Miele M 8261 User Manual
Operating instructions
Microwave oven
M 8261
To avoid the risk of accidents or
damage to the appliance it is
essential to read these instructions
before it is installed and used for the
first time.
WGO
M.-Nr. 06 542 960
Contents
Description of the appliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Oven interior and accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Control panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Accessories supplied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Grilling rack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Glass tray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Gourmet plate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Boiling rod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Caring for the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Warning and Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Modes of operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
How does the microwave oven function? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Operating modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
What can a microwave oven do?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
In what ways can a microwave oven be used? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Microwave-solo mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Grilling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Combination mode
(Microwave + Grill) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Automatic programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Suitable containers for microwave ovens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Material and shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Testing dishes for their suitability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
The cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Before using for the first time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Time of day display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Setting the time of day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Altering the time of day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Switching off the time of day display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Night time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
To open the door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Placing the dish in the oven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Turntable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
To close the door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Starting a programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2
Contents
"door" message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Interrupting or re-starting a programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Altering the settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
To cancel a programme. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
At the end of a programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Automatic warming function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Quick start (programmable) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
System lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Minute minder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Altering a minute minder entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Minute minder + cooking function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Operation - Grilling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Gourmet plate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Some suggested uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Operation - Automatic programmes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Automatic defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Automatic cooking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Saving your favourite programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Changing the settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Reheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Cooking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Defrosting/Defrosting and reheating or cooking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Some suggested uses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Cleaning and care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Oven interior and inside of the door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Appliance front and control panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Accessories supplied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Problem solving guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
After sales service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Electrical connection IRL, U.K., ZA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Electrical connection AUS,NZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
3
Description of the appliance
Oven interior and accessories
a Oven door
b Door locking mechanism
c Grill/browning element
d Control panel
e Turntable
4
f Grilling rack
g Glass tray
h Gourmet plate
i Cover
j Boiling rod
Control panel
Description of the appliance
k Electronic timer and clock display
l Rotary selector for microwave power,
grill and combination programmes
m Rotary selector
to enter time and weight
n Automatic programme buttons
o Time of day button m
p Minute minder button l
q Memory button (to save a 1-3 stage
programme sequence)
r Stop/cancel button
s Start button / Add a minute
button / Quick start button
(programmable) c
t Door release button a
5
Description of the appliance
Accessories supplied
Grilling rack
The grilling rack can be used for all
functions with and without
microwave power, except for
Microwave-solo mode.
To avoid the grilling rack being used
inadvertently with Microwave-solo, it
should not be kept inside the
microwave oven.
Glass tray
The glass tray is suitable for use with all
cooking functions.
When grilling directly on the rack, the
glass tray should be placed underneath
the rack to catch any fat or juices.
Gourmet plate
The gourmet plate is a round, non-stick
grilling plate. It can be used to heat
snacks or small meals quickly whilst
maintaining crispness.
Cover
The cover supplied must only be used
in the Microwave-solo mode.
It prevents the food from drying out and
the oven from becoming dirty, and it
accelerates the heating process.
Boiling rod
When heating liquids, the boiling rod
provided should always be placed in
the container. It helps liquids to heat
evenly.
6
Caring for the environment
Disposal of the packing
material
The transport and protective packing
has been selected from materials which
are environmentally friendly for
disposal, and can normally be
recycled.
Ensure that any plastic wrappings,
bags, etc. are disposed of safely and
kept out of the reach of babies and
young children. Danger of suffocation!
Rather than just throwing these
materials away, please ensure that they
are offered for recycling.
Disposal of your old appliance
Electrical and electronic appliances
often contain materials which, if
handled or disposed of incorrectly,
could be potentially hazardous to
human health and to the environment.
They are, however, essential for the
correct functioning of your appliance.
Please do not therefore dispose of it
with your household waste.
Please dispose of it at your local
community waste collection/recycling
centre, and ensure that it presents no
danger to children while being stored
for disposal.
It should be unplugged or
disconnected from the mains electricity
supply by a competent person. The
plug must be rendered useless, and the
cable cut off directly behind it to
prevent misuse. See the "Warning and
Safety" section of this booklet for further
details.
7
Warning and Safety instructions
Technical safety
This appliance complies with all
relevant local and national safety
requirements. Improper use can
present a risk of both personal injury
and material damage.
To avoid the risk of accidents and
damage to the appliance, please
read these operating instructions
carefully before installation and
before using it for the first time. They
contain important notes on
installation, safety, operation and
care of the appliance.
Keep these instructions in a safe
place and pass them on to any
future user.
Correct use
The appliance is intended for
domestic use only: to cook,
defrost, reheat and to grill food. Any
other usage is not supported by the
manufacturer and could be dangerous.
The manufacturer cannot be held liable
for damage caused by improper or
incorrect use of the appliance.
Never use the microwave to store
or dry items which could ignite
easily. Moisture evaporates. Fire
hazard.
fitted by a Miele approved service
technician.
- the door hinges are loose.
- holes or cracks are visible in the
casing, the door or the oven interior
walls.
Operating the appliance with this type
of damage will result in microwave
leakage and present a hazard to the
user.
Tampering with electrical connections
or components and mechanical parts is
highly dangerous and can cause
operational faults or electric shock.
the rating on the data plate
corresponds to the voltage and
frequency of the household supply. This
data must correspond in order to avoid
risk of damage to the appliance.
Consult a qualified electrician if in any
doubt.
If the connection cable is
damaged, the new cable must be
Do not use the microwave if
- the door is warped.
Never open the casing of the
appliance.
Before connecting the appliance to
the mains supply, make sure that
This appliance is not a toy! To
avoid the risk of injury, do not allow
children to play on or near it or to play
with the controls. Supervise its use by
older children, the elderly or infirm. If
allowing older children to use the
appliance without supervision, please
ensure that they are aware of how a
microwave oven works and understand
the dangers of improper use.
8
Warning and Safety instructions
Do not connect the appliance to
the mains electricity supply by an
extension lead.
Extension leads do not guarantee the
required safety of the appliance (e.g.
danger of overheating).
The electrical safety of this
appliance can only be guaranteed
when continuity is complete between it
and an effective earthing system which
complies with local and national safety
regulations. It is most important that this
basic safety requirement is present and
regularly tested and where there is any
doubt, the on-site electrical wiring
should be inspected by a qualified
electrician.
The manufacturer cannot be held liable
for the consequences of an inadequate
earthing system (e.g. electric shock).
The appliance must be built in
before operation to ensure that no
electrical components are accessible.
Repairs may only be carried out by
a suitably qualified and competent
person in accordance with national and
local safety regulations. Repairs and
other work by unqualified persons
could be dangerous. The manufacturer
cannot be held liable for unauthorised
work.
The appliance is only completely
isolated from the electricity supply
when:
- it is switched off at the wall socket and
the plug removed.
- the mains fuse is disconnected
- or the screw-out fuse is removed (in
countries where this is applicable).
This equipment may only be used
in mobile installations such as
ships, caravans, aircraft etc. if a risk
assessment of the installation has been
carried out by a suitably qualified
engineer.
In countries where there are areas
which may be subject to infestation
by cockroaches or other vermin, pay
particular attention to keeping the
appliance and its surroundings in a
clean condition at all times. Any
damage which may be caused by
cockroaches or other vermin will not be
covered by the guarantee.
Use
Always ensure that food is
sufficiently heated.
Many factors will affect the overall
cooking time, including the size and
amount of food, its initial temperature,
changes to the recipe and the shape
and size of cooking container.
Some foods may contain
micro-organisms which are only
destroyed by thorough cooking,
therefore when cooking or reheating
foods, e.g. poultry, it is particularly
important that food is fully cooked
through (at temperatures over 70°C for
more than 10 minutes). If in doubt,
select a longer cooking or reheating
time.
9
Warning and Safety instructions
It is important that the heat is
allowed to spread evenly
throughout the food being cooked. This
can be achieved by stirring and/or
turning the food, and by observing a
sufficiently long standing time, which
should be added to the time needed for
cooking, reheating or defrosting.
Always remember that times for
cooking, reheating and defrosting
in a microwave oven are usually
considerably shorter than with
traditional methods of food preparation.
Excessively long cooking times can
lead to food drying out and burning, or
could even cause it to catch fire. There
is also a danger of fire if breadcrumbs,
flowers, herbs, etc., are dried in the
microwave oven.
Always ensure that this type of
procedure is supervised.
Do not use the microwave function
to heat up cushions or pads filled
with cherry kernels, wheat grains,
lavender or gel, such as those used in
aromatherapy. These pads can ignite
when heated, even after they have
been removed from the microwave.
Exercise caution when cooking or
reheating food with a high sugar
content, e.g. Christmas pudding. If
heated for too long, the sugar may
caramelise or ignite.
Do not use full power to warm
empty dishes. Do not use the
appliance without food, or if it is
incorrectly loaded.
Never cook or reheat food or
liquids in sealed containers, jars or
bottles.
With baby bottles, the screw top and
teat must be removed. Otherwise
pressure builds up which can cause
the bottle or container to explode,
posing a severe risk of injury. Danger of
injury.
Before serving, remember to allow
a sufficient standing time and then
always check the temperature of the
actual food itself after taking it out of the
microwave. The temperature of the
container is not an indication of the
temperature of the food or liquid in it.
This is particularly important when
preparing food for babies,children,
and the elderly or infirm. Shake or stir
baby milk and food thoroughly after
heating, and try it for temperature to
ensure that it will not scald the baby.
When heating food and drink remember
that the heat is created in the food
itself, and that the container will
normally be cooler. The dish is only
warmed by the heat of the food.
10
Warning and Safety instructions
When heating liquids, the boiling
rod provided should always be
placed into the container.
When heating liquids, milk, sauces etc.
in the oven without the boiling rod, the
boiling point of the liquid may be
reached without the production of
typical bubbles. The liquid does not
boil evenly throughout. This so-called
'boiling delay' can cause a sudden
build-up of bubbles when the container
is removed from the oven or shaken,
which can lead to the liquid boiling over
suddenly and explosively. Danger of
burning.
To avoid fuelling any flames, do not
open the oven door if smoke
occurs in the oven interior.
Interrupt the process by pressing the
Stop/C button twice. Switch off at the
wall socket, and where applicable,
remove the plug. Do not open the door
until the smoke has dispersed.
Never heat undiluted alcohol in the
oven as this can easily ignite. Fire
hazard.
Do not heat up tins in the
microwave oven. Pressure can
build up and they may explode
resulting in injury or damage.
Cover any food which is left in the
oven to be kept hot, as moisture in
the food could lead to corrosion
damage in the oven. This also prevents
the food from drying out.
Try to avoid the interior walls being
splashed with food or liquids
containing salt. If it does happen, wipe
these away thoroughly to avoid
corrosion on the stainless steel surface.
The formation of bubbles can be so
strong that the pressure forces the oven
door open, with a danger of burning.
The boiling rod ensures that bubbles
are produced, and that liquids heat
evenly.
11
Warning and Safety instructions
Do not use any containers or
cutlery made from or containing
metal, aluminium foil, lead crystal
glassware, temperature-sensitive
plastics, wooden utensils or cutlery,
metal clips or wire ties. Do not use
bowls with milled rims, or cream pots
with the tinfoil lid only partially removed.
Such items could be damaged or
cause a fire hazard.
The rack and gourmet plate supplied
with the appliance are designed to be
compatible with microwaves and can
therefore be used for grilling with or
without the microwave function.
N.B. Do not use the rack for
Microwave-solo.
Do not use the rack and the
gourmet plate at the same time.
This will damage the gourmet plate.
Always place the gourmet plate directly
on the turntable.
Do not use the cover with the
gourmet plate, as the cover will get
too hot.
Do not leave the oven unattended
when reheating or cooking food in
disposable containers made of plastic,
paper or other inflammable materials.
Before using single-use plastic
containers, make sure they are suitable
for use in microwave ovens. See
appropriate section.
Eggs can only be cooked in their
shells in the microwave oven in a
specially designed egg-boiling device
available from specialist shops.
Similarly, hard-boiled eggs should not
be reheated in the microwave oven as
this may lead to the eggs bursting,
even after they have been taken out of
the oven.
Eggs can be cooked without their
shells using microwave heat only if
the yolk membrane has been
punctured several times first.
The pressure could otherwise cause
the egg yolk to explode.
Danger of injury.
Food with a thick skin or peel, such
as tomatoes, sausages, jacket
potatoes and aubergines, should be
pierced or the skin cut in several places
before cooking to allow steam to
escape and prevent the food from
bursting.
Do not reheat food in the oven in
heat-retaining bags which are
intended for normal ovens. These
heat-retaining bags usually contain a
thin layer of aluminium foil which
reflects microwaves. This reflected
energy can, in turn, cause the outer
paper covering to become so hot that it
ignites.
Always ensure that food, the
gourmet plate or a browning dish
has been placed in the microwave, and
that the turntable is in place, before
switching on.
12
Warning and Safety instructions
Do not use the appliance for deep
frying food, and do not leave it
unattended when cooking with oils and
fats as these can be a fire hazard if
allowed to overheat.
Ovenproof earthenware can retain
a considerable amount of moisture.
Earthenware and porcelain containers
with hollow handles and lid knobs must
only be used in this oven if they have
vent holes which allow the moisture to
escape. Without vent holes pressure
can build up, causing the container to
crack or shatter with the danger of
injury.
When grilling with or without the
microwave function, the oven
interior, grill element and door can get
hot. Do not let small children touch the
oven while it is in operation, as there is
the danger of being burnt. Supervise its
use by elderly or infirm people.
Wear oven gloves when taking
dishes in and out of the oven, or
when handling dishes or food in the
oven if the grill is on or has just been in
operation. Danger of burning.
Never place the hot glass tray (or
any other hot cooking containers)
on a cold surface, such as a tiled or
granite worktop. The glass tray or
container could crack or shatter, and
the worktop surface could get
damaged. Use a suitable heat-resistant
mat or pot rest.
Do not use the oven to heat up the
room. Due to the high temperatures
radiated, objects left near the appliance
could catch fire.
When using kitchen appliances
connected to sockets near the
appliance, ensure that the cable cannot
get trapped in a hot oven door, which
could melt the cable insulation and be
dangerous.
To check food temperature, first
interrupt the cooking process. Only
use a thermometer specifically
approved for food use to measure the
temperature of the food. Never use a
thermometer containing mercury or
liquid, as these are not suitable for use
with very high temperatures and will
break very easily.
The gourmet plate gets extremely
hot when in use. Always use oven
gloves when handling it to avoid burns.
Place it on a suitable heat-resistant mat
or pot rest.
The rack and glass tray get hot during
grilling (with and without the microwave
function). Take care not to burn
yourself on them.
Do not use a steam-cleaning
appliance to clean this appliance.
Pressurised steam could reach the
electrical components and cause a
short circuit.
13
Warning and Safety instructions
When using browning dishes:
Always use oven gloves when
handling the browning dish to
avoid burns.
Never place the browning dish
directly onto a table or work
surface. Use a suitable heat-resistant
mat, grid or board to protect the work
surface or table and prevent heat
marks.
Browning dishes should only be
used in a microwave oven, or as a
serving dish.
In a conventional oven the special
glaze would suffer damage.
Disposal of your old appliance
Before disposing of your old
appliance, first make it unusable.
Disconnect it from the mains, cut off the
cable near the appliance and cut off
and render any plug unusable. This
should be done by a competent
person.
The manufacturer cannot be held
liable for damage caused by
non-compliance with these Warning
and Safety instructions.
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Modes of operation
How does the microwave oven
function?
In a microwave oven there is a
high-frequency tube called a
magnetron. This converts electrical
energy into microwaves. These
microwaves are distributed evenly
throughout the oven interior and
rebound off the metal sides of the oven
interior to reach the food from all sides.
Microwave distribution is improved with
the turntable engaged.
In order for microwaves to reach the
food, they must be able to penetrate
the cooking utensil being used.
Microwaves can penetrate porcelain,
glass, cardboard and plastics, but not
metal. Do not, therefore, use utensils
made of metal, or which contain metal,
for example in the form of gold or silver
trim. The metal reflects the microwaves
and this could lead to the creation of
sparks. The microwaves cannot be
absorbed.
As heat is produced directly in the
food,
food can generally be cooked
–
without adding much liquid or
cooking oil.
cooking, reheating and defrosting in
–
a microwave oven is quicker than
using conventional methods.
nutrients, such as vitamins and
–
minerals, are generally retained.
the colour, texture and taste of food
–
are not impaired.
Microwaves stop being produced as
soon as the cooking process is
interrupted or the appliance door is
opened.
When the appliance is in operation, the
closed, sealed door prevents
microwaves escaping from the
appliance.
Microwaves pass through a suitable
container and find their way directly into
the food. All food contains moisture
molecules which, when subjected to
microwave energy, start to oscillate 2.5
thousand million times a second. The
friction caused by this vibration creates
heat, which first starts developing
around the outside of the food and then
slowly penetrates towards the centre.
The moisture, fat and sugar content of
food will affect the speed at which it is
cooked.
15
Operating modes
What can a microwave oven
do?
In the microwave oven, food is cooked,
reheated or defrosted quickly.
You can use your microwave in the
following ways:
Food can be defrosted, reheated or
–
cooked by entering a power setting
and a time.
Deep-frozen, ready-made meals can
–
be defrosted and then reheated or
cooked.
– The microwave oven can also be
used for other tasks, e.g. for proving
dough, melting chocolate and butter,
dissolving gelatine etc.
In what ways can a microwave
oven be used?
Microwave-solo mode
Suitable for defrosting, reheating and
cooking.
Grilling
Ideal for grilling very thin cuts of meat,
e.g. bacon.
Combination mode
(Microwave + Grill)
Ideal for browning dishes with
toppings. The microwave cooks the
food, and the grill browns it.
Automatic programmes
You can choose from the following automatic programmes:
– four defrosting programmes
(N: Ad 1 to Ad 4),
16
–
one cooking programme for frozen
food
(N °: AC 1 ),
–
and five cooking programmes for
fresh food
(°: AC 1 to AC 5).
These programmes are weight
dependent. You enter the weight of the
food, and then the cooking time is
calculated automatically.
Suitable containers for microwave ovens
Microwaves
are reflected by metal,
–
– pass through glass, porcelain,
plastic and card,
Material and shape
The material and shape of containers
used affect cooking results and times.
Heat distribution is more even in round
and oval shaped flat containers than in
rectangular containers, providing better
results.
Metal
Metal containers, aluminium foil and
metal cutlery, or china with metallic
decoration, such as gold rims or
cobalt blue must not be used in an
oven being used in microwave
mode.
The metal reflects the microwaves,
hindering the cooking process.
Exceptions:
– Ready-meals in aluminium foil dishes
These can be defrosted and reheated
in the microwave oven, if recommended
by the manufacturer. However, as food
is only heated from the top, it is better
to remove the food from the aluminium
foil container and transfer it to a dish
suitable for a microwave oven. The heat
distribution will be more even.
–
and are absorbed by food.
If sparks and arcing occur when using
an aluminium container, stop and
transfer the food to a microwave-safe
container.
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Suitable containers for microwave ovens
Pieces of aluminium foil
–
For even defrosting and to avoid
overcooking unevenly shaped cuts of
meat, poultry or fish, small pieces of
aluminium foil may be used to mask
wingtips or other thin parts for the last
few minutes of the programme.
Make sure that the aluminium foil is
at least 2 cm from the oven walls at
all times. It must not touch the walls.
Metal meat skewers or clamps
–
These should only be used if they are
very small in comparison to the size of
the cut of meat.
Glassware
Heat-resistant glass or ceramic glass
are ideal for use in the microwave oven.
Earthenware can get very hot, and
may crack.
Glazes and colours
Some glazes and colours contain
metals which make them unsuitable
for use in a microwave oven.
Plastics
When purchasing plasticware, make
sure that it is suitable for use in a
microwave oven.
Plastic containers must only be used
in microwave mode alone.
Plastics must be heat-resistant to a
minimum of 110 °C. Otherwise the
plastic may melt and fuse with the
food.
Crystal glass contains lead which
could cause the glass to crack.
Glass dishes with a milled rim are
also subject to this risk.
Both are unsuitable.
Porcelain
Porcelain is a suitable material.
Do not use porcelain with gold or
silver edging or items with hollow
knobs or handles, as insufficient
ventilation may cause pressure.
Earthenware
Decorated earthenware is only suitable
if the decoration is beneath an all-over
glaze.
18
Special plastic utensils designed for
use in microwave ovens are available
from good retail outlets. Melamine is not
suitable as it absorbs energy and heats
up.
Disposable containers, such as trays
made from polystyrene, can only be
used for very short timed warming and
reheating of food.
Plastic boiling bags can be used for
cooking and reheating.
They should be pierced beforehand so
that steam can escape. This prevents a
build-up of pressure and reduces the
risk of the bag bursting.
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