GE JE1840 User Manual

GE Appliances

Microwave Oven

GE Answer Center®800.626.2000

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.

WARNING!

For your safety, the information in this manual must be
followed to minimize the risk of fire or explosion, electric
shock, or to prevent property damage, personal injury, or
loss of life.

PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE MICROWAVE ENERGY

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

2

Do Not Attempt

■

this oven with the door open
since open-door operation
can result in harmful
exposure to microwave
energy. It is important not
to defeat or tamper with the
safety interlocks.

Do Not Place

■

between the oven front face
and the door or allow soil
or cleaner residue to
accumulate on sealing
surfaces.

to operate

any object

Do Not Operate

■

is damaged. It is particularly
important that the oven
door close properly and that
there is no damage to the:

door (bent),

hinges and latches
(broken or loosened),

door seals and sealing
surfaces.

■

The Oven Should Not

adjusted or repaired by
anyone except properly
qualified service personnel.

the oven if it

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

This microwave oven is not approved or tested for
marine use.

■ Read and follow the specific

precautions in the

to Avoid Possible Exposure to
Excessive Microwave Energy

section above.

■ This appliance must be

grounded. Connect only
to a properly grounded
outlet. See the

Instructions

Precautions

Grounding

section on page 8.

■ Install or locate this

appliance only in accordance
with the provided Installation
Instructions.

■ Be certain to place the front

surface of the door three
inches or more back from
the countertop edge to avoid
accidental tipping of the
appliance in normal usage.

be

Use this appliance only for its intended purpose as
described in this Owner’s Manual.

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

■ Do not mount this appliance

over a sink.

■ Do not mount the microwave

oven over or near any portion
of a heating or cooking
appliance.

■ Do not store anything directly

on top of the microwave oven
surface when the microwave
oven is in operation.

■ Do not operate this appliance

if it has a damaged power
cord or plug, if it is not
working properly, or if it has
been damaged or dropped.

■ Do not cover or block any

openings on the appliance.

■ Use this appliance only for its

intended use as described in
this manual. Do not use
corrosive chemicals or vapors
in this appliance. This
microwave oven is specifically
designed to heat, dry or cook
food, and is not intended for
laboratory or industrial use.

■ Do not store this appliance

outdoors. Do not use this
product near water—for
example, in a wet
basement, near a swimming
pool or near a sink.

■ Keep power cord away from

heated surfaces.

■ Do not immerse power cord

or plug in water.

■ Do not let power cord hang

over edge of table or counter.

■ To reduce the risk of fire in

the oven cavity:

— Do not overcook food.

Carefully attend appliance
if paper, plastic or other
combustible materials are
placed inside the oven while
cooking.

— Remove wire twist-ties and

metal handles from paper
or plastic containers before
placing them in the oven.

— Do not use the oven for

storage purposes. Do not
leave paper products,
cooking utensils or food in
the oven when not in use.

— If materials inside the oven

should ignite, keep the oven
door closed, turn the oven off
and disconnect the power
cord, or shut off power at the
fuse or circuit breaker panel.
If the door is opened, the fire
may spread.

■ See door surface cleaning

instructions in the

Care and

cleaning of the microwave

section of this manual.

oven

■ This appliance should be

serviced only by qualified
service personnel. Contact
nearest authorized service
facility for examination,
repair or adjustment.

■ As with any appliance, close

supervision is necessary
when used by children.

3

Arcing is the microwave term
for sparks in the oven. Arcing
is caused by:

■ Metal, such as twist-ties,

poultry pins, or gold-rimmed
dishes, in the microwave.

■ Metal or foil touching the

side of the oven.

■ Foil not molded to food

(upturned edges act like
antennas).

FOODS

■ Do not pop popcorn in your

microwave oven unless in a
special microwave popcorn
accessory or unless you use
popcorn labeled for use in
microwave ovens.

■ Some products such as

whole eggs and sealed
containers—for example,
closed jars—will explode and
should not be heated in this
microwave oven. Such use of
the microwave oven could
result in injury.

■ Do not boil eggs in a

microwave oven. Pressure will
build up inside egg yolk and
will cause it to burst, possibly
resulting in injury.

■ Recycled paper towels

containing small metal pieces
being used in the microwave.

■ Operating the microwave

with no food inside for more
than a minute or two may
cause damage to the oven
and could start a fire. It
increases the heat around the
magnetron and can shorten
the life of the oven.

■ Foods with unbroken outer

“skin” such as potatoes, hot
dogs, sausages, tomatoes,
apples, chicken livers and
other giblets, and egg yolks
should be pierced to allow
steam to escape during
cooking.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

■

SUPERHEATED WATER

Microwaved water and other
liquids do not always bubble
when they reach the boiling
point. They can actually get
superheated and not bubble
at all.

Superheated liquid will bubble
up out of the cup when it is
moved or when something like
a spoon or tea bag is put into it.

To prevent this from happening
and causing injury, do not heat
any liquid for more than 2
minutes per cup. After heating,
let the cup stand in the
microwave for 30 seconds
before moving it or putting
anything into it.

■ Avoid heating baby food in

glass jars, even with the lid
off. Make sure all infant food
is thoroughly cooked. Stir
food to distribute the heat
evenly. Be careful to prevent
scalding when warming
formula. The container may
feel cooler than the formula
really is. Always test the
formula before feeding
the baby.

■ Don’t defrost frozen

beverages in narrow-necked
bottles (especially
carbonated beverages). Even
if the container is opened,
pressure can build up. This
can cause the container to
burst, possibly resulting in
injury.

■ Spontaneous boiling—Under

certain special circumstances,
liquids may start to boil
during or shortly after
removal from the microwave
oven. To prevent burns from
splashing liquid, we
recommend the following:
before removing the
container from the oven,
allow the container to stand
in the oven for 30 to 40
seconds after the oven has
shut off. Do not boil liquids
in narrow-necked containers
such as soft drink bottles,
wine flasks and especially
narrow-necked coffee cups.
Even if the container is
opened, excessive steam can
build up and cause it to burst
or overflow.

■ Hot foods and steam can

cause burns. Be careful when
opening any containers of
hot food, including popcorn
bags, cooking pouches and
boxes. To prevent possible
injury, direct steam away
from hands and face.

■ Do not overcook potatoes.

They could dehydrate and
catch fire, causing damage
to your oven.

■ Cook meat and poultry

thoroughly—meat to at
least an INTERNAL
temperature of 160°F.
and poultry to at least an
INTERNAL temperature
of 180°F. Cooking to these
temperatures usually protects
against foodborne illness.

5

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.

WARNING!

MICROWAVE-SAFE COOKWARE

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 1 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.

■ If you use a meat

thermometer while cooking,
make sure it is safe for use
in microwave ovens.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

■ Do not use recycled paper

products. Recycled paper
towels, napkins and waxed
paper can contain metal
flecks which may cause arcing
or ignite. Paper products
containing nylon or nylon
filaments should be avoided,
as they may also ignite.

■ Some styrofoam trays (like

those that meat is packaged
on) have a thin strip of metal
embedded in the bottom.
When microwaved, the metal
can burn the floor of the
oven or ignite a paper towel.

■ Do not use the microwave to

dry newspapers.

■ Not all plastic wrap is suitable

for use in microwave ovens.
Check the package for
proper use.

■ 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.

■ Cookware may become hot

because of heat transferred
from the heated food. Pot
holders may be needed to
handle the cookware.

6

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

■ “Boilable” cooking pouches

and tightly closed plastic bags
should be slit, pierced or
vented as directed by
package. If they are not,
plastic could burst during or
immediately after cooking,
possibly resulting in injury.
Also, plastic storage
containers should be at least
partially uncovered because
they form a tight seal. When
cooking with containers
tightly covered with plastic
wrap, remove covering
carefully and direct steam
away from hands and face.

■ Use foil only as directed in

this guide. TV dinners may
be microwaved in foil trays

less than 3/4″high; remove

the top foil cover and return
the tray to the box. When
using foil in the microwave
oven, keep the foil at least
1 inch away from the sides
of the oven.

■ Plastic cookware—Plastic

cookware designed for
microwave cooking is very
useful, but should be used
carefully. Even microwave­safe plastic may not be as
tolerant of overcooking
conditions as are glass or
ceramic materials and may
soften or char if subjected
to short periods of
overcooking. In longer
exposures to overcooking,
the food and cookware
could ignite.

Follow these guidelines:

Use microwave-safe
plastics only and use
them in strict compliance
with the cookware
manufacturer’s
recommendations.

Do not microwave empty
containers.

Do not permit children
to use plastic cookware
without complete
supervision.

7

GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS

This appliance must be grounded. In the event of an electrical short
circuit, grounding reduces the risk of electric shock by providing an
escape wire for the electric current.

This appliance is equipped with a power cord having a grounding
wire with a grounding plug. The plug must be plugged into an
outlet that is properly installed and grounded.

Consult a qualified electrician or service technician if the
grounding instructions are not completely understood, or if
doubt exists as to whether the appliance is properly grounded.

If the outlet is a standard 2-prong wall outlet, it is your personal
responsibility and obligation to have it replaced with a properly
grounded 3-prong wall outlet.

Do not under any circumstances cut or remove the third (ground)
prong from the power cord.

We do not recommend using an extension cord with this appliance.
If the power cord is too short, have a qualified electrician or service
technician install an outlet near the appliance. (See

EXTENSION CORDS

For best operation, plug this appliance into its own electrical outlet
to prevent flickering of lights, blowing of fuse or tripping of circuit
breaker.

section.)

WARNING—

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

ADAPTER PLUGS

Usage situations where appliance’s power cord will be disconnected
infrequently.

Because of potential safety
hazards under certain conditions,

we strongly recommend against the
use of an adapter plug.

However, if
you still elect to use an adapter,
where local codes permit, a

TEMPORARY CONNECTION

may be
made to a properly grounded two­prong wall receptacle by the use of a
UL listed adapter which is available
at most local hardware stores.

The larger slot in the adapter must be aligned with the larger slot in
the wall receptacle to provide proper polarity in the connection of
the power cord.

CAUTION: Attaching the adapter ground terminal to the wall receptacle
cover screw does not ground the appliance unless the cover screw is
metal, and not insulated, and the wall receptacle is grounded through
the house wiring.

You should have the circuit checked by a qualified electrician to
make sure the receptacle is properly grounded.

When disconnecting the power cord from the adapter, always hold
the adapter with one hand. If this is not done, the adapter ground
terminal is very likely to break with repeated use. Should this
happen,

DO NOT USE

the appliance until a proper ground has again

been established.

Usage situations where appliance’s power cord will be disconnected
frequently.

Do not use an adapter plug

in these situations because frequent
disconnection of the power cord places undue strain on the adapter
and leads to eventual failure of the adapter ground terminal. You
should have the two-prong wall receptacle replaced with a three­prong (grounding) receptacle by a qualified electrician before
using the appliance.

(Adapter plugs not
permitted in Canada)

Align large
prongs/slots

TEMPORARY
METHOD

Ensure proper ground
and firm connection
before use.

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

9

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.

WARNING!

EXTENSION CORDS

A short power supply cord is provided to reduce the risks resulting
from becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord.

Extension cords may be used if you are careful in using them.

If an extension cord is used—

The marked electrical rating of the extension cord should be
at least as great as the electrical rating of the appliance;

The extension cord must be a grounding-type 3-wire cord and
it must be plugged into a 3-slot outlet;

The extension cord should be arranged so that it will not
drape over the counter top or tabletop where it can be pulled
on by children or tripped over unintentionally.

If you use an extension cord, the interior light may flicker and the
blower sound may vary when the microwave oven is on. Cooking
times may be longer, too.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

10

Read and follow this Safety
Information carefully.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

11

Congratulations!
You Are Now Part of the GE Family.

Welcome to the GE family. We’re proud of our quality products and we are committed
to providing dependable service. You’ll see it in this easy-to-use Owner’s Manual and
you’ll hear it in the friendly voices of our customer service department.

Best of all, you’ll experience these values each time you use your microwave oven.
That’s important, because your new microwave oven will be part of your family for
many years. And we hope you will be part of ours for a long time to come.

We thank you for buying GE. We appreciate your purchase, and hope you will
continue to rely on us whenever you need quality appliances for your home.

Important!

Fill out and return the Consumer Product Registration Card
that is packed with this product.

Write the Model & Serial Numbers Here.

#

12

#

You can find them on a label inside the oven.

Staple sales slip or cancelled check here.

Proof of the original purchase date is needed to obtain service
under the warranty.

GE & You,
A Service Partnership.

Ask any GE appliance owner and they will
tell you we stand behind our products with
unmatched quality service. However, did
you know that most questions result from
simple problems that you can easily fix
yourself in just a few minutes? This
Owner’s Manual can tell you how.

Read this Manual

Inside you will find many helpful
hints on how to use and maintain
your microwave oven properly.
Just a little preventive care on your
part can save you a great deal of
time and money over the life of
your microwave oven.

Safety Information

Precautions to Avoid
Possible Exposure to
Excessive Microwave Energy

. . . .2

Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . .2, 3

Arcing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4, 5

Microwave-Safe Cookware . . .6, 7

Grounding Instructions . . . . . . . . .8

Adapter Plugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Extension Cords . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Operating Instructions

Features of Your
Microwave Oven

. . . . . . . . . .14, 15

Changing Power Level . . . . . . . .16

Time Features . . . . . . . . . . . .17–22

Convenience Features . . . . .23–26

Other Features . . . . . . . . . . .27–29

Microwave Terms . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . .31, 32

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

Review the Section on
Troubleshooting Tips

You’ll find many answers to
common problems here. If
you review our chart of
Troubleshooting Tips first,
you may not need to call for
service at all.

If You Need Service

If you do need service, you can
relax knowing help is only a
phone call away. A list of toll-free
customer service numbers is
included in the back section.
Or you can always call the
GE Answer Center

800.626.2000, 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.

® at

Troubleshooting Tips

Before You

Call For Service . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Things That Are Normal With

Your Microwave Oven . . . . . . . .34

Customer Service

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Service Telephone

Numbers . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover

13

About the features of your microwave oven.

Throughout this manual, features and appearance may vary from
your model.

1100 Watts

Features of the Oven

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

14

Door Latches.

Window with Metal Shield.

viewed while keeping microwaves confined in the oven.

Convenience Guide.

Touch Control Panel and Display.

Door Latch Release.

Removable Turntable.

in place when using the oven. The turntable may be
removed for cleaning.

NOTE: Rating plate, oven vent(s) and oven light are located on the inside
walls of the microwave oven.

Screen allows cooking to be

Press latch release to open door.

Turntable and support

must

be

You can microwave by time or with the convenience features.

Cooking Controls

Check the Convenience Guide before you begin.

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

Time Features

Press Enter

TIME COOK Amount of cooking time

Press once or twice

TIME DEFROST Amount of defrosting time
Press twice

POWER LEVEL Power level 1–10

ADD 30 SEC Starts immediately!

EXPRESS COOK Starts immediately!

Convenience Features

Press Enter Option

POPCORN Starts immediately! more/less time

Press once, twice
or three times

BEVERAGE

Press once, twice
or three times

REHEAT Food type 1–6 1–3 servings
AUTO DEFROST Food weight
SNACKS Snack type 1–6 number/weight
COOK

Starts immediately! 4 oz., 8 oz.

or 12 oz.

Food type 1–9 + weight

15

About changing the power level.

The power level may be entered or changed
immediately after entering the feature time for

COOK, TIME DEFROST

may also be changed during time countdown.

Press

TIME COOK

Enter cooking or defrosting time.

Press

POWER LEVEL.

Select desired power level 1–10.

Press

START.

Variable power levels add flexibility to microwave
cooking. The power levels on the microwave oven can
be compared to the surface units on a range. Each
power level gives you microwave energy a certain
percent of the time.
70% of the time.
time. Most cooking will be done on
which gives you 100% power.
faster but food may need more frequent stirring,
rotating or turning over. A lower setting will cook more
evenly and need less stirring or rotating of the food.
Some foods may have better flavor, texture or
appearance if one of the lower settings is used. 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

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

16

power level 3

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:

High 10:

Med-High 7:

casseroles and reheating.

Medium 5:

less tender cuts of meat.

Low 2 or 3:

Warm 1:

—the defrost cycle. If microwave energy did

Fish, bacon, vegetables, boiling liquids.

Gentle cooking of meat and poultry; baking

Slow cooking and tenderizing for stews and

Defrosting; simmering; delicate sauces.

Keeping food warm; softening butter.

or

EXPRESS COOK.

or select

Power level 7

Power level 3

The power level

Time Defrost.

is microwave energy

is energy 30% of the

High (power level 10)

Power level 10

will cook

TIME

About the time features.

Time Cook

Time Cook I

Allows you to microwave for any time up to 99 minutes
and 99 seconds.

Power level 10 (High)

change it for more flexibility.

Press

TIME COOK.

Enter cooking time.

Change power level if you don’t want full
power. (Press
power level 1–10.)

Press

START.

You may open the door during
the food. Close the door and press
cooking.

Time Cook II

Lets you change power levels automatically during
cooking. Here’s how to do it:

Press

TIME COOK.

Enter the first cook time.

Change the power level if you don’t want full
power. (Press
power level 1–10.)

is automatically set, but you may

POWER LEVEL.

POWER LEVEL.

Select a desired

Time Cook

Select a desired

START

to check

to resume

Press

TIME COOK

Enter the second cook time.

Change the power level if you don’t want full
power. (Press
power level 1–10.)

Press

START.

At the end of

Time Cook I, Time Cook II

again.

POWER LEVEL.

Select a desired

counts down.

About the time features.

Cooking Guide for Time Cook

NOTE: Use power level High (10) unless otherwise noted.

Vegetable Amount Time Comments

Asparagus

(fresh spears)

(frozen spears)

Beans

(fresh green)

(frozen green)

(frozen lima)

Beets

(fresh, whole)

Broccoli

(fresh cut)

(fresh spears)

(

frozen,

chopped)
(frozen spears)

Cabbage

(fresh)

(wedges)

Carrots

(fresh, sliced)

(frozen)

Cauliflower

(flowerets)

(fresh, whole)

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

(frozen)

1 lb. 5 to 8 min., In 11⁄2-qt. oblong glass baking

10-oz. package 4 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole.

1 lb. cut in half 10 to 15 min. In 11⁄2-qt. casserole, place

10-oz. package 4 to 8 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

10-oz. package 4 to 8 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

1 bunch 16 to 22 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place

1 bunch 5 to 9 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place

1

⁄4to 11⁄2lbs.) 1/2 cup water.

(1
1 bunch 7 to 11 min. In 2-qt. oblong glass baking dish,

1

⁄4to 11⁄2lbs.) place 1/4 cup water.

(1
10-oz. package 4 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole.

10-oz. package 4 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

1 medium head 6 to 10 min. In 11⁄2- or 2-qt. casserole, place
(about 2 lbs.) 1/4 cup water.

1 lb. 4 to 8 min. In 11⁄2-qt. casserole, place

10-oz. package 3 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

1 medium head 7 to 11 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place

1 medium head 7 to 15 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place

10-oz. package 3 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

Med-High (7) dish, place 1/4 cup water.

5 to 9 min. In 2- or 3-qt. casserole, place

1/2 cup water.

2 tablespoons water.

1/4 cup water.

1/2 cup water.

3 tablespoons water.

1/4 cup water.

1/4 cup water.

2 tablespoons water.

1/2 cup water.

1/2 cup water.

2 tablespoons water.

18

Vegetable Amount Time Comments

Corn

(frozen kernel)

Corn on the cob

(fresh)

(frozen)

Mixed
vegetables

(frozen)

Peas

(fresh, shelled)

(frozen)

Potatoes

(fresh, cubed,
white)

(fresh, whole,
sweet or white)

Spinach

(fresh)

(frozen, chopped

and leaf)

Squash

(fresh, summer

and yellow)
(winter, acorn,

or butternut)

10-oz. package 2 to 6 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

1 to 5 ears 11/4to 4 min. In 2-qt. glass baking dish, place

1 ear 3 to 6 min. Place in 2-qt. oblong glass

2 to 6 ears 2 to 3 min.

10-oz. package 2 to 6 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

2 lbs. unshelled 7 to 10 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

10-oz. package 2 to 6 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

4 potatoes 9 to 12 min. Peel and cut into 1-inch cubes.
(6 to 8 oz. each) Place in 2-qt. casserole with 1/2

1 (6 to 8 oz.) 2 to 4 min. Pierce with cooking fork. Place

10 to 16 oz. 3 to 6 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place washed

10-oz. package 3 to 6 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place

1 lb. sliced 3 to 5 min. In 11⁄2-qt. casserole, place 1/4

1 or 2 squash 5 to 9 min. Cut in half and remove fibrous
(about 1 lb. each)

per ear corn. If corn is in husk, use no

per ear plastic wrap. Rearrange after

2 tablespoons water.

water; if corn has been husked,
add 1/4 cup water. Rearrange
after half of time.

baking dish. Cover with vented

half of time.

3 tablespoons water.

1/4 cup water.

2 tablespoons water.

cup water. Stir after half of time.

in center of the oven. Let stand
5 minutes.

spinach.

3 tablespoons water.

cup water.

membranes. In 2-qt. oblong
glass baking dish, place squash
cut-side-down. Turn cut-side-up
after 4 minutes.

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

19

About the time features.

Time Defrost

Allows you to defrost for a selected length of time. See

Defrosting Guide

the

Press

Enter defrosting time.

Press

Power level is automatically set at 3, but can be changed.
You can defrost small items quickly by raising the power
level after entering the time.
defrosting time in about half;
total time to approximately 1/3. However, food will
need more frequent attention than usual.

A dull thumping noise may be heard during defrosting.
This is normal when oven is not operating at

Defrosting Tips

■ Foods frozen in paper or plastic can be defrosted in

the package. Closed packages should be slit, pierced
or vented AFTER food has partially defrosted. Plastic
storage containers should be partially uncovered.

■ Family-size, prepackaged frozen dinners can be

defrosted and microwaved. If the food is in a foil
container, transfer it to a microwave-safe dish.

Foods that spoil easily should not be allowed to sit out

■

for more than one hour after defrosting. Room
temperature promotes the growth of harmful bacteria.

■ For more even defrosting of larger foods, such as

roasts, use
completely defrosted before cooking.

■ When defrosted, food should be cool but softened in

all areas. If still slightly icy, return to the microwave
very briefly, or let it stand a few minutes.

for suggested times.

TIME DEFROST

START.

Auto Defrost.

twice.

Power level 7

power level 10

Be sure large meats are

cuts the total

cuts the

High

power.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

20

Defrosting Guide

Food Time Comments

Breads, Cakes

Bread, buns or rolls (1 piece)
Sweet rolls (approx. 12 oz.)

Fish and Seafood

Fillets, frozen (1 lb.)
Shellfish, small pieces

Fruit

Plastic pouch—1 or 2

(10-oz. package)

Meat

Bacon (1 lb.)

Franks (1 lb.)

Ground meat (1 lb.)
Roast: beef, lamb, veal, pork

Steaks, chops and cutlets

Poultry

Chicken, broiler-fryer
cut up (21⁄2to 3 lbs.)

Chicken, whole

(21⁄2to 3 lbs.)

Cornish hen

Turkey breast (4 to 6 lbs.)

1/4 min. Rearrange after half the time.
2 to 4 min.

6 to 9 min.

(1 lb.)

3 to 7 min. Place block in casserole. Turn over

1 to 5 min.

2 to 5 min. Place unopened package in oven.

2 to 5 min. Place unopened package in oven.

4 to 6 min. Turn meat over after half the time.
9 to 13 min.
per lb.

4 to 8 min. Place unwrapped meat in cooking
per lb. dish. Turn over after half the time

14 to 20 min.

20 to 25 min.

7 to 13 min. Place unwrapped hen in the oven
per lb. breast-side-up. Turn over after first half

3 to 8 min. Place unwrapped breast in microwave-safe
per lb. dish breast-side-down. After half of time,

and break up after half the time.

Let stand 5 minutes after defrosting.

Microwave just until franks can be
separated. Let stand 5 minutes, if
necessary, to complete defrosting.

Use

power level 1.

and shield warm areas with foil.
When finished, separate pieces and
let stand to complete defrosting.

Place wrapped chicken in dish. Unwrap
and turn over after first half of time. After
second half of time, separate pieces and
place in cooking dish. Microwave 2 to 4
minutes more, if necessary. Let stand a
few minutes to finish defrosting.

Place wrapped chicken in dish. After half
the time, unwrap and turn chicken over.
Shield warm areas with foil.To complete
defrosting, run cold water in the cavity
until giblets can be removed.

of time. Run cool water in the cavity until
giblets can be removed.

turn breast-side-up and shield warm areas
with foil. Defrost for second half of time.
Let stand 1 to 2 hours in refrigerator to
complete defrosting.

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

21

About the time features.

Express Cook

This is a quick way to set cooking time for 1–6 minutes.

Press one of the
for 1 to 6 minutes of cooking at
example, press the

The power level can be changed as time is counting
down. Press

Express Cook

2

pad for 2 minutes of cooking time.

POWER LEVEL

pads (from 1 to 6)

power level 10.

and enter 1–10.

For

Add 30 Seconds

You can use this feature two ways:

■ It will add 30 seconds to the time counting down each

time the pad is pressed.

■ It can be used as a quick way to set 30 seconds of

cooking time.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

22

About the convenience features.

Popcorn

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

(less time)

Use only with prepackaged
microwave popcorn weighing

1.75 to 3.5 ounces.

(more time)

To use the

Popcorn

Follow package instructions, using
package is less than 1.75 ounces or larger than 3.5
ounces. Place the package of popcorn in the center
of the microwave.

POPCORN

Press
popcorn, twice for a 3.0 ounce package, or three
times for a 1.75 ounce package. The oven starts
immediately.

feature:

Time Cook

once for a 3.5 ounce package of

if the

How to Adjust the Popcorn Program to Provide a Shorter or
Longer Cook Time

If you find that the brand of popcorn you use
underpops or overcooks consistently, you can add or
subtract 20 seconds to the automatic popping time.

To add time:

After pressing
oven starts for an extra 20 seconds.

POPCORN,

press 9immediately after the

To subtract time:

After pressing
oven starts for 20 seconds less cooking time.

POPCORN,

press 1immediately after the

Beverage

To use the
Press
an 8 oz. beverage or three times for a 12 oz. beverage.

Drinks heated with the Beverage feature may be very hot.
Remove the container with care.

Beverage

BEVERAGE

feature:

once for a 4 oz. beverage, twice for

23

About the convenience features.

Reheat

The

Reheat

feature reheats 1 to 3 servings of many

previously cooked foods.

REHEAT.

Press

Select food type 1–6 for one serving (see

below).

Guide

2

or 3to reheat 2 or 3 servings.

Press

Press

START.

NOTE: The serving size may be changed or added after

Reheat Guide

Food Type Comments

1 Pasta
2 Meats, casseroles, pizza
3 Fruits and vegetables
4 Beverages, 8–10 oz.
5 Sauces and gravies
6 Plate of leftovers (2 to 3 foods, 4 oz. each)

pressing START. Press number pad 2 or 3.

Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap.

Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap.

Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap.

Use wide mouth mug.

Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap.

Cover with vented plastic wrap.

Snacks

The

Snacks

times and power levels to warm a variety of snack foods.

feature automatically sets the microwaving

Press

SNACKS.

Reheat

Snacks Guide

Food Type Quantity or Weight

1 Bread, rolls, muffins
2 Sandwiches
3 Pizza (leftover slices)

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

4 Dessert toppings
5 Soup
6 Cheese dip

24

Select snack type 1–6 (see

Enter the number of items or the food weight in
ounces.
Press

START.

HINT: You can press and hold the SNACKS pad during cooking

to display the remaining microwaving time.

8 to 40 oz.

4 to 16 oz.

1 to 4

1 to 2

1 to 4

1 to 4

Snacks Guide

below).

Cook

The

Cook

feature automatically sets the cooking times

and power levels for a variety of foods.

Press

COOK.

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

Select food type 1–9 (see the

Enter weight in ounces.

Press

START.

Hint: Press and hold the COOK pad during cooking to display

the remaining cook time.

Cook Guide

Food Type Weight Comments

1 Canned Vegetables

2 Frozen Vegetables

3 Fresh Vegetables

4 Potatoes

5 Fish

6 Chicken Pieces

7 Ground Meat

(beef, pork, turkey)

8 Bacon

9 Pizza

(frozen, microwaveable)

4 to 20 oz. Use microwave-safe casserole or bowl.

Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap.

4 to 16 oz. Use microwave-safe casserole or

bowl. Follow package instructions
for adding water. Cover with lid or
vented plastic wrap.

4 to 16 oz. Use microwave-safe casserole or bowl.

Add 2 tablespoons water for each
serving. Cover with lid or vented
plastic wrap.

8 to 40 oz. Pierce skin with fork. Place potatoes

on the turntable.

4 to 16 oz. Use oblong, square or round dish.

Cover with vented plastic wrap.

4 to 40 oz. Use oblong, square or round dish.

Cover with vented plastic wrap or
wax paper.

8 to 48 oz. Use round casserole dish. Crumble

meat into dish. Cover with lid or
vented plastic wrap.

2 to 10 oz. Layer strips on a plate, 4 to a layer.

Cover each layer with a paper towel.

4 to 16 oz. Follow package instructions to

prepare pizza for microwaving.

Cook Guide

below).

25

About the convenience features.

Auto Defrost

Use

Auto Defrost
Time Defrost

Use

for meat, poultry and fish.

for most other frozen foods.

Guide

Auto Defrost

power levels to give even defrosting results for meats,
poultry and fish weighing up to six pounds.

There is a handy guide located on the inside front of the oven.

■ Remove meat from package and place on microwave-

safe dish.

■ Twice during defrost, the oven signals “TURn.”

At each “TURn” signal, turn the food over. Remove
defrosted meat or shield warm areas with small pieces
of foil.

■ After defrosting, most meats need to stand 5 minutes

to complete defrosting. Large roasts should stand for
about 30 minutes.

Conversion Guide

If the weight of food is stated in pounds and ounces, the ounces
must be converted to tenths (.1) of a pound.

automatically sets the defrosting times and

Press

AUTO DEFROST.

Using the
weight. For example, press pads

1.2 pounds (1 pound, 3 ounces).

Press

Conversion Guide

START.

below, enter food

1

and 2for

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

26

Weight of Food in Ounces Enter Food Weight

(tenths of a pound)

1–2 .1

3.2
4–5 .3
6–7 .4

8.5

9–10 .6

11 .7
12–13 .8
14–15 .9

About the other features.

Cooking Complete Reminder

To remind you that you have food in the oven, the oven will
beep once a minute until you either open the oven door or
press

CLEAR/OFF.

Clock

Press to enter the time of day or to check the time of day
while microwaving.

Press

CLOCK.

Enter time of day.

Press

START

Delay Start

or

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

CLOCK.

Delay Start

cooking up to 12 hours.

The
automatically start at the delayed time.

The time of day may be displayed by pressing

allows you to set the microwave to delay

Press

DELAY START.

Enter the time you want the oven to start. (Be sure
the microwave clock shows the correct time of day.)

Select your desired cooking program.

Press

START.

Delay Start

time will be displayed. The oven will

CLOCK.

27

About the other features.

Reminder

The

Reminder

without starting the oven. The
up to 12 hours later.

Press

DELAY START.

Enter the time you want the oven to remind you.
(Be sure the microwave clock shows the correct
time of day.)

Press

START.

by pressing

NOTE: REM will remain on the display to show that the
Reminder is set until the Reminder time is reached and
the door is opened or CLEAR/OFF is pressed.

Child Lock-Out

You may lock the control panel to prevent the microwave
from being accidentally started or used by children.

feature can be used like an alarm clock,

The

Reminder

DELAY START.

Reminder

time can be set

time may be displayed

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

28

To lock or unlock the controls, press and hold
for about three seconds. When the control panel is

L

locked, an

will be displayed.

CLEAR/OFF

Sound

Press

SOUND

to turn the oven beeper on or off.

Kitchen Timer

This pad performs three functions:

■ It operates as a minute timer.

■ It can be set to delay cooking.

■ It can be used as a hold setting after defrosting.

The

Kitchen Timer

How to Use as a Minute Timer

Press

Enter the amount of time you want to count down.

Press
signal.

How to Use to Delay the Start of Cooking

You can set the microwave to delay cooking up to 99
minutes and 99 seconds.

Press
time.

operates without microwave energy.

KITCHEN TIMER.

START.

When the time is up, the timer will

TIME COOK

and enter the amount of cooking

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

Press

KITCHEN TIMER

to delay the start of cooking.

Press

START.

The timer will begin counting down to

zero and cooking will then begin.

and enter the amount of time

How to Use to Set a Holding Time

You can set a holding time between

Time Cook,

from one second to 99 minutes.

Press

TIME DEFROST.

Enter defrosting time.

Press

KITCHEN TIMER.

Enter the amount of time you want the oven to
hold.

Press

TIME COOK.

Enter cooking time.

Press

START.

Defrost

and

29

Microwave terms.

Term Definition

Arcing

Covering

Shielding

Standing Time

Venting

Arcing is the microwave term for sparks in the oven. Arcing is
caused by:

■ metal or foil touching the side of the oven.

■ foil that is not molded to food (upturned edges act like

antennas).

■ metal such as twist-ties, poultry pins, gold-rimmed dishes.

■ recycled paper towels containing small metal pieces.

Covers hold in moisture, allow for more even heating and reduce
cooking time. Venting plastic wrap or covering with wax paper
allows excess steam to escape.

In a regular oven, you shield chicken breasts or baked foods to
prevent over-browning. When microwaving, you use small strips
of foil to shield thin parts, such as the tips of wings and legs on
poultry, which would cook before larger parts.

When you cook with regular ovens, foods such as roasts or cakes
are allowed to stand to finish cooking or to set. Standing time is
especially important in microwave cooking. Note that a
microwaved cake is not placed on a cooling rack.

After covering a dish with plastic wrap, you vent the plastic wrap by
turning back one corner so excess steam can escape.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

30

Care and cleaning of the microwave oven.

Helpful Hints

Open the oven door a few minutes after cooking to air
out the inside. An occasional thorough wiping with a
solution of baking soda and water keeps the inside fresh.

Unplug the cord before cleaning any part of this oven.

How to Clean the Inside

Walls, Floor, Inside Window, Metal and Plastic Parts on
the Door

Some spatters can be removed with a paper towel,
others may require a damp cloth. Remove greasy
spatters with a sudsy cloth, then rinse with a damp
cloth. Do not use abrasive cleaners or sharp utensils
on oven walls.

To clean the surface of the door and the surface of the oven that
come together upon closing, use only mild, nonabrasive soaps or
detergents using a sponge or soft cloth. Rinse with a damp cloth
and dry.

Never use a commercial oven cleaner on any part of your
microwave.

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

Removable Turntable and Turntable Support

To prevent breakage, do not place the turntable into
water just after cooking. Wash it carefully in warm, sudsy
water or in the dishwasher. The turntable and support
can be broken if dropped. Remember, do not operate
the oven without the turntable and support in place.

31

Care and cleaning of the microwave oven.

How to Clean the Outside

Do not use cleaners containing ammonia or alcohol on the
microwave oven. Ammonia or alcohol can damage the
appearance of the microwave.

Case

Clean the outside of the microwave with a sudsy cloth.
Rinse and then dry. Wipe the window clean with a
damp cloth.

Control Panel and Door

Wipe with a damp cloth. Dry thoroughly. Do not use
cleaning sprays, large amounts of soap and water,
abrasives or sharp objects on the panel—they can
damage it. Some paper towels can also scratch the
control panel.

Door Surface

It’s important to keep the area clean where the
door seals against the microwave. Use only mild,
non-abrasive detergents applied with a clean sponge
or soft cloth. Rinse well.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

32

Stainless Steel

To clean the surface use hot soapy water, then rinse and
dry. Do not use steel wool pads or other abrasive
cleaners. They will scratch the surface.

(on some models)

Before you call for service…

Safety Information Operating Instructions Troubleshooting Tips Customer Service

33

Before you call for service…

Things That Are Normal With Your Microwave Oven

■ Steam or vapor escaping from around the door.

■ Light reflection around door or outer case.

■ Dimming oven light and change in the blower sound at power

levels other than high.

■ Dull thumping sound while oven is operating.

■ TV/radio interference might be noticed while using the

microwave. Similar to the interference caused by other small
appliances, it does not indicate a problem with the microwave.
Plug the microwave into a different electrical circuit, move the
radio or TV as far away from the microwave as possible, or check
the position and signal of the TV/radio antenna.

Customer Service Troubleshooting Tips Operating Instructions Safety Information

34

GE Microwave Oven Warranty

All warranty service provided by an authorized Customer Care
technician. For service, call 800-GE-CARES.

For The Period Of: GE Will Replace:

One Year Any part

From the date of the
original purchase one-year warranty,

Nine Years The magnetron tube,

For the second through
the tenth year from the nine-year limited warranty,
date of original purchase

For the above limited warranty: To avoid any trip charges, you must take the microwave oven to a
General Electric Customer Care
available, but you must pay for the service technician’s travel costs to your home.

■Service trips to your home to teach you

how to use the product.

■Improper installation.

■Failure of the product if it is

defect in materials or workmanship. During this

labor and in-home service to replace the defective part.

a defect in materials or workmanship. During this

any labor or in-home service costs.

®

servicer and pick it up following service. In-home service is also

of the microwave oven which fails due to a

full

GE will also provide,

if the magnetron tube fails due to

you will be responsible for

free of charge,

®

all

This warranty is extended to the original purchaser and any succeeding owner for products purchased
for home use within the USA. In Alaska, the warranty excludes the cost of shipping or service calls to
your home.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages. This
warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to
state. To know what your legal rights are, consult your local or state consumer affairs office or your
state’s Attorney General.

Warrantor: General Electric Company. Louisville, KY 40225

Service Telephone Numbers.

GE Answer Center

The GE Answer Center® is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In-Home Repair Service

Expert GE repair service is only a phone call away.

Special Needs Service

TDD 800-TDD-GEAC (800-833-4322)

GE offers, free of charge, a brochure to assist in planning a barrier­free kitchen for persons with limited mobility.

Service Contracts

Purchase a GE service contract while your warranty is still in effect and
you’ll receive a substantial discount. GE Consumer Service will still be
there after your warranty expires.

Parts and Accessories

Individuals qualified to service their own appliances can have parts or
accessories sent directly to their homes (VISA, MasterCard and
Discover cards are accepted).

Instructions contained in this manual cover procedures to be performed
by any user. Other servicing generally should be referred to qualified
service personnel. Caution must be exercised, since improper servicing
may cause unsafe operation.

®

800.626.2000

800-GE-CARES (800-432-2737)

800.626.2000

800-626-2224

800-626-2002