GE Monogram ZMC1090 Series Use And Care Manual page 7

MICROWAVING TIPS
• Make sure all cookware used in your microwave
oven is suitable for microwaving. Most glass
casseroles, cooking dishes, measuring cups, custard
cups, pottery or china dinnerware which does not
have metallic trim or glaze with a metallic sheen
can be used. Some cookware is labeled "suitable for
microwaving."
• If you are not
sure if a dish is
microwave-safe,
use this test:
Place in the oven
both the dish you
are testing and a
glass measuring
cup filled with one
cup of water--set the measuring cup either in or
next to the dish. Microwave 1 minute at high. If the
dish heats, it should not be used for microwaving. If
the dish remains cool and only the water in the cup
heats, then the dish is microwave-safe.
• Paper towels, waxed paper and plastic wrap
can be used to cover dishes in order to retain
moisture and prevent spattering. Be sure to vent
plastic wrap so steam can escape.
• Some mierowaved foods require stirring, rotating
or rearranging.
• Steam builds up pressure in foods which are
tightly covered by a skin or membrane. Pierce
potatoes, egg yolks and chicken livers to prevent
bursting.
If you use a meat thermometer while cooking, make
sure it is safe for use in microwave ovens.
VARIABLE POWER LEVELS (1-10)
How to Change Power Level
1. Press MICRO COOK or TIME DEFROST.
2. Select cooking or defrosting time.
3. Press POWER LEVEL. 1 2 3 4 s
4. Select desired power 6 7 8 s __
level 1-10.
5. Press START.
Variable power levels add flexibility to your microwave
cooking. The power levels on your microwave oven
can be compared to the surface units on a range. High
(Power Level 10) or full power is the fastest way to
cook and gives you 100% power. Each power level
gives you microwave energy a certain percent of the
time. Power Level 7 is microwave energy 70% of the
time. Power Level 3 is energy 30% of the time.
A high setting (10) will cook faster but may need
additional attention such as frequent stirring, rotating
or turning over. Most of your cooking will be done
on High (Power Level 10). A lower setting will cook
more evenly and with less attention given to stirring
or rotating the food. Some foods may have better
flavor, texture or appearance if one of the lower
settings is used. You may wish to use a lower power
level when cooking foods that have a tendency to
boil over, such as scalloped potatoes.
Rest periods (when the microwave energy cycles off)
give time for the food to "equalize" or transfer heat
to the inside of the food. An example of this is shown
with Power Level 3--the defrost cycle. If microwave
energy did not cycle off, the outside of the food would
cook before the inside was defrosted.
Here are some examples of uses for various power
levels:
POWER LEVEL BEST USES
High 10 Fish, bacon, vegetables,
boiling liquids.
Med-High 7 Gentle cooking of meat and
poultry; baking casseroles
and reheating.
Medium 5 Slow cooking and tenderizing
such as stews and less tender
cuts of meat.
Low 3 Defrosting without cooking;
simmering; delicate sauces.
Warm 1 Keeping food warm without
overcooking; softening butter.
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