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 MICROWAVE OVEN WORKS
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.
Magnetron
\
/
Metal floor
Oven cavity
Glassturntable
,, Always cook food for the shortest cooking time
recommended.
Check to see how the food is
cooking. If needed, touch ADD ONE MINUTE while
the oven is operating or after the cooking cycle is
over (see the "Using ADD ONE MINUTE" section).
,, To help make sure the food is evenly cooked,
stir, turn over, or rearrange
the food about
halfway through the cooking time.
• 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 ¼ to _ in. (6.35 to 12.7 mm) to vent
steam during heating or cooking.
RADIO INTERFERENCE
• 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
Using your microwave oven may cause interfer-
ence 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.
different branch circuits.
TESTING YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN
To test the oven, put 1 cup (250 mL) of cold water
2 minutes. When the time is up, the water should be
in a glass container in the oven. Close the door.
heated.
Make sure it latches. Cook at 100% power for
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