Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 19, 1995 TAG: 9509190011
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID BUTLER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: Sounds like you have an older model. Microwave ovens introduced during the past couple of years are easier than ever to use. They remove the guesswork (and programming) from meal preparation. The latest models are also less expensive than their predecessors: $200 buys all but the largest models.
Most ovens now include automatic settings, making it unnecessary to enter cooking times and power levels for a number of different dishes. Manufacturers are focusing on the features most used by consumers, implementing them with a single button whenever practical.
"Auto defrost" and "auto reheat" are examples of this. With auto defrost, you can thaw frozen meats (beef, fish or poultry) fully and evenly. Simply enter the food's weight (or with some models, the number of servings) and press start. The oven then initiates a pre-set sequence of power levels over an appropriate length of time. Auto reheat works the same way for leftovers.
"Sensor cooking" carries microwave cooking a step further, tailoring the program to a particular dish. (Sensor cooking should not be confused with using a temperature probe.) Simply select the type of food from a list, enter a one- or two-digit code and press start. The oven has a built-in steam sensor that tracks the food's progress as it cooks. You virtually set it and forget it!
What about more elaborate dishes that require specific combinations of cooking times and power levels? Some ovens have a memory feature that allows you to store time and power settings for your favorite dishes. Once you enter a recipe, you'll have instant one-button access from then on.
And to assist in more venturesome cooking tasks, some high-end models offer visual prompts. A scrolling display guides you step-by-step, right up to pressing start. Some models provide on-screen instructions in English, French or Spanish. Similarly, you can set the weight to appear in ounces or kilograms
Microwave ovens don't use radiant heat as do conventional cooking appliances. Instead, they irradiate food with high-frequency radio waves produced by a "magnetron." This excites (and heats) the water molecules contained in food. Where conventional ovens cook food from the outside in, microwave energy tends to cook food all at once.
A revolving turntable is a "must have" feature. It not only ensures that food cooks evenly, but saves you from having to manually reposition the food during the cooking cycle. Some models will even return dishes to their original orientation for safe and easy removal.
Several larger models use a metal ceiling fan instead of a turntable. The fan reflects microwave energy evenly throughout the oven, allowing you to cook in large rectangular baking dishes. One model has both a turntable and a ceiling fan, ensuring that your food cooks as evenly as possible.
Versatile as they are, consumers most often use microwave ovens to heat beverages, make popcorn and cook frozen dinners. Accordingly, many newer models have a "beverage" key, a "popcorn" key, a "frozen food" key, and even a "potato" key. (Not that potatoes are such hot snack items, but they have an annoying tendency to explode when overcooked!)
To receive a list of companies that manufacture microwave ovens, please send $1.50 and a self-addressed envelope to David Butler F-530, Department TWN, 14713 Pleasant Hill Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28278-7927. The list includes toll-free phone numbers and a summary of each company's products. You'll also receive information on combination microwave-convection ovens.
HomeTech News: The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in Palo Alto is funding the development of a microwave clothes dryer. Because microwave energy eliminates moisture before the fabric has a chance to heat up, woolens and delicate fabrics could be cleaned at home. (The air inside the dryer only reaches about 100 degrees.) Shorter drying time also mean less tumbling - reducing wear and tear on clothes. Commercial production is still several years away.
by CNB