Microwaves can be real dangerous.
I have seen a lot of movies where the hero concocts some compounds and puts in the MW, sets the time and flees with the heroine, while the gun trotting villain and his team enter the kitchen. Suddenly the MW beeps, one of the wise goon screams - RUN and then BOOM!
Movies apart, MW can be dangerous in many aspects and needs maintenance. But then why worry or be sorry, when Achougoo’s is here narrating the MW story.
«« PRE-USAGE CARE »»
While using the MW there are certain things to be known before hand.
If you are tensed about using the MW, it’s a good sign and means that you are cautious. Hee hee
Read the manual thoroughly, especially the safety instructions. Things shouldn’t stop here. Also educate everyone (including grown up kids) about the right usage.
The oven has air vents behind and air should be allowed to flow out. This prevents overheating and high ambient temperatures around the oven. So the oven should have sufficient clearance on the sides and at the back.
Now for some real info:
Utensils type:
1) Though ordinary glass should not pose any problems during microwave action, there is a strong possibility of it cracking under prolonged heating and particularly if the grill option is used. So also go for toughened or hardened glass.
2) When heating beverages, the cups used can be ceramic (preferably the heat resistant type). But we had once placed cups that had metal linings and we could see some heavy sparks inside. We quickly stopped. But then the message is clear - avoid such cups.
3) Plastic in general should be avoided, as we do not know what grade it is. Plastic can melt and contaminate the food. Paper (especially recycled ones) catch fire.
4) One would be angry if I add that metal pots, pans, vessels in which we store food, should also be avoided. ’’Oh! My God, this is ridiculous’’. No it isn’t! The microwaves are high frequency waves that produce induction heating and metals happen to shield these frequencies, with the result that the food does not get heated.
So best option is toughened glass and heat resistant ceramics, China and earthenware.
Food Stuffs for the MW:
You wouldn’t believe my ignorance. I had boiled an egg and then further wanted to brown it for that extra taste. Shit! It burst open inside, spoiling the interiors. So for such membrane foods including potatoes, chicken livers, remember to pierce it several times with a fork to allow it to expand when heated. Eggs with shells? Try only during Diwali when you don’t have firecrackers left (and don’t blame me). Avoid deep-frying of oil and fats.
«« IN-USAGE CARE »»
No MW action generally exceeds 3 min. This is not so long a time that your patience is at stake. So be there while it is ON. Alternatively use the timer. But the presence is recommended. Why? Like I earlier mentioned, when we placed the metal lining cups, there were sparks. Since we were there, we could immediately stop the oven. Similarly we can’t say when and why there could be fire-n-smoke.
But when there is fire-n-smoke, stop immediately, open the door and leave it open to stifle the flames.
Under normal operation, after the food id cooked or warmed and MW is stopped, wait for sometime. Use the timer post cooking for this delay, which is essential to let the MW energy be absorbed inside. Direct contact of the MW to the skin is harmful.
«« POST-USAGE CARE »»
Gently remove the heated glass bowl or whatever. One thing essential is the usage of big hand glove to avoid burning of fingers. My dad is very particular about this and so we have ample space ahead of the oven so that the hot vessel can be placed there, without the possibility of it slipping and crashing to the floor level and such other horribly accidents.
Also I had my tongue burned when I popped in the innocent looking pakoda, minutes after it was removed from the oven. Ouch! The food gets hot from inside out due to molecular agitation caused by the high frequency MW. So the foodstuff may be cold on surface but may be steaming hot within, especially potatoes. Experience maketh man wiser. Same is true of liquids.
«« NON-USAGE CARE »»
Oh boy! It’s not at all a task. It’s plain and simple. Only essential thing is that the interiors need to be wiped clean after each usage. This is because if the particles remain within, then during the next operation it may overheat, char, smoke or even catch fire. But the walls of my MW can be wiped easily with a damp cloth. Sometimes however, we use mild detergents. Even the external body is wiped with a damp cloth. My mom or I are the ones responsible for the cleaning and maintenance. I make sure that there is no dripping water and the cloth is just about damp when it comes to cleaning the control panel and the rear portion where the vents are. For removing odours, we add lemon juice to the water or make use of the Odopic detergent bar.
See how a little bit of maintenance and care, can avert dangerous situations and prolong the life of the oven (besides ours). So happy cooking!