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Microwaving Principles
Microwave energy has been
used in this country to cook and
heat since early experirnents
with RADAR. Microwaves them¬
selves are in fact present in the
atmosphere all the time - both
naturally and from manmade
sources.
Manmade microwaves include
radar, radio and television
waves, telecommunications links
and car phones, If you follow our
basic recommendations and
keep your oven clean, then it will
be completely safe.
Many years ago it was discover¬
ed that one of the effects of
microwaves is to make water
molecules VIBRATE very quickly.
Because all foods contain water
to a greater or lesser extent, they
can quickly be heated by the
friction caused by this vibration.
Water Molecule
Absorption
Vibratiori
Your microwave oven converts
electricity into microwaves in the
magnetron,
Turntable
Waveguide
- Magnetron
S-
Oven Cavity
Microwaves are REFLECTED off
metal, so they bounce off the
walls and the metal door screen,
back onto the food.
They contain no heat themselves
and pass through the cooking
container i.e. are transmitted, to
be ABSORBED by the water
molecules, as well as sugar and
fat particles in the food.
Microwaves can only penetrate
to a depth of 1M-2 inches (4-5
cm) and as heat spreads through
the food by conduction, just as
in a traditional oven, the food
cooks from the outside inwards.
When a microwave oven is
switched off. ttte food will con¬
tinue to cook by this conduction
- NOT BY MICROWAVE
ENERGY. Hence STANDING
TIME is very Important in micro-
waving, particularly for dense
foods i.e meat, cakes and
reheated meals.
The dish used to cook or reheat
the food will get warm during
cooking, as the heat conducts
from the food. Even lr> rnjcro-
waving, oven glos'es are
required!
MICROWAVES CANNOT PASS
THROUGH METAL AND THERE¬
FORE METAL COOKtNG UTEN¬
SILS CAN NEVER BE USED
FOR COOKING ON
MICROWAVE ONLY.
Foods Not Suitable
for Cooking by
Microwave
Yorkshire Puddings. Souffles.
Double Crust Pastry Pies.
Because these foods rely on dry
external heat to cook correctly,
do r>ot attempt to cook by
microwave.
Foods that require deep fat
frying cannot
cooked ^ther,
however shallow fried foods can
be cooked ir' a browning dish,
available from major department
stores. Always follow manufac¬
turers' instructions carefully
when preheating the dish
(remember your oven is
SOOWatts (lEC) on HIGH power).
Boiled Eggs
Do
rK?t
boft
gQos
In
TOUT
eggs boiled in
Cleaning
The interior should be kept clean
at all times. Stubbcnn spots can
be removed with a branded
microwave spray on a soft cloth,
The door surround is a plastic
based substance and is best
kept clean with soapy water. The
door sea! area must be kept
clean at all times to ensure
microwaves are not attracted to
this area and to avoid damage to
the door screen film. The
turntable can be cleaned with
hot soapy water. Wash the roller
ring regularly in soapy water.
12
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