MICROWAVE OVENS
Microwave Oven Construction Facts
• Combination of all stainless exterior (such as in higher quality ovens) to a stainless front with painted ‘box’ to plastic • Interiors can be all stainless or painted metal • Bottom trays can be metal, ceramic or borosilicate (i.e. Pyrex)
• Most commercial microwaves do not use a turntable because they are less clean and not as effective at evenly distributing microwaves across the cavity and food, using an antenna or a “stirrer” to achieve this distribution (some cheaper microwaves do not use an antenna - these are known as “dump feeds” and are notorious for hot spots and inconsistent results)
Tips and Maintenance
Cooking Tips: • Microwaves cook by causing friction in water molecules to generate heat • Semi-frozen food cooks better than frozen food • For multi-stage cooking ,start with low power and gradually increase the power level in subsequent stages • Without an inverter, 50% power means 100% power for 50% of the time selected. 25% power means 100% power for 25% of the time selected • Microwaves are a superior way to steam vegetables while preserving nutritional integrity • Higher wattage microwave ovens cook better than lower wattage • Flat foods cook better than cubed foods unless a higher quality microwave with a top and bottom energy feed is used • Foods with high fat and salt content cook faster and reach higher temperatures
• Interior surfaces should be cleaned regularly to prevent premature cavity deterioration and maximize the microwave’s service life • NEVER run a microwave while empty • Defrost at low power settings and increase power once food is thawed • For high speed combination ovens, install non- stick liners or pre-treat the oven and reduce the amount of ‘baked on’ food soil • Clean often to avoid food soils arcing, which can eventually penetrate the steel and leave holes in the oven • Clean filters regularly to keep the oven components cool and extend their service life Service Tips: • As the oven ages, the door gaskets should be checked and the oven may need to be recalibrated to ensure continued optimal performance • The fans are sealed and permanently lubricated so no regular maintenance is needed • Using water is not recommended as it can cause operational failure and void the microwave’s warranty
Cleaning Tips: • Exterior surfaces can be cleaned with soap and water and or stainless steel cleaner
EQUIPMENT GUIDE
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