GE JES1143 User Manual

Use and Care & Cooking Guide

Turntable Microwave Oven

Safety Instructions....................3–5

Precautions to Avoid Possible Exposure

to Excessive Microwave Energy............2

Operating Instructions, Tips

Add 30 Seconds ..........................................16

Aluminum Foil ..................................4, 11, 20

Auto Defrost ..........................................10, 11

Clock ..................................................................9

Control Panel...............................................8, 9

Cook.........................................................15, 16

Cooking Complete Reminder......................7

Cooking Guide ..............................................21

Defrosting Guide..........................................20

Delay Start.....................................................17

Delayed Cooking..........................................17

Features ............................................................7

Glossary of Microwave Terms..................18

Heating or Reheating Guide......................19

Hold Time.......................................................17

Instant Cook ..................................................16

Microwaving Tips...........................................6

Kitchen Timer................................................17

Popcorn..........................................................15

Power Levels .............................6, 12, 13, 17

Program Cooking............................................7

Reheat.............................................................14

Time Cook......................................................13

Time Defrost..................................................12

Turntable .................................................3, 4, 7

Problem Solver...............................24

More questions ?…call

GE Answer Center® 800.626.2000

Care and Cleaning............................22

Control Panel ................................................22

Turntable........................................................22

Installation..........................................23

Adapter Plugs ...............................................23

Extension Cords ...........................................23

Grounding Instructions...............................23

Consumer Services...................27

Appliance Registration..................................2

Important Phone Numbers........................27

Model and Serial Number Location...........2

Warranty ........................................Back Cover

Model: JES1143

Microwave power output

of this oven is 900 watts.

(IEC-705 Test Procedure)

GE Appliances

HELP US HELP YOU…

Before using your oven, read this guide carefully.

It is intended to help you operate and maintain your new microwave oven properly.

Keep it handy for answers to your questions. If you don’t understand something or need more

help, call:

GE Answer Center

800.626.2000 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Write down the model and serial numbers.

You’ll find them on a label inside the oven. These numbers are also on the Consumer Product

Ownership Registration Card that came with your microwave oven. Before sending in this card, please write these numbers here:

Model Number

Serial Number

Use these numbers in any correspondence or service calls concerning your microwave oven.

If you received a damaged oven…

Immediately contact the dealer (or builder) that sold you the oven.

Save time and money . Before you request service…

Check the Problem Solver in the back of this guide. It lists causes of minor operating problems that you can correct yourself.

All these things 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 blower sound may occur while operating at power levels other than high.

• Dull thumping sound while oven is operating.

• Some TV-radio interference might be noticed while using your microwave oven. It’s similar to the interference caused by other small appliances and does not indicate a problem with your microwave. If you notice this interference, check that the microwave oven is on a different electrical circuit, relocate the radio or TV as far away from the microwave as possible, or check the position and signal of the receiving antenna.

PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID POSSIBLE EXPOSURE

TO EXCESSIVE MICROWAVE ENERGY

(a) Do Not Attempt to operate 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.

(b) Do Not Place any object between the oven

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

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

(1) door (bent) (2) hinges and latches (broken or loosened) (3) door seals and sealing surfaces.

(d) The Oven Should Not be adjusted or repaired

by anyone except properly qualified service personnel.

IMPOR TANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Read all instructions before using this appliance.

When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should be followed, including the following:

WARNING–To reduce the risk of

burns, electric shock, fire, injury to persons or exposure to excessive microwave energy:

• Read and follow the specific ‘‘Precautions to

Avoid Possible Exposure to Excessive Microwave Energy’’ on the previous page.

• This appliance must be grounded.

Connect only to properly grounded outlet. See Grounding Instructions section in the back of this guide.

• Use this appliance only for its intended use as described in this guide. Do not use corrosive

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

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

• 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.

• Do not cover or block any openings on the appliance.

• 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.

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

• Do not immerse power cord or plug in water.

• Keep power cord away from heated surfaces.

• Do not operate any heating or cooking appliance beneath this microwave oven.

• Do not mount the microwave oven over or near any portion of a heating cooking appliance.

• Do not store anything directly on top of the microwave oven surface when the microwave oven is in operation.

• Do not let power cord hang over edge of table or counter.

• 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 operate oven without the turntable and turntable support seated and in place.

• Do not allow turntable to be restricted so the turntable cannot rotate.

• See door surface cleaning instructions

in the Care and Cleaning section(s) of this guide.

• 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.

• 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 to facilitate cooking.

—Remove wire twist-ties and metal handles

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

—Do not use your microwave oven to dry

newspapers.

—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 overcook potatoes. They could dehydrate

and catch fire, causing damage to your oven.

(continued next page)

Important Safety Instructions

IMPOR TANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

(continued)

—Do not pop popcorn in your microwave oven

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

—Do not operate the oven while empty to avoid

damage to the oven and the danger of fire.

If by accident the oven should run empty a minute or two, no harm is done. However, try to avoid operating the oven empty at all times—it saves energy and prolongs the life of 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 oven should ignite,

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

• 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.

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

• Do not defrost frozen beverages in narrownecked 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.

• 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.

• Cookware may become hot because of heat transferred from the heated food.

Pot holders may be needed to handle the cookware.

• Sometimes, the turntable can become too hot to touch. Be careful touching the turntable during

and after cooking.

• Foods cooked in liquids (such as pasta) may tend to boil over more rapidly than foods containing less moisture. Should this occur, refer to the Care and Cleaning section(s) for instructions on how to clean the inside of the oven.

• Thermometer—Do not use a thermometer in food you are microwaving unless the thermometer is designed or recommended for use in the microwave oven.

• Plastic cookware—Plastic cookware designed for microwave cooking is very useful, but should be used carefully. Even microwave-safe 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. For these reasons:

1) Use microwave-safe plastics only and use them in strict compliance with the cookware manufacturer’s recommendations. 2) Do not subject empty cookware to microwaving.

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

• When cooking pork, follow the directions exactly and always cook the meat to an internal temperature of at least 170°F. This assures that, in the remote possibility that trichina may be present in the meat, it will be killed and meat will be safe to eat.

• 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.

• Foods with unbroken outer ‘‘skin’’ such as potatoes, sausages,

tomatoes, apples, chicken livers and other giblets and egg yolks (see previous caution) should be pierced to allow steam to escape during cooking.

SAFETY FACT—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.

• 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 it 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.

• Not all plastic wrap is suitable for use in microwave ovens. Check the package for

proper use.

• ‘‘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.

• 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.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Important Safety Instructions If You Need Service…

IF YOU NEED SER VICE…

To obtain service, see the Consumer Services page in the back of this guide.

We’re proud of our service and want you to be pleased. If for some reason you are not happy with the service you receive, here are three steps to follow for further help.

FIRST, contact the people who serviced your appliance. Explain why you are not pleased. In most cases, this will solve the problem.

NEXT, if you are still not pleased, write all the details—including your phone number—to:

Manager, Consumer Relations GE Appliances Appliance Park Louisville, KY 40225

FINALLY, if your problem is still not resolved, write:

Major Appliance Consumer Action Program 20 North Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606

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 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.

VARIABLE POWER LEVELS (1–10)

• 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 microwaved foods require stirring, rotating or rearranging. Check the Cooking Guide.

• 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.

How to Change Power Level

The power level may be entered or changed immediately after entering the feature time for TIME COOK I & II, DEFROST or INSTANT COOK. The power level may also be changed during their time countdown.

1. Press TIME COOK I & II or TIME DEFROST.

2. Select cooking or defrosting time.

3. Press POWER LEVEL.

4. Select desired power level 1–10.

5. Press START.

1

INSTANT COOK2INSTANT COOK3INSTANT COOK

4

INSTANT COOK5INSTANT COOK

789

POWER

LEVEL

ADD

30 SEC

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 2 or 3 Defrosting without cooking;

simmering; delicate sauces.

Warm 1 Keeping food warm without

overcooking; softening butter.

FEATURES OF YOUR OVEN

Microwaving Tips Variable Power Levels Features of Your Oven

ENTER

FOOD

TEMP

COOK

WEIGHT

LBS.

DEF

TIME

CUSTOM FUNCTIONS

TIME COOK

I & II

TIME

TIME COOK

DEFROST

I & II

Quick Response Controls

POPCORN

COOK

AUTO

POPCORN

DEFROST

9 FUNCTION 6 FUNCTION1 FUNCTION

OPEN DOOR FOR GUIDE

GUIDE BEHIND DOOR

Instant Cook - 1-5 Minutes

1

2

INSTANT COOK

INSTANT COOK3INSTANT COOK

3451

4

5

INSTANT COOK

7689

ADD 30

CLOCK

SECONDS

POWER

LEVEL

AUTO

POWER

START

LEVEL

KITCHEN

TIMER

30 SEC

I II

DEFROST

ADD

POWER

SOUND

CODE

TIME

AUTO

DEFROST

REHEAT

START

DELAY START

KITCHEN

TIMER

CLEAR

OFF

CLEAR

OFF

CLOCK

1. Door Latches.

2. Door Screen. Metal screen permits viewing of

foods and keeps microwaves confined inside oven.

3. Touch Control Panel and Display. See Your

Touch Control Panel section for instructions.

4. Automatic Cooking Guide. Quick reference codes

for many frequently prepared foods.

5. Removable Turntable Support for Cleaning.

Turntable support must be in place when using the oven.

6. Removable Turntable for Cleaning. Turntable

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

7. Door Latch Release. Press latch release button

to open door.

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

Program Cooking

Use your Touch Control Panel to Time Defrost or Time Cook I & II with choice of power levels from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest); to Reheat using a preset time and power level; to cook popcorn using a preset time and power level; to time kitchen tasks with the Kitchen Timer; and to set the clock.

Create your own programs to suit your individual cooking style. For example: use the Kitchen Timer to delay the start of Time Cook I & II or program a hold time between Time Defrost and Time Cook I & II. Set Time Cook I & II for a two-stage program using different times and power levels.

Cooking Complete Reminder When You Plug In the Oven

(For Time Cook and Time Defrost cycles)

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 touch the CLEAR/OFF pad.

The display panel displays “88888,” “18 POWER” and all of the oven functions. After 15 seconds, all lights disappear and ‘‘RESET’’ appears in the upper portion. Touch the CLEAR/OFF pad, set the Clock and the oven is ready for use.

This will happen any time there is a power outage.

CUSTOM FUNCTIONS

TIME COOK

I & II

POPCORN

1

INSTANT COOK

INSTANT COOK3INSTANT COOK

4

INSTANT COOK

TIME

DEFROST

COOK

9 FUNCTION 6 FUNCTION1 FUNCTION

GUIDE BEHIND DOOR

2

5

AUTO

DEFROST

REHEAT

START

DELAY

START

POWER

LEVEL

CLEAR

ADD

30 SEC

OFF

KITCHEN

TIMER

CLOCK

YOUR TOUCH CONTROL PANEL

The Touch Control Panel allows you to set the oven controls with the touch of a finger. It’s designed to be easy to use and understand.

1. DISPLAY. Displays time of day, cooking time,

power level being used, cooking mode and instructions.

Custom Functions

2. AUTO DEFROST. Touch this pad and food

weight, then START. The oven automatically sets power levels and defrosting time.

3. TIME DEFROST. Gentle thawing at automatic

Power Level 3 (Low).

4. TIME COOK I & II. Microwave for a selected

amount of time using automatic Power Level 10 (High).

Convenience Features

8. INSTANT COOK. Touch number pads 1 through

5 for 1 to 5 minutes of cooking. No need to touch START, the oven will start immediately.

9. ADD 30 SECONDS. Press this pad for 30

seconds of cook time, to add 30 seconds to the cook time as it’s counting down or for an “instant on” for 30 seconds.

5. REHEAT. Use Reheat for quick reheating of

a variety of foods using different times and power levels.

6. POPCORN. Touch this pad to cook prepackaged

microwave popcorn weighing 3.0 to 3.5 ounces. No need to touch START, the oven will start immediately.

7. COOK. Touch this pad, a code number and

weight of food for quick cooking of a variety of foods using different times and power levels.

10. KITCHEN TIMER. This feature uses no

microwave energy. It functions as either a kitchen timer, as a holding period after defrost or as a delay timer before time or temperature cooking.

11. CLOCK. Touch this pad to enter time of day or

check time of day while microwaving. To set clock, first touch CLOCK pad and then enter time of day. For example, if time is 1:30, touch number pads 1, 3 and 0 and “1:30” will appear in display. Then touch START or CLOCK pad. To reset or change time, simply repeat above process.

Your Touch Control Panel

Function Controls

12. START. After all selections are made, touch this

pad to start the oven.

13. NUMBER PADS. Touch these pads to program

the microwave.

14. DELAY START. Allows you to program your

oven to begin cooking at a preset time of day— up to a 12-hour delay.

15. CLEAR/OFF. When touched, it shuts off the

oven and erases all settings (except time of day).

16. POWER LEVEL. Touch this pad before entering

another power level number if you want to change from automatic Power Level 10 (High) for cooking or Power Level 3 (Low) for defrosting.

+ 19 hidden pages

GE JES1143 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

MICROWAVING TIPS

Program Cooking

Cooking Complete Reminder When You Plug In the Oven