6
Getting to Know Your
Microwave Oven
This section discusses the concepts behind microwave cooking. It also shows you the basics you need to
know to operate your microwave oven. Please read this information before you use your oven.
How your kenmore microwave hood combination works
Radio interference
Using your microwave oven may cause
interference to your radio, TV, or similar
equipment. When there is interference, you can
reduce it or remove it by:
• Cleaning
the door and sealing surfaces of the
oven.
• Adjusting
the receiving antenna of the radio or
television.
• Moving
the receiver away from the microwave
oven.
• Plugging
the microwave oven into a different
outlet so that the microwave oven and receiver
are on different branch circuits.
Microwave energy is not hot. It causes food to
make its own heat, and it’s this heat that cooks the
food.
Microwaves are like TV waves, radio waves, or
light waves. You cannot see them, but you can
see what they do.
A magnetron
in the microwave oven produces
microwaves. The microwaves move into the
oven where they contact food as it turns on the
turntable.
The glass turntable
of your microwave oven lets
microwaves pass through. Then they bounce off a
metal floor, back through the glass turntable, and
are absorbed by the food.
Microwaves
pass through most glass, paper, and
plastics without heating them so food absorbs the
energy. Microwaves bounce off metal containers
so food does not absorb the energy.
For the best cooking results
• Always cook food
for the shortest cooking time
recommended. Check to see how the food is
cooking.
• Stir, turn over, or rearrange
the food being
cooked about halfway through the cooking time
for all recipes. This will help make sure the food
is evenly cooked.
• If you do not have a cover for a dish,
use wax
paper, or microwave-approved paper towels or
plastic wrap. Remember to turn back a corner of
the plastic wrap to vent steam during cooking.
Magnetron
Metal floor
Glass tray
Oven cavity
Testing your microwave oven
To test the oven put about 1 cup of cold water
in a glass container in the oven. Close the door.
Make sure it latches. Cook at 100% power for 1
minute. When the time is up, the water should be
heated.
