68
Common Problems
PROBLEM
SOLUTION
Food cools quickly after
Microwave or Combination
cooking.
Foods take longer to cook, defrost
or reheat than stated.
Liquids boil over when cooked by
microwave or combination.
Vegetables become wrinkly and
hard when cooked/reheated by
microwave.
Foods heat unevenly.
Only one side of cavity heats.
Foods heated by microwave are
hard and tough.
Foods “explode” during heating.
Foods that have been defrosted
do not heat in the centre.
Return to oven for additional cooking.
Check oven is plugged into its own
13amp socket. Do not use extension
cable or adapters.
The stated times are only a guide.
Heating will be improved with the use of
correct containers and arranging.
Remember to vary the heating, if the
food is colder or heavier than stated.
Ensure the oven is cleaned regularly.
Use a container twice the volume of the
liquid.
Allow standing time when cooking and
slightly undercook vegetables, if they
are to be reheated.
Arrange foods, so that thicker parts are
on the outside of the plate and smaller
foods to the centre. Do not heat very
dense foods with porous foods as the
later will heat faster.
Rearrange foods as above. It is
impossible for only one side of the
cavity to receive microwaves as the
energy is distributed by a rotating guide.
if the magnetron is no longer working
all food will remain cold.
Reduce the time or power with more
delicate foods.
Reduce power level.
Pierce skins on foods to release
pressure build up during heating.
NEVER try to boil eggs in shells.
Check that foods are between 1-4˚C
before going on to reheat. If the edges
of the food are getting too warm shield
with foil.
(See page 42.)
CAUSE
Food insufficiently heated.
Oven not receiving enough
power.
Food type, size, weight,
temperature not exactly as
stated.
Oven dirty and food debris is
absorbing the microwave
energy.
Containers too small.
Vegetables over-cooked.
Foods incorrectly arranged or
incompatible foods are being
heated together.
Foods incorrectly arranged.
Foods overcooked.
Power level too high.
Skins of foods i.e potatoes,
chicken are not pierced.
Foods have not been
sufficiently defrosted or
allowed to stand before
reheating.
This section tries to solve any common problems you may have. Remember to always keep your Operating
Guide on hand for reference.