GE 49-8697 Microwave Oven User Manual


 
14
Variable power levels add flexibility
to your microwave cooking. The pow-
er levels on your microwave oven can
be compared to the surface units on
a range. High (Power Level 10) or
full power is the fastest way to cook
and gives you 100% power. Each
power level gives you microwave
energy a certain percent of the time.
Power Level 7 is microwave energy
70% of the time. Power Level 3 is
energy 30% of the time.
A high setting (10) will cook faster
but food may need additional atten-
tion such as frequent stirring, rotat-
ing or turning over. Most of your
cooking will be done on High (Power
Level 10). A lower setting will cook
more evenly and with less attention
given to stirring or rotating the food.
Some foods may have better flavor,
texture or appearance if one of the
lower settings is used. You may wish
to use a lower power level when cook-
ing foods that have a tendency to boil
over, such as scalloped potatoes.
Rest periods (when the microwave
energy cycles off) give time for the
food to “equalize” or transfer heat
to the inside of the food. An example
of this is shown with Power Level 3—
the defrost cycle. If microwave ener-
gy did not cycle off, the outside of the
food would cook before the inside
was defrosted.
Here are some examples of uses for
various power levels:
Power Level Best Uses
High 10
Fish, bacon,
vegetables, boiling
liquids.
Med-High 7
Gentle cooking of
meat and poultry;
baking casseroles
and reheating.
Medium 5
Slow cooking and
tenderizing such as
stews and less tender
cuts of meat.
Low 2 or 3
Defrosting without
cooking; simmering;
delicate sauces.
Warm 1
Keeping food warm
without overcooking;
softening butter.
How to Change the Power Level
The power level may be entered
or changed immediately after
entering the feature time for
MICRO COOK, TIME DEFROST
or EXPRESS COOK. The power
level may also be changed
during time countdown.
1
Press MICRO COOK I & II
or select Time Defrost.
2
Enter cooking or defrosting
time.
3
Press POWER LEVEL.
4
Select desired
power level 1–10.
5
Press START.
Changing Power Levels
1
EXPRESS COOK
4
EXPRESS COOK
7
5
EXPRESS COOK
6
EXPRESS COOK
89
3
EXPRESS COOK
2
EXPRESS COOK
0
DISPLAY ON/OFF
POWER
LEVEL
1-10
1
EXPRESS COOK
4
EXPRESS COOK
7
5
EXPRESS COOK
6
EXPRESS COOK
89
3
EXPRESS COOK
2
EXPRESS COOK
0
DISPLAY ON/OFF
START
Operating Instructions