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