The microwave oven


SOME SUGGESTIONS

To avoid wasting electricity
- try to avoid opening the oven door when evaluating the stage of cooking of a dish. The internal light is enough to see this. This will guarantee perfect cooking as well as a power saving.
- the energy required to cook a dish varies between ovens as well as by the model of oven used and the technology involved in relation to the air distribution system: for this reason it is impossible to estimate the respective power consumption.
- when choosing an oven it is important to evaluate the maximum energy absorbed by the oven in order to avoid installing an appliance that uses more power than what is available.
- whilst operating the oven, it is suggested to avoid using an iron, washing machine, dishwasher or hair dryer as these appliances absorb a great deal of power.

MAINTENANCE

Upon first start-up, the oven may let-off an unpleasant odour due to the heating of the adhesive of the internal walls.
This is perfectly normal. When in operation, the glass window of the oven, as well as all other parts near it, will become hot. It is thus suggested to keep children away from the oven if it is not fitted with an appropriate protection device. In order to avoid overheating of the enamel, the internal walls of the oven must be kept free from any sheets of oven paper or aluminium foil.
Clean the oven externally using water and a neutral detergent, rinse and dry the surface using a soft cloth. Never use steel-wool, abrasive products or pointy items to remove the dirt. It is, therefore, recommended to clean the oven after every use in order to avoid the food from sticking to the walls of the oven. It is possible to avoid having to clean the oven simply by fitting self-cleaning panels into the oven. To clean the enamelled shelves and the stainless steel grills, use warm water and a liquid detergent.
The oven light bulb can be replaced by another high temperature resisting light bulb by simply unscrewing the capping that covers it.
Any unpleasant odours that generate within the oven can be eliminated by allowing water and half a lemon to evaporate inside the oven. In order to maintain the oven as air tight as possible, remember to always remove the larger crusts from the gasket of the oven. The appliance must be disconnected from the power outlet prior to any maintenance intervention.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

- To cook pop corn without having to add any fats, simply place the corn in a heat resistant glass cooking pan with a lid and cook at maximum power for 5 minutes. Stir the corn from time to time.
- To obtain more juice from citrus fruit (oranges and lemons), place them in the microwave oven at maximum power for 30 seconds prior to squeezing them.
- To obtain a higher level of rise form bread dough, place the dough in a large pyrex bowl, cover it with paper and place it into the microwave oven at low power for about 20 minutes.
- To remove the skin form almonds, simply place them in a cup of hot water and then place the cup in the microwave oven for a minute. Drain the almonds and peel them by hand.
- To soften butter and to make it more workable, it will be sufficient to place it into the microwave oven at the highest temperature for 15 seconds.
- To peel whole tomatoes, place them in water in a bowl and then in the microwave oven at highest temperature for about one minute.
Once the skin begins to break, place them in cold water and remove the skin.

CORRECT MATERIALS FOR MICROWAVE OVENS

- Heat resisting glass cooking pans and cooking porcelain. The same as those used in traditional ovens but without the decorum and metallic gasket.
- Terracotta pots. The same as those used for cooking tops and normal ovens.
- Rigid plastic containers appropriate for microwave ovens.
- Plastic sheets and bags that are appropriate for microwave ovens. These items are ideal for meats and chicken and are usually disposable.
- Sheets of paper. The oven type are to be resistant and should only be used to heat food or for brief cooking times. These sheets of paper are also ideal to cover any dish that may squirt whilst in the oven.
- Cardboard boxes lined with oven paper are ideal for cooking cakes and tarts.

INCORRECT MATERIALS FOR MICROWAVE OVENS

- Metallic containers of any kind are not recommended as they do not allow the waves to pass through it. Always pay attention for any metallic inserts or gasket that may be located on the heat resisting glass cooking pans or bowls.
- Crystal or fine porcelain containers. This type of cookware may crack during cooking.
- Plates with gold or silver gasket. These types of cooking pans are strictly not recommended due to the presence of the metallic parts.
- Plastic containers. In the case where the dish is particularly fatty or rich in sugar.
- Polystyrene and cling-wrap. This type of pans deform quite easily and may damage the food.

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