Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Warm Springs, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 1978)
PAGE 10 DECEMBER 15, 1978 Choosing and Using Microwave ovens have been around for nearly 30 years. The forerunners of today’s ovens were cumbersome, cost nearly $1,500, required extra wiring, and were unpopular due to consum er m isunderstandings about them. Competition among manufacturers has resulted in lower costs, improvements, and m ore educational m aterials available on the ovens. The decision of whether to purchase one should be made with an understanding of your cooking needs. Knowledge of features and how you use the oven will help you make wise decisions about a microwave before you buy and after. EXTENSION HOME ECONOMICS How does a microwave oven work? Microwaves are invisible energy waves about 5” long with the thickness of a pencil. They are similar to radio waves but vibrate much faster. In a micro- wave cooking appliance, electri city is converted into electro magnetic energy through a mag netron tube. The microwaves pass from the tube into the oven cavity. As microwaves are absorbed, they cause water and fat molecules to move. Friction that results creates heat within the food. The process is similar to rubbing your palms together and creat ing heat. Heat generated from the friction of the moisture molecules is conducted through the food and cooks the food. Microwaves are distributed in the oven cavity by either a stirring blade or a revolving turntable. Are microwave ovens safe to use? TV/ Microwave ovens are among the most scrutinized products on the m arket today, and the con sumer can be assured that only safe and reliable pieces of equip ment are available. Before a microwave oven is sold, it is tested by the FCC to insure against emission of radio fre quency that could interfere with other types of communications. In addition, federal regula tions require that all microwave ovens have two independent interlocks. This is to insure a backup system, providing safe operation should one interlock fail. They are to shut off the flow of microwaves before the oven door is opened. Remember the following safety factors while operating a microwave oven: * Keep oven clean around the door to insure a good seal. ★ Operate the oven according to manufacturer’s instructions - each oven is different! ♦ Don’t try to operate the oven if door-closing mechanism does not work. ★ Microwaves cannot escape from an oven while it is in operation. (The microwaves can be compared to a light bulb - when the light switch is turned off, there is no light from the bulb. When the cooking cycle is ended, no m icrow aves are present.) ★ If you fear oven breakage, there is a device that you can use to check the door seal. The door should be checked every few years or if the oven is dropped or damaged in any way. ★ Allow 1 inch of space bet ween wall and vent in the oven. If the oven is not vented right it can overheat and shut off autmoati- cally and it will stay off until the oven cools down again. ★ Do not use harsh cleansers or any oven surfaces, instead use a mild detergent and water. To clean stubborn surfaces, wet a dish cloth, place it in the oven, close the door, and turn the oven on full power. Steam will make the spot loose, so that it can be wiped away easity. ★ Foods cooked in a micro- wave oven are safe to eat because microwaves are not ionizing (not radioactive) and do not become radioactive. Other microfacts to remember ★ Metal will shorten the life of the magnetron tube that pro duces the microwaves. ★ Glass, ceramic, dishwasher, safe woods and plastics, some plastic bags and wraps, and paper can be used as cooking utensils in a microwave oven. ★ Dollar savings on energy with a microwave oven depend on the foods and amounts cooked in the oven. Some foods cook more quickly and efficiently than others. Generally the cost of operation of a microwave oven is the same or a little less than a conventional oven. Time savings is substantial. ★ Portable microwave ovens operate on a 120-volt household circuit and should have a separ ate 20 amp. grounded circuit for the best efficiency. ★ Prices^ of microwave ovens vary according to v o ltsse, appearance, and features. Pick up consumer checklist in Extension.pffiqe. a Microwave Oven Cooking with a microwave oven A microwave oven is not intended to be a replacement for a regular kitchen range. Though called “an oven” , it is not just an oven since it can also be used to heat foods that are usually prepared on top of a range. It is an appliance used for convenient and fast cooking of foods even from the frozen state. Speed of cooking is the major difference in microwave cooking and is also its main advantage over other cooking methods. Many foods cook 2-4 times faster than with regular cooking meth ods. A few foods take as long or longer to cook in a microwave. In microwave cooking, the oven remains cool during the cooking operation and cooking utensils generally stay cool be cause the microwaves pass through the utensils. The heat felt on a baking utensil comes from the heat transferred from the food. Because of this, the foods can usually be served right in the same dish and clean-up is easy because foods won’t bum on. ★ Hard boiled or fried eggs, giblets, and other foods with membrane coverings may burst. Puncture first and you won’t have this problem. ★ More than one food can be cooked at a time, but you will have to watch that foods don’t overcook because different foods cook at different rates. Also, the length of time it takes to cook one food will increase. ★ Browning will not occur unless foods are cooked 10 minutes or more and have some fat content. A browning dish might be used to achieve brown ness. The dish is heated 3-5 minutes and foods are seared by the hot dish to achieve brown ness. Points to ponder when shopping for a microwave ★ Shop with a reputable deal er. Inquire and look at warranty. (Range from two to ten years, but very different things are covered within the warranty). ★ Type of oven: Free standing - combination microwave and conventional oven. Portable - browning element and microwave or microwave only. ★ Wattage - for home use they Factors that will affect cook range from 400 watts to 700 ing time are: watts. The higher the wattage the more efficient the oven will ★ Volume - the more items or be. the larger the quantity of food, Chicken cooking times at the longer the defrosting; heat different wattages: ing or cooking time. ★ Food temperature - the 400 W. - 12 minutes per pound colder the t item the longer it 600 W. - 9 minutes per pound takes to heat through. 800 W. - 6 minutes per pound ★ Moisture content and how compact the food - the lower ★ Amperage needed - appli moisture and less compact foods ances of more than 15 amps will heat more quickly because should have their own individual the microwaves are able to circuit. Make sure your home penetrate the food at a faster has adequate wiring for the oven rate. you choose. ★ The shape of the food - most ★ Voltage needed • most do thin, flat foods cook faster than mestic ovens operate at 110V. thick, chucky foods Make sure your home has ade ★ F at and sugar content - quate wiring for the oven you items high in either sugar or fpt choose. will heat more quickly. ★ Interior finish of oven - ★ High altitude - in altitudes acrylic or stainless steel. Exter above 2,500 feet, microwave ior finish of oven - vinyl, wood cooking times need to be extend grain vinyl, metal painted, dark ed. or light colored. Other microwave cooking ★ Oven light - a separate factors to remember: switch (manual control) or part ★ Foods will continue cooking of the oven operation or both. Is after the oven has been turned the food easy to observe during off because the molecules in the cooking? food take a few seconds to quit ★ Oven size - usable oven moving. While the molecules are dimension (interior). Exterior still moving heat is produced. width, height and depth for ★ Salt will burn in a micro- location placement. Check for wave oven if on top of the food. vent location (front, back* side or top) on microwave, (always allow 2 inches clearance for venting). ★ Method of stopping and starting oven - compare ease in operating. ★ Time dials - should be m ark ed in seconds as well as minutes for the first two or three minutes. Can they be easily read? ★ End of cooking signal - is there one? Is it a buzzer or bell? Can it be heard easily? ★ Is there an automatic defrost cycle? ★ Kind of tray in bottom of oven - built-in or removable? Straight edge or slight lip? Kind of material? Can it be used for a cooking utensil? ★ Protection over metal grid on door. Inside or outside? Inside protection m ak es cleaning easier. ★ Side opening (hinges or left) or pull down door? Location in kitchen might determine your selection. ★ Cooking accessories - inclu ded with appliance or is there an extra charge? ★ Cook book - does it include home maintenance? Does it in clude the kinds of foods you cook? Print easy to read? ★ Type of additonal browner available? Is it built-in to operate as part of the oven? Is a browning skillet available? Note: The microwave oven will not broil or sear foods and the accessory browners available help to sear or broil foods. ★ Price - what you choose is based on all of the above items. After shopping, compare the features you desire and the prices. Then buy accordingly. Take the microwave oven con sumer checklist shopping with yoq antj compare, features, price, etc? before yoabUjK
