PANASONIC NNGD379SBPQ User Manual

Operating Instructions and Cookbook

Microwave and Grill Oven

Important safety instructions

Please read carefully and keep for future reference

Model Number: NN-GD379S

Important Notice

Your oven is rated 850 Watts (IEC). When using other cookbooks remember to adjust cooking times accordingly. The symbol above, which is displayed on your oven door, indicates the heating category for your oven when cooking or reheating convenience foods. Your oven is rated ‘E’, which is very efficient. It is therefore very important that you refer carefully to the packet instructions on convenience foods. Some packet instructions only display information for B or D rated ovens. We therefore provide additional guidelines for reheating and cooking on pages 27-33 of this book. ALWAYS check the progress of the food as it cooks or reheats by simply opening the door. After checking the progress of the foods, press START to continue the cooking time.

Failure to follow the instructions given in this Cookbook and Operating Instructions, may affect the recipe result and in some instances may be dangerous.

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Customer Care Centre 0844 8443868

Selected Spares and Accessories:

Order direct on line at www.panasonic.co.uk or by telephoning the Customer Care Centre number above.

For Cookery Advice call: 01344 862108 (open 4 days a week) Alternatively visit our web site at www.cooking-corner.co.uk

850W

The IEC (60705) power output (watts)

The heating category for small packs of food

Microwave symbol

Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Unpacking your oven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Before using your oven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Care & cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Maintenance of your oven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Parts of your oven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Important Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9

Microwaving Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

General Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13

Containers to use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15

Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16-20

Auto Weight Defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Defrosting Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Defrosting Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Auto Weight Cooking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24-26

Cooking/Reheating Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Reheating/Cooking Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-33

Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34-41

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

This appliance is supplied with a moulded three pin mains plug for your safety and convenience, which may be marked, and rated, either 10 amps or 13 amps.

A 10 amp or 13 amp fuse is fitted according to the type of mains plug fitted.

Should the fuse need to be replaced, please ensure that the replacement fuse has the correct rating for the type of mains plug fitted and that it is approved by ASTA or BSI to BSI362.

Check for the ASTA mark or the BSI mark on the body of the fuse.

IF THE FITTED MOULDED PLUG IS UNSUITABLE FOR THE SOCKET OUTLET IN YOUR HOME THEN THE FUSE SHOULD BE REMOVED AND THE PLUG CUT OFF AND DISPOSED OF SAFELY AND AN APPROPRIATE ONE FITTED. THERE IS A DANGER OF SEVERE ELECTRICAL SHOCK IF THE CUT OFF PLUG IS INSERTED INTO ANY 13 AMP SOCKET.

If a new plug is to be fitted, please observe the wiring code as shown opposite. If in any doubt, please consult a qualified electrician (For U.K. Models only).

Warning: this appliance must be earthed.

Important: The wires in this mains lead are

coloured in accordance with the following code: Green-and-yellow: Earth. Blue: Neutral. Brown: Live.

As the colours of the wire in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:

The wire which is coloured green-and-yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter E or by the Earth symbol or coloured GREEN or GREENAND-YELLOW.

The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK.

The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter L or coloured RED.

When this oven is installed it should be easy to isolate the appliance from the electricity supply by pulling out the plug or operating a circuit breaker.

Do not immerse cord, plug or oven in water. Keep cord away from heated surfaces. Do not let cord hang over the edge of table or work top. Do not plug your oven in via an extension cable as this can be dangerous. It is important to plug the oven directly into a wall socket.

The back of the appliance heats up during use. Do not allow the cord to be in contact with the back of the appliance or cabinet surface.

Important

If the fuse cover is detachable, never use the plug with the cover omitted. If a replacement fuse cover is required, ensure it is the same colour as that visible on the pin face of the plug. A replacement fuse cover can be purchased from your local Panasonic Dealer.

How to replace the fuse

Open the fuse compartment with a screwdriver and replace the fuse.

Voltage & Power

The voltage used must be the same as specified on this microwave oven. Using a higher voltage than that which is specified is dangerous and may result in a fire or other type of accident causing damage.

1. Examine Your Oven

Unpack oven, remove all packing material, and examine the oven for any damage such as dents, broken door latches or cracks in the door. Notify dealer immediately if unit is damaged. Do NOT install if unit is damaged.

2. Guarantee

Your receipt is your guarantee, please keep safely.

Cord

If the supply cord of this appliance is damaged, it must be replaced by the manufacturer or itʼs service agent or a similarly qualified person in order to avoid a hazard.

N.B. The appliance should be inspected for damage to the door seals and door seal areas. If these areas are damaged the appliance should not be operated until it has been repaired by a service technician trained by the manufacturer.

This oven is intended for counter-top use only. It is not intended for built-in use or for use inside a cupboard.

1. Oven must be placed on a flat, stable surface 850mm above floor

level. For proper operation, the oven must have sufficient air flow, i.e. 5cm/2" at one side, the other being open; 15cm/6" clear over the top; 10cm/4" at the rear.

2. Do not place the microwave oven on a shelf directly above a gas or electric hob. This may be a safety hazard and the oven may be damaged.

3. Do not block air vents on the rear and bottom or top of the cabinet. Do not place any articles on the top of the oven over the vents. If air vents are blocked during operation, the oven may overheat. If the oven overheats, a thermal safety device will turn the oven off. The oven will remain inoperable with blank display until it has cooled.

4. Do not use outdoors.

5cm

open

15cm"

10 cm

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4. In the case of electronic failure, the oven can only be turned off at wall socket.

5. Only allow children to use the oven without supervision when adequate instructions have been

given so that the child is able to use the oven in a safe way and understands the hazards of improper use. Ensure that children do not touch the hot outer casing after operation of the oven.

Storage of Accessories

Do not store any objects other than oven accessories inside the oven in case it is accidentally turned on.

Before Use

Before using Combination or Grill function for the first time operate the oven without food and accessories (including glass turntable and roller ring) on GRILL 1 for 5 mins. This will allow the oil that is used for rust protection to be burned off. This is the only time that the oven is operated empty. Caution: All inside surfaces of the oven will be hot.

8. This appliance is not intended to be operated by means of an external timer or separate remote control system.

DO NOT OPERATE THE OVEN EMPTY. (Apart from in point 6 above). The appliance must not be operated by MICROWAVE or COMBINATION WITHOUT FOOD IN THE OVEN. Operation when empty will damage the appliance.

1. Exterior oven surfaces, including air vents

on the cabinet and the oven door will get hot during combination and grilling, take care when opening or closing the door and when inserting or removing food and accessories.

2. The oven has a heater situated in the top of the oven. After using either the grill or combination functions, the inside surfaces of the oven will be very hot. Care should be taken to avoid touching any of the inside surfaces near the heating element inside the oven. N.B. After cooking by these modes, the oven accessories will be very hot.

3. Children should be kept away from the oven at all times and should only be allowed to operate the oven in combination mode under supervision due to the temperatures generated. Ensure that children do not touch the hot outer casing after operation of the oven.

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Attention: Hot Surfaces

1. Switch the oven off before cleaning and unplug at socket if possible.

2. Keep the inside of the oven, door seals and door seal areas clean

. When food

splatters or spilled liquids adhere to oven walls, door seals and door seal areas wipe off with a damp cloth. Mild detergent may be used if they get very dirty. The use of harsh detergent or abrasives is not recommended. Take care when cleaning around the microwave feed guide.

3. Your oven cavity

is constructed of zinc coated steel, painted with an extremely durable coating. After use, the oven interior should be wiped out to remove any remaining water in order to reduce the risk of corrosion to the cavity and door. The cavity and door can be damaged by abrasive cleaners and sharp objects so care must be taken to avoid damage caused in this way. If the cavity or door become damaged the lining may begin to corrode. Providing the above precautions are taken regarding the cleaning and care of your oven the life of the cavity and door may be extended.

4. The outside oven surface

should be cleaned with a damp cloth. To prevent damage to the operating parts inside the oven, water should not be allowed to seep into the ventilation openings.

5. If the control panel

becomes dirty, clean with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use harsh detergents or abrasives on the Control Panel. When cleaning the Control Panel, leave the oven door open to prevent the oven from accidentally turning on. After cleaning touch STOP/CANCEL Pad to clear display window.

6. Do not use harsh abrasive cleaners or sharp metal scrapers to clean the oven door glass since they can scratch the surface, which may result in shattering of the glass.

7. Keep air vents

clear at all times. Check that no dust or other material is blocking any of the air vents on the top, bottom or rear of the oven. If air vents become blocked this could cause overheating which would affect the operation of the oven and possibly result in a hazardous situation.

8. If steam accumulates

inside or around the outside of the oven door, wipe with a soft cloth. This may occur when the microwave oven is operated under high humidity conditions and in no way indicates a malfunction of the unit or microwave leakage.

9. It is occasionally necessary to remove the glass turntable

for cleaning. Wash the turntable

in warm soapy water. Do not place in the dishwasher.

10. The roller ring and oven cavity floor

should be cleaned regularly to avoid excessive noise. Simply wipe the bottom surface of the oven, particularly the turntable spindle and the area surrounding this, with mild detergent and hot water then dry with a clean cloth. The roller ring may be washed in mild soapy water. After removing the roller ring from cavity floor for cleaning, be sure to replace it in the proper position.

11. When GRILLING or cooking by COMBINATION,

some foods may splatter grease onto the oven walls. If the oven is not cleaned to eliminate this grease, it can accumulate and cause the oven to ʻSMOKEʼ during use. These marks will be more difficult to clean later.

12. A steam cleaner is not to be used for cleaning.

Important

It is essential for the safe operation of the oven that it is kept clean, and wiped out after each use. Failure to maintain the oven in a clean condition could lead to deterioration of a surface that could adversely affect the life of the appliance and possibly result in a hazardous situation.

1. Service

WHEN YOUR OVEN REQUIRES A SERVICE call your local Panasonic engineer (Customer Care Centre on 0844 8443868 can recommend an engineer). It is hazardous for anyone other than a competent person to carry out any service or repair operation which involves the removal of a cover which gives protection against exposure to microwave energy.

2. Door Seals

Do not attempt to tamper with or make any adjustments or repairs to door, control panel housing, safety interlock switches or any other part of the oven. Do not remove outer panel from oven. The door seals and door seal areas should always be kept clean – use a damp cloth.

Notes. The appliance should be inspected for damage to the door seals and door seal areas.

If these areas are damaged the appliance should not be operated until it has been repaired by a service technician trained by the manufacturer.

3. Oven Light

The oven lamp must be replaced by a service technician trained by the manufacturer. DO NOT attempt to remove the outer casing from the oven.

4. Selected Spares and Accessories

These may be ordered direct; on line at www.panasonic.co.uk or by telephoning the Customer Care Centre 0844 8443868. Most major credit and debit cards accepted. Ensure you quote the correct model number.

1. Do not operate the oven without the Roller

Ring and Glass Turntable in place.

2. Only use the Glass Turntable specifically designed for this oven. Do not substitute with any other Glass Turntable.

3. If Glass Turntable is hot, allow to cool before cleaning or placing in water.

4. Do not cook directly on Glass Turntable. Always place food in a microwave safe dish. The only exception to this is when cooking Jacket Potatoes or Auto Program Jacket Potatoes.

5. If food or utensils on the glass turntable touch the oven walls this will cause the turntable to stop moving. It will then automatically rotate in the opposite direction.This is normal. Open oven door, reposition the food and restart.

6. The Glass Turntable can rotate in either direction. The maximum weight that can be placed on the turntable is 3 Kg (6 lb 10 oz) (this includes total weight of food and dish).

7. While cooking by MICROWAVE or COMBINATION the turntable may vibrate. This will not affect cooking performance.

8. The metal Grill Rack must ONLY be used as directed for GRILLING and COMBINATION cooking. Never use this on MICROWAVE only. Do not use if operating the oven with less than 200g (7oz) of food on a manual Combination program. FAILURE TO USE ACCESSORIES CORRECTLY COULD DAMAGE YOUR OVEN.

9. Arcing may occur if the incorrect weight of food is used, a metal container has been used accidentally, or the grill rack has been damaged. If this occurs, stop the machine immediately. You can continue to cook by GRILL ONLY.

10. Always refer to instructions for correct accessories to use on all programs. The glass turntable and roller ring are the only accessories used for MICROWAVE Cooking.

Glass Turntable

The glass turntable and roller ring are the only

accessories used for Microwave Cooking.

Door Safety Lock System

Control Panel

Roller Ring

1. The Roller Ring and oven floor

should be cleaned frequently to prevent excessive noise.

2. The Roller Ring must always be used together with the Glass Turntable for cooking.

Door Safety Lock System

Microwave Feed Guide (Do not remove)

Grill Element

See-through Oven Window

External Air Vents

Grill Rack

Door Release Pad

Push to open the door. Opening the door during cooking will stop the cooking process without cancelling the program. Cooking resumes as soon as the door is closed and start is pressed.

Display Window

Identification Plate

Power cord

Caution Label

Power cord label

Safety

If smoke or a fire occurs in the oven, press Stop/Cancel pad and leave the door closed, in order to stifle any flames. Disconnect the power cord, or shut off the power at the fuse or the circuit breaker panel.

Short Cooking Times

As microwave cooking times are much shorter than other cooking methods it is essential that recommended cooking times are not exceeded without first checking the food.

Cooking times given in the cookbook are approximate. Factors that may affect cooking times are: preferred degree of cooking, starting temperature, altitude, volume, size and shape of foods and utensils used. As you become familiar with the oven, you will be able to adjust these factors.

It is better to undercook rather than overcook foods. If food is undercooked, it can always be returned to the oven for further cooking. If food is overcooked, nothing can be done. Always start with minimum cooking times.

Important.

If the recommended cooking times are exceeded the food will be spoiled and in extreme circumstances could catch fire and possibly damage the interior of the oven.

1. Small quantities of food.

Take care when heating small quantities of food as these can easily burn, dry out or catch fire if cooked too long. Always set short cooking times and check the food frequently.

NEVER OPERATE THE OVEN WITHOUT FOOD INSIDE ON MICROWAVE OR COMBINATION.

2. Foods low in moisture.

Take care when heating foods low in moisture, eg bread items, chocolate, popcorn, biscuits and pastries. These can easily burn, dry out or catch on fire if cooked too long. We do not recommend heating foods low in moisture such as popcorn or poppadoms. This oven has been developed for food use. We do not recommend that it is used for heating non food items such as wheat bags or hot water bottles.

3. Christmas Pudding.

Christmas puddings and other foods high in fats or sugar, eg. jam, mince pies, must not be over heated. These foods must never be left unattended as with over cooking these foods can ignite.

4. Boiled Eggs.

Eggs in their shell and whole hard-boiled eggs should not be heated in microwave ovens since they may explode even after microwave heating has ended.

5. Foods with Skins.

Potatoes, apples, egg yolk, whole vegetables and sausages are examples of food with non porous skins. These must be pierced using a fork before cooking to prevent bursting.

6. Liquids.

Liquids and other foods must not be heated in sealed containers since they are liable to explode. When heating liquids, eg soup, sauces and beverages in your microwave oven, overheating the liquid beyond boiling point can occur without evidence of bubbling.

This could result in a sudden boil over of the hot liquid. To prevent this possibility the following steps should be taken:

a. Avoid using straight-sided containers

with narrow necks.

b. Do not overheat. c. Stir the liquid before placing the

container in the oven and again halfway through the heating time.

d. After heating, allow to stand in the oven

for a short time, stirring again before carefully removing the container.

e. Microwave heating of beverages can

result in delayed eruptive boiling, therefore care should be taken when handling the container.

7. Lids.

Always remove the lids of jars and containers and takeaway food containers before you microwave them. If you donʼt then steam and pressure might build up inside and cause an explosion even after the microwave cooking has stopped

8. Deep Fat Frying.

Do not attempt to deep fat fry in your oven.

9. Meat Thermometer.

Use a meat thermometer to check the degree of cooking of joints and poultry only when meat has been removed from the microwave. If undercooked, return to the oven and cook for a few more minutes at the recommended power level. Do not leave a conventional meat thermometer in the oven when microwaving.

10. Paper, Plastic.

When heating food in plastic or paper containers keep an eye on the oven due to the possibility of ignition. Do not use wire twist-ties with roasting bags as arcing will occur.

Do not use recycled paper products, eg Kitchen roll unless they say they are specifically designed for use in a microwave oven. These products contain impurities which may cause sparks and/or fires when used.

11. Reheating.

It is essential that reheated food is served “piping hot”. Remove the food from the oven and check that it is “piping hot”, ie steam is being emitted from all parts and any sauce is bubbling. (If you wish you may choose to check the food has reached 72˚C with a food thermometer – but remember do not use this thermometer inside the microwave.)

For foods that cannot be stirred, eg lasagne, shepherds pie, the centre should be cut with a knife to test it is well heated through. Even if a manufacturerʼs packet instructions have been followed always check the food is piping hot before serving and if in doubt return your food to the oven for further heating.

12. Standing Time.

Standing time refers to the period at the end of cooking or reheating when food is left before being eaten, ie. it is a rest time which allows the heat in the food to continue to conduct to the centre, thus eliminating cold spots.

13. Keeping Your Oven Clean.

It is essential for the safe operation of the oven that it is wiped out regularly. Use warm soapy water, squeeze the cloth out well and use to remove any grease or food from the interior. Pay particular attention to the door seal area and also the areas around the microwave feed guide situated on the right hand side of the cavity wall. The oven should be unplugged when cleaning.

14. Grilling

The oven will only operate on the GRILL function with the door closed.

15. Utensils.

Before use check that utensils/containers are suitable for use in microwave ovens. See pages 14-15.

16. Babies Bottles and Food Jars.

When reheating babies bottles always remove top and teat. Liquid at the top of the bottle will be much hotter than that at the bottom and must be shaken thoroughly before checking the temperature. The lid must also be removed from babies food jars, the contents must also be stirred or shaken before the temperature is checked. This should be carried out before consumption to avoid burns. See page 27.

17. Arcing.

Arcing may occur if a metal container has been used accidentally or if the incorrect weight of food is used or the grill rack has been damaged. Arcing is when blue flashes of light are seen in the microwave oven. If this occurs, stop the machine immediately. If the oven is left unattended and this continues it can damage the machine. Continue to cook by GRILL only.

18. Maximum a weight on Turntable.

The maximum weight that can be placed on the turntable is 3 Kg (6 lb 10 oz) (this includes total weight of food and dish).

19. This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety. Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.

The microwaves cause the water molecules to vibrate which causes FRICTION, i.e. HEAT. This heat then cooks the food. Microwaves are also attracted to fat and sugar particles, and foods high in these will cook more quickly. Microwaves can only penetrate to a depth of 1½ -2 inches (4-5 cm) and as heat spreads through the food by conduction, just as in a traditional oven, the food cooks from the outside inwards.

Important notes

The dish used to cook or reheat the food will get warm during cooking, as the heat conducts from the food. Even in micro waving, oven gloves are required!

MICROWAVES CANNOT PASS THROUGH METAL AND THERE FORE METAL COOKING UTEN SILS CAN NEVER BE USED IN A MICROWAVE, FOR COOKING ON MICROWAVE ONLY

Boiled Eggs

Do not boil eggs in your microwave. Raw eggs boiled in their shells can explode and cause serious injury

Microwave energy has been used in this country to cook and reheat food since early experiments with RADAR in World War II. Microwaves are present in the atmosphere all the time, both naturally and from manmade sources.

Manmade sources include radar, radio, television, telecommunication links and car phones.

Microwaving Principles

How Microwaves cook food

In a microwave oven, electricity is converted into microwaves by the MAGNETRON.

Reflection

The microwaves bounce off the metal walls and the metal door screen.

Transmission

Then they pass through the cooking containers to be absorbed by the water molecules in the food, all foods contain water to a more or lesser extent.

Foods Not Suitable for Cooking by Microwave Only

Yorkshire Puddings, Souffles, Double Crust Pastry Pies. This is because these foods rely on dry external heat to cook correctly, do not attempt to cook by micro wave. Foods that require deep fat frying cannot be cooked either.

Standing Time

When a microwave oven is switched off, the food will continue to cook by conduction – NOT BY MICROWAVE ENERGY. Hence STANDING TIME is very important in microwaving, particularly for dense foods i.e. meat, cakes and reheated meals (refer to page 12).

1. Display Window

2. Auto Weight Microwave Programs

3. Auto Weight Combination Programs

4. Auto Weight Chaos Defrost Pad

5. Time/Weight Dial

6. Microwave Power Levels

7. Grill Pad

8. Combination Pad

9. Delay/Stand Pad

10. Clock Pad

11. Stop /Cancel Pad: Before Cooking:

one press clears your instructions.

During Cooking:

one press temporarily stops the cooking program. Another press cancels all your instructions and the time of day will appear in the display.

12. Start Pad

(2)

(1)

(5)

Beep Sound.

When a pad is touched correctly a beep will be heard. If a pad is touched and no beep is heard, the unit has not or cannot accept the instruction. At the end of any complete program, the oven will beep 5 times.

(9)

(3)

(7)

(6)

(4)

(8)

(10)

(12)

(11)

This oven is equipped with an energy saving function.

Please Note

1. When in stand-by mode the brightness of the display will be reduced.

2.The oven will enter stand-by mode, when first plugged in and immediately after the last operation has completed.

General Guidelines

Cling film

Cling film helps keep the food moist and the trapped steam assists in speeding up cooking times. However it should be pierced before cooking, to allow excess steam to escape. Always take care when removing cling film from a dish as the build-up of steam will be very hot. Always purchase cling film that states on the packet “suitable for microwave cooking” and use as a covering only. Do not line dishes with cling film. Do not cover foods when cooking by COMBINATION or GRILL.

Moisture content

Many fresh foods e.g. veget ables and fruit, vary in their moisture content throughout the season. Jacket potatoes are a particular example of this. For this reason cooking times may have to be adjusted throughout the year. Dry ingredients e.g. rice, pasta, can dry out further during storage and cooking times may differ from ingredients freshly purchased.

Standing time

Dense foods e.g. meat, jacket potatoes and cakes, require a STANDING TIME (inside or outside of the oven) after cook ing, to allow heat to finish con ducting to cook the centre completely.

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MEAT JOINTS – Stand 15 mins. wrapped in aluminium foil.

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JACKET POTATOES – Stand 5 mins. wrapped in aluminium foil after cooking by microwave only.

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LIGHT CAKES – Stand 5 mins. before removing from dish.

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RICH DENSE CAKES – Stand 15-20 mins.

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FISH – Stand 2-3 mins.

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EGG DISHES – Stand 1-2 mins.

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PRECOOKED CONVENIENCE FOODS – Stand for 1-2 mins.

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PLATED MEALS – Stand for 2-3 mins.

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VEGETABLES – Boiled potatoes benefit from standing 1-2 mins., however most other types of vegetables can be served immediately. If food is not cooked after STANDING TIME, return to oven and cook for additional time

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DEFROSTING – It is essential to allow standing time to com plete the process. This can vary from 5 mins. e.g. raspberries, to up to 1 hour for a joint of meat. See pages 21-23.

Piercing

The skin or membrane on some foods will cause steam to build up during cooking. These foods must be pierced or a strip of skin should be peeled off before cooking to allow the steam to es cape. Eggs, potatoes, apples, sausages etc., will all need to be pierced before cooking. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BOIL EGGS IN THEIR SHELLS.

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