Words of Warning on Safely Using the Oven

Every new microwave owner is terrified of the thing, intimidated by its Space Age control panels and alien new method of cooking. We think that’s healthful.

Far better to approach your microwave with a little trepidation than to be too confident (microwave veterans, take note). Safeguards, to be sure, are engineered into every microwave oven. If only they could be built into all microwave users.

Here, then, are some tips for using your microwave with absolute safety:

--Read your oven’s instruction manual carefully before using the oven. And always follow its recommendations.

--Avoid using an extension cord with a microwave oven, but if you must, make sure it’s a heavy-duty one with a grounded, Underwriter’s Laboratory-approved, three-pronged plug.

--Never plug a microwave oven into a stove outlet, and make sure this cord is well away from burner heat as it can damage the oven’s fragile electronics.

--Never operate a microwave oven if the door is dented, warped or damaged in any way, if it doesn’t close snugly or if anything is caught in it.

--Never stick anything through the door’s grid or around the seal.

--Check door hinges and seal from time to time. If they show signs of wear, call a qualified repairman.

--Never turn an empty microwave oven on. You may seriously damage it.

--If there are small children about, leave a 2-cup glass ovenware measure filled with water in the microwave oven at all times lest small fingers accidentally push the “ON “ button.

--Use only microwave-safe cookware and coverings, never metal utensils that aren’t especially designed for microwave use. Ordinary metal pots and pans can cause arcing (sparking that can damage the oven). And never microwave Melamine tableware--it chips and cracks.

--Always remove all metal clamps from food or wrappers before they go into the microwave. And never use twist-bands (they contain metal) or metal skewers lest they cause arcing.

--If your oven should begin to arc, turn it off at once.

--Don’t heat partially filled jars of food (especially baby food) in a microwave oven; they may crack. And never warm bottles of baby formula by microwave; they’ll heat unevenly and may burn the baby.

--Never microwave food in closed jars or narrow-necked bottles. Pressure can build, causing overboiling, or worse, explosions.

--When heating soup, tea or coffee by the cup or mug, always stir at half time to keep them from boiling over.

--Never reach in with bare hands to pull a dish from the microwave oven. Containers, particularly covered ones, can become very hot because of steam build-up; they also absorb heat from the food cooked in them. So always have pot holders at the ready.

--Always vent plastic food wrap when using it as a covering, otherwise steam will build up and burst the plastic (for the same reason, plastic cooking pouches should be slit or pierced). The easiest way to vent plastic wrap is simply to fold back a corner.

--When removing lids or plastic wrap from hot dishes, always do so carefully, using the lid or wrap to direct any steam away from you.

--If you must cook pasta by microwave, never add oil to the cooking water. It will “film over” the water, then “pop” and sputter dangerously.

--Always pierce tight-skinned whole fruits and vegetables (potatoes, plums, squash, eggplants and the like) to keep them from bursting. For the same reason, sausages and chicken livers must also be pierced.

--Always pierce egg yolk membranes gently with a toothpick before microwaving the eggs; unpierced yolks will burst. And never, ever microwave eggs in the shell; they’ll explode.

--Keep the microwave oven clean and dry, wiping it with a paper towel after each use and with mild detergent and warm water if there are grease spatters. Never use scouring pads or abrasive powders that can mar the interior surfaces.

--If food should catch fire in the oven, keep the door tightly shut, then turn the oven off or unplug it. The fire will soon burn itself out.

--Don’t turn your microwave oven into a “catch-all” by piling books or other items on top. And never use the oven cavity for storage. You may inadvertently snap the oven on and set things ablaze.

--Never use your microwave to dry clothes--they might ignite. And never try to soften nail polish in the oven. It too can catch fire.