19
USING YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN
Weight conversion chart
You are probably used to food weights as being in pounds and ounces that are fractions of a
pound (for example, 4 ounces equals
1
⁄4 pound). However, in order to enter food weight in
DEFROST, you must specify pounds and tenths of a pound. If the weight on the food package
is in fractions of a pound, you can use the following chart to convert the weight to decimals.
OUNCES METRIC (g) DECIMAL WEIGHT
1.6 45.4 .10
3.2 90.7 .20
4.0 113.4 .25 One-Quarter Pound
4.8 136.1 .30
6.4 181.4 .40
8.0 226.8 .50 One-Half Pound
9.6 272.2 .60
11.2 317.5 .70
12.0 340.2 .75 Three-Quarters Pound
12.8 362.9 .80
14.4 408.2 .90
16.0 453.6 1.00 One Pound
EQUIVALENT WEIGHT
Defrosting tips
• When using DEFROST, the weight to be
entered is the net weight in pounds and
tenths of pounds (the weight of the food
minus the container).
• Before starting, make sure you have
removed any of the metal twist-ties which
often come with frozen food bags, and
replace them with strings or elastic bands.
• Open containers such as cartons before
they are placed in the oven.
• Always slit or pierce plastic pouches or pack-
aging.
• If food is foil wrapped, remove foil and place
it in a suitable container.
• Slit the skins, if any, of frozen food such as
sausage.
• Bend plastic pouches of food to ensure even
defrosting.
• Always underestimate defrosting time. If
defrosted food is still icy in the center, return it
to the microwave oven for more defrosting.
• The length of defrosting time varies accord-
ing to how solidly the food is frozen.
• The shape of the package affects how
quickly food will defrost. Shallow packages
will defrost more quickly than a deep block.
• As food begins to defrost, separate the
pieces. Separated pieces defrost more easily.
• Use small pieces of aluminum foil to shield
parts of food such as chicken wings, leg tips,
fish tails, or areas that start to get warm.
Make sure the foil does not touch the sides,
top, or bottom of the oven. The foil can dam-
age the oven lining.
• For better results, let food stand after
defrosting. (For more information on standing
time, see “Microwave cooking tips” in the
“Cooking Guide” section.)
• Turn over food during defrosting or standing
time. Break apart and remove food as
required.
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