Melissa 653-067: OPERATING THE MICROWAVE OVEN

Do not place the microwave oven next to hot areas, for example

gas rings and electric hotplates.

Connecting the microwave oven

The microwave oven must be connected to a 230-volt AC

current, 50 Hz. The guarantee is not valid in the event of

connection to the wrong voltage.

Installation of the glass turntable

Before using the microwave ensure that: 

•  

the turning ring is fitted to the spindle and that

•  

the glass turntable is fitted to the turning ring.

OPERATING THE MICROWAVE OVEN

1. 

Place the food in the oven and close the door.

2. 

Choose the required microwave power using the top knob

(B) on the operating panel.

3. 

Set the timer (A) on the operating panel to the required

cooking time.

The oven starts automatically when you have selected the

microwave power and cooking time. 

Once the cooking time has passed, the oven stops automatically

and a signal rings. 

Cooking can be interrupted at any time by opening the oven

door. If the oven door is closed again, cooking resumes.

When the oven is not in use, the timer should be at 0.

PREPARATION OF FOOD

When preparing food in the microwave oven, the following basic

rules apply:

Preparation time

Smaller quantities of food are prepared more rapidly than large

quantities. If the amount of food is doubled, the preparation time

must be correspondingly increased to almost twice. 

• 

Smaller pieces of meat, small fish and chopped vegetables

cook more quickly than large pieces. For the same reason, it

is recommended, if, for example, you wish to make goulash,

stews or similar, that the meat be cut into maximum 2 x 2

cm pieces.

The compactness of the food is also very important for the

cooking time. The more compact the food is, the longer it takes

to cook it. 

•  

Complete steaks require a longer cooking time than stewed

dishes.

•  

A steak requires a longer time than a dish with minced

meat. 

The colder the food, the longer the cooking time needs to be.

Food at room temperature will therefore cook faster than food

from a fridge or freezer.

When cooking vegetables, the cooking time depends on the

freshness of the vegetables. Therefore check the condition of the

vegetables, and add or deduct a little time accordingly.

The short cooking time when using a microwave oven means

that the food does not overcook.

•  

If required, a little water can be added. 

•  

When cooking fish and vegetables, you only need to use the

minimum of water.

Microwave power

The choice of power setting depends on the condition of the

food to be cooked. 

In most cases, the food is cooked on full power.

•  

Full power is used, among other things, for reheating food

quickly, boiling water or similar. 

•  

Low power is principally used to defrost food and prepare

dishes containing cheese, milk and egg. (Whole eggs in

their shell cannot be cooked in the microwave oven, as

there is a risk of the eggs exploding). In addition, lower

power settings are also used for finish off and for retaining

the excellent aroma of a dish.

Summary of the five power steps:

HIGH (full power)

100 % 

M. HIGH (medium-high power)

85 %

MED (medium power)

66 %

M. LOW (medium-low power)

48 %

DEFROST

44 %

LOW (low power)

17 %

General information on cooking

•  

If the whole meal is to be prepared in the microwave oven, it

is recommended that you start with the most compact

foods, such as potatoes. Once these are ready, cover them

while the rest of the food is prepared.

•  

Most food should be covered. A close-fitting cover retains

the steam and moisture, which shortens the cooking time in

the microwave oven. This is particularly the case when

cooking vegetables, fish dishes and casseroles. Covering

food also distributes the heat better, thus ensuring rapid

and excellent results.

•  

In order to achieve the best possible results, it is important

to position the food correctly, as the microwave rays are

most powerful in the centre of the oven. If, for example, you

are baking potatoes, you should position them along the

edge of the glass turntable so that they cook evenly.

•  

In order to cook compact dishes such as meat and poultry

evenly, it is important to turn the pieces of meat a few times.

•  

You can bake in the microwave oven, although not with

recipes that include yeast.

•  

When preparing food in a "traditional" oven, you normally

avoid opening the oven door as much as possible. This is

not the case with a microwave oven: no energy or

significant heat is lost. In other words, you can open the

microwave door and look at the food as often as you want.

Important safety measures when preparing food!

•  

If using the microwave oven to heat baby food or liquids in a

feeding bottle, you must always stir the food/liquid and

check the temperature thoroughly before serving. This

ensures that the heat is evenly distributed and avoids

scalding injuries.

The lid and/or teat must not be fitted on a feeding bottle

when it is placed in the microwave oven.

•  

If some foods are heated too long, they may char and give

off smoke. If this happens, you should leave the door closed

and switch off the microwave oven completely.

• 

Some foods with a low water content, e.g. chocolate in

squares and pastries with a sweet filling should be heated

carefully, otherwise they or the container may be ruined.

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