Q: | Will the oven be damaged if it operates while empty? |
A: | Yes. Never operate the oven while it is empty or without the glass tray. |
Q: | Does microwave energy pass through the viewing screen in the door? |
A: | No. The metal screen bounces the energy back to the oven cavity. The holes (or ports) allow only light to pass through. They do not let microwave energy pass through. |
Q: | Why do I see a light reflection around the outer case? |
A: | This light is from the oven light which is located between the oven cavity and the outer wall of the oven. |
Q: | What are the various sounds I hear when the oven is operating? |
A: | The clicking sound is caused by a mechanical switch turning the microwave oven's magnetron ON and OFF. The heavy hum and clunk is from the change in power the magnetron draws as it is turned ON and OFF by a mechanical switch. The change in blower speed is from the change in line voltage caused by the magnetron being turned ON and OFF. |
Q: | Can my oven be damaged if food is cooked for too long? |
A: | Like any other cooking appliance, it is possible to overcook food to the point that the food creates smoke and even possibly fire, and damages the inside of the oven. It is always best to be near the oven while you are cooking. |
Q: | Why is a standing time recommended after microwave cooking time is over? |
A: | Standing time allows foods to continue cooking evenly for a few minutes after the actual microwave oven cooking cycle. The amount of standing time depends upon the density of the foods. |
Q: | Why is additional time required for cooking food stored in the refrigerator? |
A: | As in conventional cooking, the initial temperature of food affects total cooking time. You need more time to cook food taken out of a refrigerator than for food at room temperature. |
Q: | Sometimes the door of my oven appears wavy. Is this normal? |
A: | This appearance is normal and does not affect the operation of your oven. |
Q: | Why does the glass tray not move? |
A: | The correct side of the tray should be facing up and the tray should sit firmly on the center hub. The support is not operating correctly. Reinstall the glass tray and restart the oven. Cooking without the glass tray can give you poor results. On some models, the turntable may be turned off. See Setting the Turntable in the Operation section. |
Q: | Why does the dish become hot when I microwave food in it? I thought that this should not happen. |
A: | As the food becomes hot it will conduct the heat to the dish. Use hot pads to remove food after cooking. |
Q: | What does standing time mean? |
A: | Standing time means that food should be taken out of the oven and covered for additional time after cooking. This process allows the cooking to finish, saves energy, and frees the oven for other purposes. |
Q: | Can I pop popcorn in my oven? How do I get the best results? |
A: | Yes. Pop packaged microwave popcorn following manufacturer’s guidelines or use the preprogrammed Popcorn button. Do not use regular paper bags. Use the listening test by stopping the oven as soon as the popping slows to a pop every one or two seconds. Do not try to repop unpopped kernels. You can also use special microwave poppers. When using a popper, be sure to follow manufacturer’s directions. Do not pop popcorn in glass utensils. |
Q: | Why does steam come out of the air exhaust vent? |
A: | Steam is normally produced during cooking. The oven has been designed to vent steam out of the vent. |
Q: | Why aren't the function buttons working? |
A: | Make sure that the oven is not in Control Lock mode. "Loc" will show in the display if Control Lock is activated. To deactivate Control Lock, press and hold STOP/Clear for three seconds. |