Many people fail to realize the importance of properly using a microwave oven. As there are so many features and functionalities that consumers are not aware of. This will make them underutilize the kitchen appliance that they bought. Learning the proper way of how to use a microwave oven is impactful in your cooking process.
When there are so many brands in the market introducing multiple variants of ovens, it is confusing for the consumers when it comes to operating the oven. And to know all the functionality is completely out of reach. Either you need to have a very good sales representative who can show you the demo effectively or you need to research the product very well.
Proper usage of the microwave oven has many benefits. It lets you cook the food appropriately. With the help of an instruction manual that has been given by the brand, it is helpful for cooking different varieties of food. When you perform this step-by-step guide, you can easily prepare your favourite recipe.
In this guide, you will learn how to use the microwave oven in the correct way and the common safety tips while using these machines.
How to use a microwave oven?
The steps to use a microwave oven are very simple and any person can do it. But ensure that you follow the step-by-step so that you don’t make any blunder while using a microwave oven machine.
1. Ensure that all the cables have been properly connected
After unboxing from the package. First and foremost you need to start by plugging your oven cable into the switchboard. While doing this, please see that the device is turned off stage.
2. Select the power mode
Some of the microwave ovens offer these functions where you can toggle between high, medium, and low power. These functions are ideal for you to ascertain the heating power level that is required to cook the food item. It also ensures that you make the optimum use of electricity during the cooking process.
3. Select the relevant mode for cooking
Depending upon the food item, you need to select the relevant mode for it. It can be the grill mode, convection mode, and the fusion between them. The mode of cooking is an important step that you need to watch out for to cook your food perfectly. When you select the desired mode of cooking, it helps you to get the food prepared as per your requirement.
4. Place the food in the microwave container
Before putting the food item inside the microwave oven, always ensure that the container is microwave friendly. If you fail to do so, it automatically melts the container. This will create a huge mess inside the microwave oven where you will find a hard time cleaning it.
5. Choose the microwave timer
The microwave timer is an essential function when it comes to cooking your food properly. Press the timer button which is usually found in seconds or minutes. And when you select it, you need to click the start button. You can also stop the process by clicking the cancel button if you have wrongly entered the time.
Related: Importance of using a Microwave Oven
Tips for safe usage of microwave ovens
Operating a microwave oven is easy, but there are certain restrictions and limitations that you need to watch out for. Here are some of the tips that you need to carefully evaluate for operating the microwave oven.
1. Read the owner’s manual
When you purchase a microwave oven, the first thing that you need to do is check the owner’s manual. Read the dos and don’ts of using your microwave oven. Some of the features and functionalities can differ from brand to brand, but on an overview, it is almost the same. Follow all the protocols and the safety precautionary methods that have been given in the owner’s manual.
2. Use the recommended microwave containers
Always ensure that the containers that you use within the oven are microwave friendly. As you might know, when you use containers that are not recommended for the oven, the microwave can easily melt the container within the machine. You can generally find a microwave container in the form of ceramic, glass, and plastic products.
3. Clean the oven periodically
It is ideal for you to clean the microwave oven once a week or twice. This helps to prevent rust so that you can get the microwave oven for a longer time. Ensure that you use a mild detergent for the outer part of the oven. For the inner part, you can just wipe it out using a dry cloth.
4. Never use the oven empty
If you use an oven that doesn’t have anything inside, sometimes it may cause minor damage to the machine. It is recommended that you need to always use the microwave oven that has any food item within it.
5. Be careful while heating liquid substance
Whether it can be tea, coffee, or water, you always need to ensure that you have selected the right temperature in heating it. Because this is one of the major accidents that is found within many users. As they heat the containers improperly, and when they are taking it out, they can’t hold it due to its high temperature.
6. Always ensure that the door is closed
While operating a microwave oven, this is one of the major steps that you need to watch out for. Close the doors of the oven properly. So that there is no leakage of radiation that is highly harmful to the human body. It is better that you thoroughly check whether the door locks and their outer edges are properly functional.
7. Keep it out of reach of children
It will be better if you don’t let your children operate the microwave oven. As the radiation can be harmful to the children’s skin, as the rays are penetrable through young skins. Try to place the oven on any top-shelf inside the kitchen. You can also place it over the refrigerator on a safer side and see that it is unplugged.
Related: How does a microwave oven work?
Conclusion
The main thing that you need to watch out for is the radiation. These are harmful to our human skin, it happens only when you come in contact.
Always ensure that the door of the microwave oven is properly closed so that there is no leakage. And even if you come in contact with the radiation, it doesn’t affect you much. Because to penetrate the human skin body, the wavelength of radiation should be more (for example x-rays). This can be problematic to kids, for adults, when it is exposed prolonged then it can be an issue.
Since you have learned the functionality of how to use the microwave oven correctly, now it’s time for you to prepare your favourite food of yours. Ensure that all the steps have been properly followed when you are cooking food from the oven. By selecting the right power level, mode of cooking and timer helps you to get the desired style and taste of food.
If you have any doubts and queries, please let us know in the comment section below.
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