Microwave Maintenance Tips

Microwave oven is one of the most important kitchen appliances, both at home and commercial setting. The microwaves cause water molecules in food to vibrate. It produces the heat, which cooks food. These waves are reflected within the oven’s metal interior. They pass through glass, paper, ceramic and are absorbed by food.

Microwaves are designed to make our lives easier. The following tips will keep your microwave oven operating well and maximize its lifespan:

Keep your microwave clean

• Clean the both the interior and exterior of the microwave cabinet with hot soapy water and cloth regularly to prevent corrosion and rust.
• Put white vinegar in a bowl filled with water and heat it inside the microwave. The steam from the bowl will make the grime on the microwave easily removable.
• Do not forget to put a cover on the food container when cooking to prevent food splashes. They can lead to burn spots and even causing damage to some components of the microwave.

Choose right dishware for your microwave

• Use only microwave-safe dishware like glass containers, paper plates, ceramic and porcelain dishes.
• Do not use aluminum foil, metal containers, brown paper bags from the grocery store and one-time storage containers.
• If you notice that a piece of dishware becomes much hotter than the food while microwaving, avoid using that item in the future.

Close the door carefully to prevent its damage

Do not slam a microwave door as it may change the order of the switches’ closing and damage them. Be careful because pulling the door open while the microwave is running, can result in a blown safety fuse.

Avoid operating on empty

Avoid running the microwave when it is empty – you risk overheating and damaging the magnetron. It may happen because the microwave energy is not being absorbed and will bounce around inside. Without a working magnetron, your microwave will not heat your food properly.

Protect your microwave from power surges

Surges caused by lightning, downed power lines or grid switching can damage microwave’s circuitry. To protect your microwave, plug it into a surge suppressor.

Use the preprogrammed microwave cooking times

Preprogrammed cooking times are designed to use the microwave the most efficiently and conserve energy.

If you try these preset cooking modes, you may find that your food comes out better and using them will prevent some issues such as messes, which lead to burn spots.

Boil water safely or use a kettle

You should be aware of phenomena called superheating. When water in the microwave heats, it becomes much hotter than boiling, but it does not seem to be boiling. As soon as the cup or glass with water is touched, water forms steam very quickly, causing a small explosion. You can prevent that happening by leaving some non-metallic object (such as a wooden spoon or stir stick) in the cup when you boil water in the microwave. In this case, bubbles have something to form around and you will see them. It is more safely to heat water on a stovetop kettle.

Replace some non-electronic parts by yourself

Replacing parts such as turntables, light bulbs and charcoal filters is safe and affordable. If your charcoal filter is greasy or the microwave vents disagreeable odors, it indicates that grease has built up and a filter needs to be replaced.

Call repair professional to replace the electronic parts

Replacing electronic parts in a microwave can be very dangerous because microwaves store large amounts of power. Never try to do it on your own – you may cause additional damage or seriously hurt yourself. It should be done by repair professionals only. You are welcome to call us and schedule an appointment with our professional and experienced technician.