time. Remove food from microwave oven and stir, if
possible. Cover for standing time which allows the food to finish
cooking without overcooking.
• Check for doneness. Look for signs indicating that
cooking temperatures have been reached.
Doneness signs include:
- Food steams throughout, not just at edge.
- Center bottom of dish is very hot to the touch.
- Poultry thigh joints move easily.
- Meat and poultry show no pinkness.
- Fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
ABOUT FOODS
• Do not pop popcorn in your microwave oven unless in a special
microwave popcorn accessory or unless you use popcorn labeled
for use in microwave ovens.
• Some products such as whole eggs and sealed containers—for
example, closed jars—will explode and should not be heated in
this microwave oven. Such use of the microwave oven could
result in injury.
• Do not boil eggs in a microwave oven. Pressure will build up
inside egg yolk and will cause it to burst, possibly resulting in
injury.
• Operating the microwave with no food inside for more than a
minute or two may cause damage to the microwave oven and
could start a fire. It increases the heat around the magnetron and
can shorten the life of the microwave oven.
• Foods with unbroken outer “skin” such as potatoes, hot dogs,
sausages, tomatoes, apples, chicken livers and other giblets, and
egg yolks should be pierced to allow steam to escape during
cooking.
• Avoid heating baby food in glass jars, even with the lid off. Make
sure all infant food is thoroughly cooked. Stir food to distribute
the heat evenly. Be careful to prevent scalding when warming
formula or breast milk. The container may feel cooler than the
milk really is. Always test the milk before feeding the baby.
• Spontaneous boiling—Under certain special circumstances, liquids
may start to boil during or shortly after removal from the microwave
oven. To prevent burns from splashing liquid, we recommend the
following: before removing the container from the microwave oven,
allow the container to stand in the microwave oven for 30 to 40
seconds after the microwave oven has shut off. Do not boil liquids
in narrownecked containers such as soft drink bottles, wine flasks
and especially narrow necked coffee cups. Even if the container is
opened, excessive steam can build up and cause it to burst or
overflow.
• Do not defrost frozen beverages in narrow-necked bottles
(especially carbonated beverages). Even if the container is
opened, pressure can build up. This can cause the container to
burst, possibly resulting in injury.
• Hot foods and steam can cause burns. Be careful when opening
any containers of hot food, including popcorn bags, cooking
pouches and boxes. To prevent possible injury, direct steam
away from hands and face.
• Do not overcook potatoes. They could dehydrate and catch fire,
causing damage to your microwave oven.
• Cook meat and poultry thoroughly—meat to at least an
INTERNAL temperature of 160
°
F and poultry to at least an
INTERNAL temperature of 180
°
F. Cooking to these temperatures
usually protects against foodborne illness.
