Panasonic NN-SD376S User Manual

Operation Guide and Cookbook

Microwave Oven

Model: NN-SD376S

Table of Contents
Before Operation
Safety Instructions ....................................................................................................................	2
Installation and General Instructions ........................................................................................	3
Microwaves and How They Work .............................................................................................	4
Cookware and Utensil Guide.................................................................................................	4-5
Feature Diagram.......................................................................................................................	6
Control Panel............................................................................................................................	7
Ingredient Conversion Chart...................................................................................................	10
Operation and Hints
To Set Clock .............................................................................................................................	9
To Use Child Safety Lock .........................................................................................................	9
To Cook by MICRO POWER AND TIME .............................................................................	8
by Auto Menu Cooking ........................................................................................	15
To Reheat by MICRO POWER AND TIME ..................................................................	8, 10-11
using AUTO REHEAT .........................................................................................	14
To Defrost by MICRO POWER AND TIME .............................................................................	8
using TURBO DEFROST ....................................................................................	12
To Use Timer..........................................................................................................................	16
Quick Guide to Operation .......................................................................................................	37
Cooking Guide
Microwave Recipe Preparation and Techniques...............................................................	17-19
Everyday Basic.......................................................................................................................	20
Soups and Snacks ............................................................................................................	21-22
Fish and Shellfish ...................................................................................................................	23
Poultry ...............................................................................................................................	24-25
Main Fare Meats ...............................................................................................................	26-28
Vegetable Varieties ...........................................................................................................	29-31
Rice, Pasta and Cereal .....................................................................................................	32-33
Desserts .................................................................................................................................	34
Maintenance
Before Requesting Service.....................................................................................................	35
Care of Your Microwave Oven ...............................................................................................	36
Technical Specifications .........................................................................................................	36

Operation Before

Hints & Operation

Guide Cooking

Maintenance

– 1 –

Safety Instructions

Precautions to be taken when using Microwave Ovens for Heating foodstuffs

INSPECTION FOR DAMAGE. A microwave oven should only be used if an inspection confirms all of the following conditions:

1.The grille is not damaged or broken.

2.The door fits squarely and securely and opens and closes smoothly.

3.The door hinges are in good condition.

4.The metal plates of a metal seal on the door are neither buckled nor deformed.

5.The door seals are neither covered with food nor

have large burn marks. PRECAUTIONS. Microwave radiation from

microwave ovens can cause harmful effects if the following precautions are not taken:

1.Never tamper with or deactivate the interlocking devices on the door.

2.Never poke an object, particularly a metal object, through a grille or between the door and the oven while the oven is operating.

3.Never place saucepans, unopened cans or other heavy metal objects in the oven.

4.Do not let other metallic articles, e.g., fast food foil containers, touch the side of the oven.

5.Clean the oven cavity, the door and the seals with water and a mild detergent at regular intervals. Never use any form of abrasive cleaner that may scratch or scour surfaces around the door.

6.Always use the oven with trays or cookware recommended by the manufacturer.

7.Never operate the oven without a load (i.e., an absorbing material such as food or water) in the oven cavity unless specifically allowed in the manufacturer’s literature.

8.For horizontally hinged doors, never rest heavy objects such as food containers on the door while it is open.

9.Do not place sealed containers in microwave ovens. Baby bottles fitted with a screw cap or a teat are considered to be sealed containers.

10.The appliance is not intended for use by young children or infirm persons without supervision.

11.Young children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance.

Important Instructions

WARNING—To reduce the risk of burns, electric shock, fire, injury to persons or excessive microwave energy:

1.Read all instructions before using the microwave oven.

2.Some products such as whole eggs and sealed containers - (for example, closed glass jars and sealed baby bottles with teat) - may explode and should not be heated in the microwave oven.

3.Use this microwave oven only for its intended use as described in this manual.

4.As with any appliance, close supervision is necessary when used by children.

5.Do not operate this microwave oven if it is not working properly or if it has been damaged or dropped.

6.To reduce the risk of fire in the oven cavity:

(a)Do not overcook food. Carefully attend microwave oven if paper, plastic, or other combustible materials are placed inside the oven to facilitate cooking.

(b)Heating theraputic wheat bags is not recommended. If heating, do not leave unattended and follow manufacturers’ instructions carefully.

(c)Remove wire twist-ties from bags before placing bag in oven.

(d)If materials inside the oven should ignite, keep oven door closed, turn oven off at the wall switch, or shut off power at the fuse or circuit breaker panel.

Earthing Instructions

This microwave oven must be earthed. In the event of an electrical short circuit, earthing reduces the risk of electric shock by providing an escape wire for the electric current. This microwave oven is equipped with a cord having an earthing wire with an earthing plug. The plug must be plugged into an outlet that is properly installed and earthed.

WARNING—Improper use of the earthing plug can result in a risk of electric shock.

WE CERTIFY THAT THIS MICROWAVE OVEN HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATION 3, SUBCLAUSE(2), OF THE MICROWAVE OVENS REGULATIONS 1982.

MATSUSHITA ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL CO.,LTD.

(This statement applicable only to New Zealand.)

We certify that this microwave oven has been inspected and complies with the safety requirements of government notice 466 of March 1981, and complies with the Radio Regulation of government notice 587 of March 1986.

WARNING

(This statement applicable only to South Africa)

a)The door seals and door seal areas should be cleaned with a damp cloth. The appliance should be inspected for damage to the door seals and door seal areas and if these areas are damaged the appliance should not be operated until it has been repaired by a qualified service technician trained by the manufacturer.

b)It is dangerous for anyone other than a qualified service technician trained by the manufacturer to perform repair services.

c)If the supply cord of this appliance is damaged, it must be replaced by a qualified service technician with the special cord available only from the manufacturer.

d)Before use, the user should check that utensils are suitable for use in microwave ovens.

e)Liquids or other foods must not be heated in sealed containers since they are liable to explode.

f)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.

– 2 –

Installation and General Instructions

General Use

1.In order to maintain high quality, do not operate the oven when empty. The microwave energy will reflect continuously throughout the oven if no food or water is present to absorb energy.

2.If smoke is observed, press the Stop/Reset Pad and leave door closed in order to stifle any flames. Disconnect the power cord, and/or shut off power at the fuse or circuit breaker panel.

3.Do not dry clothes, newspapers or other materials in oven. They may catch on fire.

4.Do not use recycled paper products, unless the paper product is labelled as safe for microwave oven use. Recycled paper products may contain impurities which may cause sparks and/or fires when used.

5.Do not use newspapers or paper bags for cooking.

6.Do not hit or strike the Control Panel. Damage to controls may occur.

7.POT HOLDERS may be needed as heat from food is transferred to the cooking container and from the container to the Glass Tray. The GlassTray can be very hot after removing the cooking container from the oven.

8.Do not store flammable materials next to, on top of, or in the oven. It could be a fire hazard.

9.Do not cook food directly on Glass Tray unless indicated in recipes. (Food should be placed in a suitable cooking utensil.)

10.DO NOT use this oven to heat chemicals or other non-food products. DO NOT clean this oven with any product that is labelled as containing corrosive chemicals. The heating of corrosive chemicals in this oven may cause microwave radiation leaks.

Placement of Oven

1.The oven must be placed on a flat, stable surface. For correct operation, the oven must have sufficient air flow. Allow 15 cm of space on the top of the oven, 10 cm at the back, and 5 cm on both sides. If one side of the oven is placed flush to wall, the other side or top must not be blocked. Do not remove feet.

a.Do not block air vents. If they are blocked during operation, the oven may overheat. The oven will remain inoperable until it has cooled.

b.Do not place oven near a hot or damp surface such as a gas stove, electric range or sink etc.

c.Do not operate oven when room humidity is too high.

2.This oven was manufactured for household use only.

3.This microwave oven is designed and approved for counter top use only. Failure due to built-in installation may void the warranty.

Circuits

Your microwave oven should be operated on a separate 10 A circuit from other appliances. Failure to do this may cause the power board fuse to blow, and/or food to cook slower. Do not insert higher value fuse in the power board.

Food

1.Do not use your oven for home canning or the heating of any closed jar. Pressure will build up and the jar may explode. In addition, the microwave oven cannot maintain the food at the correct canning temperature. Improperly canned food may spoil and be dangerous to consume.

2.Do not attempt to deep fat fry in your microwave oven.

3.Do not boil eggs in their shell and whole hardboiled eggs (unless otherwise stated in Cooking Guide section). Pressure will build up and the eggs will explode.

4.Potatoes, apples, egg yolks, chicken wings, whole squash and sausages are examples of foods with nonporous skins. This type of food must be pierced before cooking, to prevent bursting.

5.When heating liquids, e.g. 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 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 halfway through cooking time.

d)After heating, allow to stand in the oven for a short time, stirring again before carefully removing the container.

6.DO NOT USE A CONVENTIONAL MEAT THERMOMETER IN THE MICROWAVE OVEN. To check the degree of cooking of roasts and poultry use a MICROWAVE THERMOMETER.

Alternatively, a conventional meat thermometer may be used after the food is removed from the oven. If undercooked, return meat or poultry to the oven and cook for a few more minutes at the recommended power level. It is important to ensure that meat and poultry are thoroughly cooked.

7.COOKING TIMES given in the Cooking Guide section are APPROXIMATE. Factors that may affect cooking time are preferred degree of moisture content, starting temperature, altitude, volume, size, shape of food and utensils used. As you become familiar with the oven, you will be able to adjust for these factors.

8.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 recommended.

9.Extreme care should be taken when cooking popcorn in a microwave oven. Cook for minimum time as recommended by manufacturer. Use the directions suitable for the wattage of your microwave oven. NEVER leave oven unattended when popping popcorn.

10.When heating food in plastic or paper containers, check the oven frequently due to the possibility of ignition.

11.The contents of feeding bottles and baby food jars are to be stirred or shaken and the temperature is to be checked before consumption, in order to avoid burns.

Operation Before

– 3 –

Microwaves and How They Work

Microwaves are a form of high frequency radio waves similar to those used by a radio, including AM, FM and CB. They are similar to a television where the radio waves are converted to a picture on the screen. However, microwaves are much shorter than radio waves; approximately twelve centimetres wave length. Electricity is converted into microwave energy by the magnetron tube (which is the heart of the microwave oven).

From the magnetron tube, microwave energy is transmitted to the oven cavity through a small plastic covered piece. The microwaves are converted to heat in the food. The microwaves enter from the outside of the food and travel through the food losing half of their power every two to three centimetres. Continued cooking to the centre occurs by conduction.

Although pacemakers used to be affected by microwaves (as well as by other radio waves), they are now shielded and are not bothered by these interferences. This allows people with pacemakers to sit calmly by their radio or television and cook with microwave ovens.

When microwaves come in contact with a substance, any one or combination of three things may occur. They can be:

1.REFLECTED

2.TRANSMITTED

3.ABSORBED

Reflection:

Metal substances REFLECT microwave energy and because there is no absorption, there is no heating. This is why the oven interior is either stainless steel or epoxy-coated steel. This ensures that the microwaves are kept inside the cavity and evenly distributed throughout the food with the help of the turntable.

Transmission:

Such substances as paper, glass and plastic TRANSMIT microwave energy and do not become hot except from food. Because these substances do not reflect or absorb microwave energy, they are ideal materials for microwave cooking containers.

Absorption:

Food contains moisture and will ABSORB microwave energy, which causes the moisture molecules within the food to vibrate at an incredible rate (2,450,000,000 times per second). Friction, created by the vibration, produces heat energy which is conducted throughout the food.

Cookware and Utensil Guide

It is important to use the correct container when cooking in a microwave oven. The following will help you make the right selection.

How to Test a Container for Safe Microwave Oven Use

TO TEST A CONTAINER FOR SAFE MICROWAVE OVEN USE: Fill a 1-cup glass measure with cool water and place it in the microwave oven alongside the empty container to be tested; heat one (1) minute at High. If the container is microwave ovensafe (transparent to microwave energy), the container should remain comfortably cool, the water in glass measure should be hot. If the container is hot, it has absorbed some microwave energy and should NOT be used. This test cannot be used for plastic containers.

Paper Products and Freezer Wrap

Waxed paper, paper plates, cups and napkins should not be used for heating or cooking food. Freezer wrap should not be used as it is not heat resistant and may melt. Paper towel, greaseproof paper and bake paper may be safely used for short periods of time for covering or lining.

Glass, Ceramic and China

Heat-Resistant glass cookware is invaluable in microwave cooking. Many of these items are readily available in most homes: glass jugs, mixing bowls, loaf dishes, covered casseroles, oblong baking dishes, pie plates and round or square cake dishes. Examples of this type of cookware are Pyrex® and Corningware®.

Dinnerware can be used for microwave heating. Many brands of dinnerware are microwave safe. Check the care information for reference to microwave use for dinnerware and serving pieces. If dinnerware is marked ovenproof, it frequently is safe to use in the microwave oven. However, to be sure, check by conducting microwave dish test previously mentioned.

Several types of glassware and dinnerware are not recommended for use in the microwave oven. Do not use dishes with metallic trim or containers with metal parts. Do not use cups or mugs with glued on handles, as they may fall off with continued heating. Do not use delicate glassware. Although the glassware may be transparent to microwave energy the heat from the food may cause the glassware to crack.

– 4 –

Cookware and Utensil Guide (continued)

Plastics

Metal

Plastic dishes, cups and some freezer containers should be used with care in a microwave oven. Choose plastic containers carefully, as some plastic containers may become soft, melt and may scorch. The majority of plastic dishes, even those designed for use in the microwave oven, are not suitable for cooking foods with high fat or sugar content, or for lengthy cooking times. Most microwave plastic dishes should not be used for longer than 3 to 5 minutes on High power. These dishes, although not suitable for extended cooking, may be used successfully for defrosting or for use on lower power levels.

Cooking Bags designed to withstand boiling, freezing, or conventional heating are microwave safe. Prepare bags according to manufacturer’s directions. When cooking by microwave, DO NOT use wire twist-ties to close bag. They can act as an antenna and cause arcing (sparks).

DO NOT COOK IN PLASTIC FOOD STORAGE BAGS.

Plastic Wrap such as GLAD WRAP® can be used to cover dishes in most recipes. Over an extended heating time, some disfiguration of the wrap may occur. When removing plastic wrap “covers”, as well as any glass lid, be careful to remove it away from you to avoid steam burns.

Loosen plastic but let dish stand, covered.

Jars and Bottles

Jars and bottles can be used to warm food to serving temperature, if the lid is removed first. Cooking should not be done in these containers since most are not heat resistant and during extended heating times, heat from food would cause cracking or breaking.

Metal cookware or utensils, or those with metallic trim, should NOT be used in the microwave. Since microwave energy is reflected by metal, foods in metal containers will not cook evenly. There is also a possibility of “arcing.”

Although metal utensils should be avoided in microwave cooking, some metal can be helpful when used correctly.

Aluminum foil can be used safely, if certain guidelines are followed, to prevent overcooking. Small pieces of foil are used to shield areas such as chicken wings, tips of roasts, or other thin parts that cook before the rest of the recipe is finished. Make sure foil is attached securely and doesn’t touch sides of oven, otherwise arcing may occur. Foil lined containers, either cardboard or plastic, should NOT be used in the microwave oven as arcing could occur.

Metal twist-ties, either paper or plastic coated, should NOT be used in the microwave oven. Frozen dinner trays can be used in the microwave, if the container is no deeper than 2 cm and is filled with food. Metal skewers can not be used in microwave ovens as arcing may occur. Wooden skewers are readily available and give the same result.

Shells: Scalloped baking shells are best used during reheating and for short periods of cooking time only.

Thermometers are available for use in microwave ovens. DO NOT USE CONVENTIONAL MERCURY TYPE CANDY OR MEAT THERMOMETERS in food while cooking in the microwave oven.

Straw, Wicker and Wood

Straw and wicker baskets may be used in the microwave oven for short periods of time to warm rolls or bread. Large wooden utensils, such as bowls or cutting boards should NOT be used for prolonged heating as the microwave energy may cause the wood to become dry and brittle.

Operation Before

– 5 –

Feature Diagram

Glass Tray

1.Do not operate the oven without the Roller Ring and Glass Tray in place.

2.Only use the Glass Tray specifically designed for this oven. Do not substitute another Glass Tray.

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

4.Do not cook directly on Glass Tray. Always place food on a microwave-safe dish, or on a rack set in a microwave-safe dish.

5.If food or utensil on Glass Tray touches oven walls, causing the tray to stop moving, the tray will automatically rotate in opposite direction. This is normal.

6.Glass Tray can rotate in either direction.

Oven Window with Vapor Barrier Film

(do not remove)

Door Safety Lock System

Identification Plate

The model number and serial number are displayed here

	External Air Vents	Menu Label	Time/Weight and
			Auto Menu Dial

Door Safety

Lock System

Control Panel

Internal

Cover

Air Vents

(do not remove)

External Air Vents

•May be covered with removable protective film to prevent scratches during shipping. Small bubbles may appear under this film. When this happens, remove film carefully.

(Hint - apply masking or clear tape to an exposed corner and pull gently to remove.)

•If it becomes wet, clean with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use harsh detergents or abrasives on the 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 Tray for cooking.

Door Release Button

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 Pad is pressed. It is quite safe to open the door at any time during a cooking program and there is no risk of Microwave exposure.

Oven Light

Oven Light will turn on during cooking and will turn off when door is opened.

– 6 –

Control Panel

(1)

(2)

(4)

(3)

(5)

(6)	(8)
(7)
(9)	(10)
(11)	(12)

(1)Display Window

(2)Auto Reheat Pad

(3)Frozen Reheat Pad

(4)Beverage Pad

(5)Time/Weight and Auto Menu Dial

(6)Micro Power Pad

(7)Auto Menu Pad

(8)Turbo Defrost Pad

(9)Timer Pad

(10)Clock Pad

Beep Sound

(11) Stop/Reset Pad

Before cooking: One tap clears your instructions.

During cooking: One tap temporarily stops the cooking process. Another tap cancels all your instructions and time of day appears in the Display Window.

(12) Start Pad

One tap allows oven to begin functioning. If door is opened or Stop/Reset Pad is pressed once during oven operation, Start Pad must again be pressed to restart oven.

When a pad is pressed correctly, a beep will be heard. If a pad is pressed and no beep is heard, the unit did not or could not accept the instruction. The oven will beep twice between programmed stages. At the end of any completed program, the oven will beep 5 times.

Hints & Operation

– 7 –

To Cook / Reheat / Defrost by Micro Power and Time

1 Plug in

Plug into a properly earthed electrical outlet.

2 Open Door

Open the door and place container with food in a dish on Glass Tray in the oven. Then close the door.

3 Select Power Level

Press Micro Power pad to your desired power level.

To select MEDIUM power press Micro Power pad 4 times.

Press

Note: When selecting High Power on the first stage, you can start from step 4.

4Set Time (e.g. 1 minute 30 seconds)

Turning Time/Weight Dial

or

Note: For High Power, up to 30 minutes. For other Power, up to 90 minutes for a single stage.

5 Press

Verify your selection(s) in the Display Window.

For more than one stage cooking:

Repeat steps 3 & 4 above then press Start Pad. The maxium number of stages for cooking is 3. The oven will beep twice between stages and five times at the end of cooking.

e.g. : Casserole	Stage 3	Stage 4
	HIGH for 10 minutes	MEDIUM for 50 minutes
	to bring to a boil	to finish cooking by simmering

Micro Power:

The Micro Power Pad gives you a selection of different power levels representing decreasing amounts of microwave energy used for cooking foods at different speeds. To select the correct power level for cooking different foods, refer to the chart below.

	POWER LEVEL	POWER	WATTAGE	EXAMPLE OF USE
	HIGH	100%	850W	Boil water. Cook fresh fruit, vegetables, rice, pasta and noodles.
	DEFROST	30%	260W	Thaw foods.
	MEDIUM-HIGH	70%	600W	Cook poultry, meat, cakes, desserts. Heat milk.
	MEDIUM	50%	470W	Cook pot roasts, casseroles and meatloaves, melt chocolate.
				Cook eggs and cheeses. Cook fish.
	MED-LOW	30%	260W	Cook less tender cuts of meat, simmer soups and stews,
				and soften butter and cream cheese.
	LOW	10%	90W	Keep cooked foods warm, simmer slowly.

– 8 –

To Set Clock

You can use the oven without setting the clock.

1 Press Once

The colon start to blink.

2 Enter Time of Day

Enter time of day by turning Time/Weight Dial e.g. 11:25 (12 hour Clock)

or

Time appears in the Display Window, colon is blinking.

Verify time of day in the Display Window.

3 Press

The colon stops blinking; time of day is now locked into Display Window.

NOTES: Oven will not operate while colon is still blinking

1.To reset time of day, repeat step 1 through 3.

2.The clock will keep the time of day as long as oven is plugged in and electricity is supplied.

3.This is a 12 hour clock, ie 2pm = 2:00 not 14:00

Hints & Operation

To Use Child Safety Lock

This feature allows you to prevent operation of the oven by a young child; however, the door will open. You can set Child Safety Lock when colon or time of day is displayed.

To set:

Colon or time of	Press 3 times.	Display Window
day is displayed

To cancel:

Display Window	Press 3 times.	Colon or time of
		day is displayed

– 9 –

To Reheat by Micro Power and Time

Reheat by Setting Power and Time - Frozen Pre-cooked Foods

	FROZEN ITEM	POWER	TIME		SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
	(Pre-cooked)		(in minutes)
	BREAD &
	BAKED PRODUCT
	Bread 1 slice	HIGH	10 - 15 sec		Do not let bread get hot, or it will become
	1 loaf	HIGH	2	- 4	rubbery and dry out. Remove whole loaf
					from original wrapper.
	6 rolls	MEDIUM	1	- 2	Place on paper towel to absorb moisture.
	Cheesecake (600 g)	DEFROST	2	- 3	Remove from container. Defrost on plate.
	Muffins - 4 (350 g)	HIGH	2	- 3	Place onto paper towel lined plate.
	Scones - 6 (400 g)	MEDIUM	1	- 2	Defrost on paper lined plate. Stand 2 minutes.
	PIES
	Fruit Pie (500 g)	DEFROST	6	- 8	Remove from foil container and place
		then			uncovered into a pie dish.
		HIGH	4	- 6
	Meat Pie (300 g)	DEFROST	4	- 6	Place onto paper towel lined plate.
		then
		MEDIUM	2	- 3
	Pizza (350 g)	HIGH	5	- 7	Remove from package and place onto paper
					towel or follow manufacturer’s instructions.
	FROZEN MEAL
	Fish in Sauce (200 g)	MEDIUM	6	- 7	Pierce corner of bag. Heat on a plate.
	Frozen Casserole	MEDIUM	4	- 6	Pierce pouch.
	(serves 2)				Heat on a plate or bowl.
	Lasagne (300 g)	MEDIUM	10	- 12	Remove from foil container, place into serving dish.
	Plate Food	DEFROST	3	- 4	Arrange food evenly on a dinner plate. Add
		then			butter or gravy where desired. Cover plate
		HIGH	2	- 3	with plastic wrap.
	TV style dinner (400 g)	MEDIUM	8 - 10		Remove foil cover and replace with plastic wrap.
	Vegetables & Sauce	MEDIUM	8 - 10		Pierce corner of bag. Heat on a plate.
	(in the bag) (400 g)
	MISCELLANEOUS
	Chicken Pieces (500 g)	DEFROST	5	- 7	Place onto paper towel lined plate.
		then
		HIGH	6	- 8
	Croissants - 4 (250 g)	MEDIUM	2	- 3	Place onto paper towel lined plate.
	Fish Fingers - 8	DEFROST	3	- 5	Place onto paper towel lined plate.
	(200 g)	then
		HIGH	2	- 3
	Sausage Rolls (250 g)	MEDIUM	3	- 5	Place onto paper towel lined plate.

– 10 –

Reheat

IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN REHEATING COLD FOODS

STARTING TEMPERATURE —

Foods taken from the refrigerator will take longer to reheat than foods from room temperature.

Quantity —

One serving heats faster than several servings. When heating large quantities, stir food to ensure even heating. It is quicker to heat individual plates of food than large quantities in a casserole dish.

Plated Dinners —

Arrange foods with the most dense items towards the outside of the plate. Cover meats with sauces/gravies if desired, spread out mashed potatoes or rice so it heats more evenly. When assembling plates of leftover foods, use foods which have a similar starting temperature.

Covering Foods —

Most foods need to be covered with one sheet of absorbent paper towel to hold in the heat and prevent splattering without steaming. When more moisture is desired, cover with plastic wrap.

Heating —

Reheating is usually done on High, however, if food has a more delicate texture, like a baked custard, a lower power setting should be used. Medium for a little longer will be gentler on the food. An average plate of food would generally take 1 to 3 minutes to heat depending on the density of the food. Place it in for the minimum time and add extra heating time if required.

Ensure food is hot by feeling the bottom of the plate in the centre.If the plate is cool, food may be warm but will lose heat quickly as the plate will absorb the heat and taste cold when served.

If food is not heated enough, consumption may cause illness.

Elevation —

Elevate pastries and breads on a small plastic rack with paper towel under the food to prevent it from becoming soggy.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN REHEATING FOODS FROM THE FREEZER

VOLUME —

The greater the volume and the more dense the item, the longer it takes to reheat. E.g. frozen cake will take less time than frozen casserole.

LARGE VOLUME —

Large , dense, frozen precooked foods are best thawed on defrost until icy in the centre then heated on Medium-High. This prevents overcooking of the edges. Stirring is often needed to distribute heat evenly.

Commercial frozen foods —

These foods should be removed from their foil containers if possible and placed into suitable microwave safe containers. If a foil container is used in the microwave oven it shouldn't be more than 4 cm high and must not touch the interior of the microwave oven. Remove the cover from the tray and replace with paper towel or plastic wrap to prevent splattering.

Foods to be served at room temperature —

For best results, defrost for a short time and allow to stand to complete thawing, e.g. frozen cake.

Vacuum sealed pouches —

Pierce pouches, bags before heating to allow steam to escape. This prevents bursting.

Containers —

Use dishes about the same volume of the food or slightly larger to allow for stirring. Remove or release snap seal lids other wise they will pop during heating and may disfigure.

Pies and pastries —

Pies and pastries that contain raw pastry and filling cannot be cooked in the microwave oven. Precooked products can be thawed and heated. Place them on a sheet of paper towel and elevate on plastic rack for best results. For added crispness place under the grill or in a hot oven for few minutes. Pastry items can become tough and rubbery if overheated, remember to allow 5 minutes standing then test before adding extra heating time.

Hints & Operation

– 11 –