vee asked:


I dont have any experience in baking since I dont have an oven (only a microwave) but Id like to try learning how to bake. The problem is, I usually find a lot of baked recipes that require an oven. Is it possible to convert oven instructions to microwave oven instructions? For example 450 degrees would be 7 minutes on high in the microwave..

Tina

Chris Campbell asked:


Microwave ovens need to be maintained regularly, or there could be some serious consequences. Microwaves generally seem like simple and reliable appliances, but like anything that ages, things can go wrong with it. Any microwave oven that is getting older than say 15 years, should probably be checked. If you find that food is taking much longer to cook then usual, then perhaps it’s time to have a professional service done. They can test for radiation leakage or any other problems that the microwave is experiencing. They can also make a determination as to whether the microwave oven should be replaced. Chances are, that any microwave of that age should just be replaced. They are pretty inexpensive items, and the newer ones are likely to have more features and conveniences to make your cooking experience more enjoyable. Just in case your one of those avid do-it-yourselfers, here’s a warning. Do not attempt to repair a microwave oven. This is a job strictly for professionals. Microwave circuits carry 3000 to 5000 and sometimes higher volts of electricity. One of the most common repairs that occur in a microwave is a worn out fuse, that gets zapped by a power surge. Easily replaced by a pro, and saves the need of buying a new microwave.

Simple Common Sense Cleaning

Microwave don’t need a whole lot of maintenance, but they do require some. Simply keeping the interior clean is good practice. Covering most foods with a loose top, will keep the food in the dish or on the plate you are microwaving with. Food particles left inside a microwave will eventually turn to carbon after being microwaved multiple times. Carbon particles can arc and present a fire hazard within the microwave. Another little tip to keeping your microwave clean, is to make sure anything you put in is somewhat ventilated. This usually just means poking a few holes in the food or the plastic containers your cooking the food in. This prevents the build up of steam pressure in whatever your cooking. Nothing like an exploding potato to create a big mess for the cook to clean up.

If Ya Can’t Eat It.

One simple rule of thumb for you people that like to find creative ways to use items in a way the manufacturer never intended. Don’t. If your not planning on eating it don’t put it inside a microwave. The only exception to this, would be the microwave safe plate or bowl the food is sitting in. It’s truly amazing hearing about some of the crazy things people have used a microwave for.



Janice

Anna asked:


…And what sort of LID should we use to cover the meals inside the microwave oven?

Thanking you in advance for your time and kind responses.
P.S..: Any reference on the source of your info would be highly appreciated.

Sue

yelrow asked:


Have already scrubed oven with Comet and Vanilla scent. Burn smell is in exhaust system. Can I boil some vinegar in the microwave?

Anita

Pencil Writer asked:


The microwave oven has given a new impetus to the culinary activities in the modern kitchen. This utility has become an unavoidable kitchen appliance. In a hectic lifestyle, a microwave oven is a word synonymous with convenience.

In the early stages of its introduction, it was primarily used for reheating stored or refrigerated food and to make popcorn. The main advantage of a microwave oven is that it can heat the food without heating the cookware directly. The food becomes hot first and then the cookware or the pan gets heated through the food in it. This phenomenon is a unique feature of the utility over the conventional ovens or stoves. In the subsequent periods it has become multipurpose equipment. Many new features were incorporated to facilitate baking, roasting, grilling and toasting apart from the usual cooking methods. The users are also benefited with the efficiency and economy that are offered by the microwave oven.

The most popular type of microwave oven is the small or portable one which can be placed on the kitchen worktop. It is known as compact size microwave oven and used for defrosting or heating food items. The bigger model is the medium sized one which can accommodate casseroles etc to cook vegetable and meat. The largest one is for cooking food in a large scale. Another model is the built in microwave oven, which can be installed only by professional technicians. The power consumption depends on the size of the oven. When the compact size requires 500 to 1000 watts of electricity, the largest size will work on wattage of 2000 or more. The special feature is the convection oven which will be equipped with a fan to circulate heat evenly so that the heating or cooking process will be faster. This type is an ideal one for small eateries or large households. Both built-in type and convection ovens are very expensive. They can be used for browning and broiling the meat in the course of cooking.

But in totality, the microwave oven is used for its efficiency and convenience and not very much for the qualitative advantages. The dieticians recommend microwave oven only for heating, browning and caramelisation. Many experts warn that nutritious values of vegetable will be lost in microwave cooking. Some reports caution that a microwave oven will divest the vitamin contents and phytonutrients of the food due to the radiation. Regular intake of food cooked in microwave oven will cause obesity and related diseases.

Like many other facilities available to those who lead a busy lifestyle, the microwave oven may also contribute to certain hazards. The best option is to use it selectively. It can be used for reheating, melting and making popcorn. Many new features are incorporated in the modern versions like facility to programme the cooking process. Timers are provided to cut off the power once the cooking is completed.

Maintenance of microwave ovens is important. The utility should be cleaned immediately after the use. The filters provided are easily removable to facilitate periodical cleaning. The turn table should be taken out and cleaned. Proper maintenance will ensure durability of the oven. The user should carefully read all the instructions in the manual issued by the manufacturers along with the product.



Agnes

Low Jeremy asked:


A microwave oven in the kitchen is enough to make a homemaker happy with everyday food preparation. Efficiency is the advantage of microwave: faster cooking time, defrosting capability no other cooking appliance can, reheating of food in papers and plastics. Imagine life without microwave oven?

It is a kitchen’s asset but experience can say exactly what is missing with a plain microwave oven professional chefs cannot consider enough as the sole cooking device.

A combination microwave toaster oven will answer to this: both microwave and toaster in one compact unit. Slightly bigger compared to the conventional one, microwave oven toaster functions exactly like any old fashioned oven. It can bake, achieve the desired “browning” and make snack preparation easier.

The good thing about having the latest generation of microwave oven toaster is the provision of digital preset function buttons. This auto-cook configuration will help avoid mistakes in cooking time. The amount of power needed to complete the cooking is also preset.

Actually there is no any other menial task to do other than wait for the food to get cooked. Great meals will truly be one click away with this versatility. Of course, comfort in living will mean cost because microwave toaster oven is higher than ordinary microwave oven.

Initially, there is a need to get acquainted in using microwave oven toaster. It is compact, no pre-heating needed, unconventional in method of cooking and functions differently compared to any cookers accustomed to. Who could ever think foods get cooked without direct heat?

Microwave toaster oven are designed to function as is while powered by electromagnetic waves. Just like any microwave, it has potential hazard to be considered as written in every respective user manuals to follow.

Microwave toaster oven has a definite advantage not present in any other items. The toaster is the deciding point in getting this kind of piece. As a small appliance in the kitchen, it will not take so much space to get one. Actually it is considered a small microwave suited for small apartments, especially for a starting family.

It is hard to imagine how to live the present world without a microwave. Fast phased lifestyle will call for reheating of leftovers without indulging too much time in setting up the stove and transferring the food to a cookware.

Buying just a conventional microwave? Think again. Consider a microwave with toaster.



Kathleen

Amy Nut asked:


In 1946, Dr. Percy Spencer was quite intrigued when he was testing the magnetron, a new vacuum tube, when all of a sudden the candy bar in his pocket melted. This amazed him so much that he thought he would try another experiment with popcorn kernels. He placed the kernels in front of the magnetron and to his surprise they started popping.

It was the next day that Spencer decided to put an egg next to the magnetron. When he did so, the egg began trembling because of the pressure inside of the egg due to the rapidly rising temperature. When a colleague of Spencer’s decided to get a better look at the shaking egg, the egg exploded and he was showered with its contents. This brought Spencer to the conclusion that low-density microwave energy was causing these foods to cook quickly. This is when his experimentation took him to entirely new levels.

That is when Spencer took a metal box and cut out an opening that he could feed the microwave energy through. Once the energy was in the box it was unable to escape, so this created a high-density electromagnetic field. This caused the temperature of any food put inside the box to rise quite rapidly. What this did was revolutionize the way that food is cooked and was the basis for what would become the microwave oven.

The first

However, the microwave oven did not look quite like what we use today. In fact, it weighed approximately 750 pounds and was almost 6 feet in height. This was in late 1946 when the patent was filed by the Raytheon Company. A Boston restaurant was put in charge of testing this large microwave and it was in 1947 that the commercial version of the microwave made its debut on the market, but they cost around $5,000 a piece. Why so expensive? Well, plumbing units also had to be installed because the magnetron had to be cooled by water.

Not everyone looked upon this new invention in a favorable way. It was a complicated unit, but improvements would change the view of the public toward the microwave oven. Smaller units were made and the magnetron was able to be cooled by air, so the need for the plumber was eradicated.

Eventually, microwave ovens were used for more than cooking food. Many commercial establishments were using them to dry cork, paper, and even leather. Then in 1947, the Radarange was introduced by Raytheon. The price was now between $2,000 and $3,000 and the cabinets that housed the microwave were around the size of a refrigerator. Between 1952 and 1955, the first home united, priced at $1295, was introduced by Tappan. It was in 1965 that Raytheon acquired Amana and 1967 when they introduced the first countertop models.

Progression

By 1975, the microwave had made great strides and had even exceeded gas range sales. It became the staple of any kitchen. By 1976, the microwave had more owners than the dishwasher. No longer was the microwave considered a luxury, it was considered a necessity.

Now, we see that microwaves come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and it is difficult to find someone that doesn’t have a microwave oven. And as time goes on, the microwave still continues to change face. With the many different settings that ranges from power defrost to popping popcorn at the push of a single button, it is no wonder that most of our meals are cooked within the microwave. It is quick, it is easy, and it also saves a considerable amount of energy.



Manuel

jyothi asked:


Panasonic GD576M Oven 1000W capacity (1300W Grill) - facility to Microwave, Grill, Combination cooking. Can use metal cake pan if used in combination mode? Can anyone please explain how preheating is done if I use combi mode - to bake cake?how much time would be required for baking?

Thelma

Rosa asked:


This New Year I got a surprise gift from my husband that changed my lifestyle, it was a microwave oven. This kitchen aid appliance made wonders in my life. As I am a career oriented person, I was not able to give much time to the kitchen work. Added to this the old oven used to consume more time to prepare a dish. Due to these reasons he gave me this appliance. I personally suggest that each and every person who works in a kitchen should have a microwave oven. I am so used to this appliance that I just can’t think my life without it. The click of the button cooks the food without wasting time. Using this has made cooking so easy and even more fun, due to this it is also called a mini chef in the kitchen. It prepares popcorn in seconds with one touch sensor; this job is done without my presence.

This kitchen appliance comes with two cycles, one touch sensor and the pre programmed cycles. The usual cooking, reheating the food and defrost are the features which make this appliance different from others. You can purchase this appliance on your own from Toronto appliance, where you can find other kind of appliances too with variety of colors and ranges. From this site, my husband had purchased this microwave oven which he gifted me. He simply purchased the gift for me and it was delivered on time at our house, a perfect surprise. Almost in every cooking area let that be for baking purpose or for entertaining your guest or cooking for the family this appliance helps you a lot by making your work even faster and easy. With the little time that I get to cook for my family this is the best appliance which is flexible. Earlier making a roasted meat used to take me an hour but now it takes only 25 minutes as I have the best appliance along with me. This appliance can be got in three various colors white, black and bisque but my favorite is stainless steel as this matches with my kitchen.

This amazing microwave oven gives you efficiency and convenience like never before. The kitchen aid microwave oven features highly developed sensor cooking controls that make use of built-in sensors that check the moisture level in the food to allow automatic time and power adjustments to get excellent cooking results. This also features with Auto and Time defrosts for disturb free defrosting. This kind of microwave is the best which one can find in the market. Cookies, for your loved ones are so easy to make, that cooking has become lot more exciting. I am so happy after receiving this microwave that I just begun to love cooking. All of a sudden I have more time for my family, since I finish my cooking before time and so easily. My family loves this microwave oven and we just cannot imagine our lives without it, we are just addicted to it now.



Douglas

Braeg Heneffe asked:


Microwave ovens have been readily available since around the 1950s and are generally used for time efficiency in both industrial applications such as restaurants and at home, rather than for cooking quality. Although some modern recipes using microwave ovens rival recipes using traditional ovens and stoves, professional chefs  as well as domestic cooks generally find microwave ovens to be of limited usefulness because browning and caramelization cannot occur due to the limited temperature range. However, a benefit of microwaves is that people who want fast cooking times can use microwaves to prepare food or to reheat stored food or specially prepared frozen ready meals in only a few minutes. Popcorn is a particularly popular microwave food.

There have been concerns over whether microwave ovens are safe to use and whether the vitamins and nutrients in certain foods are diminished by cooking them in a microwave, but studies have shown that foods such as Spinach retain nearly all its folate when cooked in a microwave, but loses about 77 per cent when boiled on a stove. More than that, bacon cooked by microwave has been found to contain significantly lower levels of cancer causing nitrosamines than conventionally cooked bacon.

For the busy lifestyle, microwaves mean that healthy food can be served up quickly and conveniently. Some Bosch microwaves have Innowave technology, which allow for a 35% bigger interior than usual and improved performance. Bosch microwaves have improved markedly over the last few years and provide five cooking functions to choose from and a wire shelf which now has a 49% larger surface than previous Bosch microwaves. This particular oven can be installed straight into a 60cm wide unit and does not have a trim so it can fit into cosier spaces.

There are six Bosch microwaves to choose from. Amongst them are freestanding microwaves, freestanding microwaves with integral grills and a built in microwave oven. The built in microwave oven has a 27 litre capacity, has five power levels, has a maximum power level of 1000 W and comes in black. This Bosch microwave includes Innowave technology, which allows for a larger oven capacity, improved performance and lower power consumption. As well as the basic functions, this model also has weight automatic programmes for cooking and defrosting. And there are two recipe memory settings and a grey glass door finish.

One of the two freestanding microwaves with integral 1000 W quartz grill has a 17 litre capacity and three microwave/ grill combination programmes. It also has a recipe memory function that enables the user to store recipe instructions and then press the memo button to repeat the sequence at any time.

The freestanding option of Bosch microwave is available in black, white and brushed steel. It has a 17 litre capacity and five power levels: 90 / 180 / 360 / 600 / 800 W.  The freestanding microwave is convenient in that it can be installed directly under a kitchen wall cabinet so that worktop space can be preserved and the microwave itself can be accessed conveniently.

Bosch Microwaves



Jamie