Suitable containers for microwave ovens
Microwaves
– are reflected by metal.
– pass through glass and chinaware...
– and are absorbed by food.
Metal
When working in microwave mode
metal containers, aluminium foil and
metal cutlery, as well as china with
metallic decor (e.g. gold trim, co-
balt blue), must not be placed in the
microwave oven. The metal reflects
the microwaves and so hinders the
cooking process.
We recommend when defrosting and
cooking pre-cooked meals packed in
metal containers, the food should be
removed from the foil container and
placed in a container suitable for use in
a microwave oven.
Microwaves cannot penetrate alumi-
nium foil, so the food can only be
heated from the top. Re-heating / cook-
ing will take longer and be less even
than if the food was transferred to a
dish suitable for a microwave oven.
Sparks and arcing may occur when
using metal containers.
Exceptions:
– Small pieces of aluminium foil
For even defrosting and to avoid over-
cooking unevenly shaped cuts of meat,
poultry or fish, small quantities of alumi-
nium foil may be used to mask wing-
tips or other thin parts for the last few
minutes of the process.
Important:
Make sure that the aluminium foil is at
least 2 cm from the oven walls at all
times. It must not touch the walls.
– Metal meat skewers or clamps
Metal skewers and clamps should only
be used if they are very small in com-
parison to the size of the cut of meat.
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