Tesco MT1710 - Microwave Oven Manual

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT DISMANTLE

• Please follow all the precautions listed below for safety and to reduce the risk of injury or electrical shock.
• Read all the instructions and retain them.
• Before use check that the voltage stated on the rating plate on the rear of the microwave oven corresponds to your mains voltage.
• The mains socket must be well earthed. Do not plug the oven into a mains adaptor into which other units are connected.
• 
  If the door or door seals are damaged, the oven must not be operated until it has been repaired by a competent person.
• 
  It is hazardous for anyone other than a competent person to carry out any service or repair operation that involves the removal of a cover which gives protection against exposure to microwave energy;
• Do not use the microwave oven with a damaged cord or plug or after the appliance has malfunctioned or is damaged. Seek expert assistance.
• Do not touch hot surfaces. Use handles or knobs only. Allow the appliance to cool before cleaning.
• 
  Do not operate the microwave oven empty. This could cause damage to the oven.
• Do not immerse the body of the microwave oven or the electrical cord or plug in water or liquids.
• Do not place the microwave oven on or near a hot gas or electric burner.
• Use the appliance on a stable heat-resistant surface.
• Never leave the microwave oven unattended when it is operational.
• Make sure that the power cable does not touch any hot surface or overhang a table edge.
• Do not use the microwave oven outdoors.
• Unplug the oven when not in use and before cleaning.
• Do not obstruct the ventilation slots or place objects on top of the oven.
• Do not use attachments or accessories not recommended by the manufacturer.
• This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety.
• Children should be supervised to ensure that they do not play with the appliance
• Heat-insulation (oven) gloves should be used when removing a hot container from the oven.
• Do not use the microwave oven for any purpose not expressly specified in this manual.
• There are no user serviceable parts in your microwave oven. Unauthorised dismantling or servicing will void the product warranty.

When cooking with your microwave oven:

• Only use utensils that are suitable for use in microwave ovens.
• When heating food in plastic or paper containers, keep an eye on the oven due to the possibility of ignition.
• If you use plastic film when re-heating or cooking food use only film designed for microwave ovens and ensure that the film does not touch the food. If necessary, prick the film all over to allow steam to escape.
• Use your microwave oven only to heat food.
• Do not heat oil for frying, or try to fry food in the microwave oven. The oil could catch fire.
• Liquids and other foods must not be heated in sealed containers since they are liable to explode. If covered containers are used, the covers should be loose. Move such containers to and from the oven with care as food may splash and the lid may fall.
• Eggs in their shells (whether raw or cooked), fruits in thick skins and nuts in their shells should not be heated in the microwave as they may explode even after microwave heating has ended.
• Items such as potatoes and chestnuts must be peeled or pierced thoroughly before cooking.
• The contents of feeding botties and baby food jars shall be stirred or shaken and the temperature checked before consumption, in order to avoid burns.
• Microwave heating of beverages can result in delayed eruptive boiling, therefore care must be taken when handling the container.
• Food can burn if overcooked. If you are unsure about how long to cook a food for, start with a short cooking time, and check the food regularly. If there are microwaving instructions supplied with the food always follow the instructions fully.
• Clean the inside of your microwave regularly and remove any food deposits.
• Failure to maintain the oven in a clean condition could lead to deterioration of the surface that could adversely affect the life of the appliance and possibly result in a hazardous situation.
• If smoke is observed, switch off or unplug the appliance and keep the door closed in order to stifle any flames.

RAW MEAT AND RAW MEAT PRODUCTS

• Meat and meat products should not be fully cooked from raw in a microwave oven. Raw meat may be partially cooked in a microwave oven but the final cooking process must be carried out by conventional cooking processes, (i.e boiling, roasting, frying, grilling etc) using a conventional cooker.
• When defrosting raw meat and meat products in a microwave oven ensure the item is fully defrosted and then immediately cook the meat using conventional cooking processes.
• Always clean the oven cavity thoroughly after partially cooking or defrosting raw meat.

Electrical Information

• Before using this appliance ensure that the voltage of your electricity supply is the same as that indicated on the rating plate at the rear of the appliance.
• THIS APPLIANCE MUST BE EARTHED.

How microwave ovens work
Microwave ovens work by producing high frequency energy which agitates the water molecules in the food which rub together causing heat and cooking the food. Microwave cooking is very efficient; food cooks quicker than conventional methods. Microwave cooking can also help preserve the minerals and vitamins in many foods. Although the temperature in a microwave oven is relatively cool the food can be extremely hot. Always take precautions when handling containers.

Safety standards
Microwave ovens are covered by a radiation safety standard which limits the amount of microwaves that can leak from an oven throughout its lifetime. This is far below the level known to harm people. The standard requires ovens to have systems that stop the production of microwaves the moment the latch is released or the door opened. No radiation remains after microwave production has ceased.

Prepackaged Foods and Containers
Most packaged foods suitable for microwaving are marked with the microwave symbol and instructions for heating. Always follow the guidelines when microwaving packaged foods. Generally speaking, cooking containers made from porcelain, glass and plastic can be penetrated by microwaves. Use heat resistant containers suitable for microwave oven use, otherwise there is a risk of shrinking, deforming or burning. Metal containers, or containers having metal decoration or trim are not suitable. Some basic guidelines are given below:

Heat-resistant glass		Ordinary glass
Heatproof plastic		Ordinary plastic
Microwaveable film		Metal containers
Ceramics	Metal Grilles	Melamine

Tesco stores stock a wide range of microwave containers and wraps designed for microwave ovens.

Plastic films should not touch food as they may gas, melt or break down when hot and contaminate food. Wax paper, oven cooking bags, parchment paper and white microwave paper towels are safe for microwave use. Wooden objects may catch fire - so avoid their use.
Aluminium foil should not be used unless the recipe specifically requires its use. Metal skewers, ties, etc. should be removed from food before cooking. Avoid containers which narrow at the top as these may cause the contents to erupt when removed from the oven.

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing this TESCO microwave oven. Please make sure you read all the instructions and the safety notes carefully and that you familiarise yourself with the features and operation of your oven before use.

This microwave is for normal household use only. It is unsuitable for commercial use.

Unpacking the Microwave Oven

In the box you should find the microwave oven, glass turntable and rotating support ring. Unpack all the items completely. Make sure that all the packing materials are removed from the inside of the oven.

If possible retain the packaging for future use. If you dispose of the packaging, do so with regard to all recycling provisions in your area.

Check the oven for any damage, such as a misaligned or bent door, damaged door seals and sealing surface, broken or loose door hinges and latches and dents inside the cavity or on the door.

If any items are missing or damaged, contact your nearest Tesco store for assistance.

Your Microwave Oven and Its Components

Preliminaries

Choose a flat stable work surface away from sources of cold, heat and damp. For good ventilation, the rear and the left side should have a clearance of at least 7.5 cm from the wall, the right side should be open and the free distance above the top should be at least 30 cm.

Installing the Turntable

• Press the door release to open the door.
• Place the Turntable Support Ring in the oven and lower the turntable onto the ring. Move the turntable slightly with a circular motion to position it on the support wheels.
• Plug the oven into the wall socket.
• You must always operate your microwave oven with the turntable assembly properly in place
  

CONTROL PANEL

1. MENU ACTION SCREEN: Clock, cooking time, power, action indicators are displayed.
2. AUTO COOK BUTTONS: 8 Auto-Cook menus
3. POWER: Press this button repeatedly to choose a power setting from full power (100%) to 10%.
4. NUMBER KEYPAD: Enter time, weight, amounts.
5. RESET/STOP: Press to stop a cooking process. Press twice to cancel and clear a program Use this button to set/cancel the Child Lock.
6. CLOCK: Use to set or recall the time of day. The time of day is displayed at all times except when the oven is operating. If there is a power failure or the oven is unplugged, the clock must be reset.
7. DEFROST BY WEIGHT: Press this button and enter the weight to defrost food by weight
8. START/QUICK START: Press to confirm an Auto- Cook process. Touch to start a cooking or defrosting program. In Quick Start mode the oven will start at full power as soon as the button is pressed. Further presses of the button will extend cooking time.
9. SPEED DEFROST: Press this button and enter the time to defrost food by time.
10. DOOR RELEASE: Press to open the oven door.

MENU ACTION SCREEN

Around the perimeter of the screen there are indicators. These indicators, singly or in combination give you a visual indication of the process which the oven is carrying out.

When entering a program, the relevant indicators light to assist you with entering functions such as weight, oven power level etc. When executing a program the digital display indicates the amount of cooking time remaining on the program.

When the oven is not executing a function the Clock time displays and the CLOCK indicator is lit.

When the Child Lock is on the Clock time displays and the CLOCK and LOCK indicators are lit.

GETTING STARTED

Plug the oven in. Switch on at the mains point. The screen will display

SETTING THE CLOCK

The clock is a 12 hour clock but AM and PM are not displayed. To enter a time of 8:30 pm

• Press the CLOCK Button
  
• Enter
  
• Wait one second
• Press the CLOCK Button to confirm
  
• The time is now set. You may reset the clock time whenever you wish by following the above procedure.

Note: If you do not finish the procedure, after a few seconds the oven will cancel the procedure and revert to the previous state.

BASIC COOKING

• Press the Door Release to open the oven door.
• Place the food in a suitable container. Site the container centrally within the rim of the turntable. Close the door.
• Press the POWER button to set a power level from 100%-10%.
• Set a cooking time from 1 second to 99 min: 99 sec.
• Press the START/QUICKSTART button to start the oven.

SETTING THE MICROWAVE POWER LEVEL

The default setting of the oven is full (100%) power. Many recipes call for lower power settings. The oven has 10 power settings. Repeatedly press the power button to cycle the power level.

Example: Cook food at 50% power for 6min: 30 Sec.

• Press RESET/STOP to clear any program.
• Press the POWER button Six times to set 50% power.
• Press 6+3+0 to set 6min: 30sec.
• Press START/QUICK START to start the oven.
  
  
  The oven will start. The display indicates the time remaining. When the cooking cycle is complete the oven will beep four times and display the word .
  
  Open the door, let the food briefly rest and then remove the food.
  
  If you do not open the door (or press any oven key) stays on screen and the oven periodically beeps as a reminder.

STOPPING THE OVEN

Open the door to interrupt cooking.
To continue cooking, close the oven door and press the START/QUICK START button.

Press RESET/STOP: Cookingis interrupted.

To continue cooking press the START/QUICK START button..

Pressing RESET/STOP twice will stop the oven and any cooking programme will be erased.

QUICK START (EXPRESS) COOKING

By pressing the START/QUICK START button repeatedly you can program the oven for Express cooking. at FULL power(100%).

• Each press of the START/QUICK START button increases the cooking time in 30 second intervals.
• The oven will start almost as soon you press the START/QUICK START button so be prepared!!
• During the cooking cycle, you can top up the remaining time to a maximum of 10 minutes by further presses of the START/QUICK START button.
• Express cooking is a very good way of rapidly heating small portions of food, or easily adding a small amount of cooking time to finish dishes that are slightly undercooked.

All cooking programs can be set up with the oven door open or closed with the exception of the Quick Start program which requires the door to be closed. If you are setting up a program when the door is open, pressing the RESET/STOP button once will erase the program.

DEFROSTING

There are two auto defrosting programmes

DEFROST BY WEIGHT: in this programme, you enter the weight of the food and the oven calculates the time required to defrost.

Example : Auto Defrost 600 g of food

• Press DEFROST BY WEIGHT
  
• Enter the weight of the food
  
• Press START/QUICK START to start cooking
  
  The programme calculates the time required.

SPEED DEFROST: in this programme, you enter the time required to defrost the food.

Example: Defrost food for 25 minutes

• Press SPEED DEFROST:
  
• Enter the time
  
• Press START/QUICK START to start cooking.
  

During Defrosting:

During defrosting the oven will beep twice as follows:

• DEFROST BY WEIGHT: – Two-thirds of the way through the cycle.
• SPEED DEFROST: – Half way through the cycle.

• At this point you should open the door, check the food and turn it over or redistribute it as necessary so that the food defrosts evenly. Close the door and press START/QUICK START to continue.
• It is good practice to periodically check food during the defrosting process, turning it if necessary.

After Defrosting:

• Open the oven door. Remove the food and check that it has fully defrosted. If the food is partially defrosted, replace it in the oven, select the Speed Defrost programme and add sufficient time to fully defrost the food.

Always ensure that food is fully defrosted before cooking.

AUTO-COOKING

Auto Cooking is designed to automate the cooking of commonly used basic foods. The results of auto cooking depend the temperature of the food, its shape and size, and personal preference. There are 8 Auto-Cook menus.

Method:

• Press RESET/STOP to clear any previous setting.
• Press the required Auto-Cook menu repeatedly to select the weight or amount of food. Refer to the table opposite for help.
• Press START/QUICK START
  
• Example: Auto-Cook 400 g. of Fish by weight.
• Press RESET/STOP to clear any setting
  
• Press "FISH" 4 times.
  
• Press START/QUICK START
  

Note: You cannot add time to an Auto-Cook program.

AUTO-COOK MENU TABLE

MENU	NUMBER OF PRESSES
BAKED POTATO*	1 c.150g 4m: 30sec	2 c.300g 8m: 0sec	3 c.450g 12m: 0sec	4 c.600g 15m: 0sec	*Prick skins of whol potatoes
FISH	200g 4m: 0sec	300g 5m: 20sec	400g 6m: 40sec	500g 8m: 0sec	600g 9m: 20sec
PIZZA	150 g 1m: 10sec	300 g 1m: 40sec	450 g 2m: 10sec
BEVERAGE /SOUP	1 (cup) 1m: 50sec	2 (cups) 3m: 20sec	3 (cups) 4m: 20sec	4 (cups) 5m: 20sec
VEGETABLE	100 g 3m: 0sec	200 g 4m: 0sec	300 g 5m: 0sec	400 g 6m: 0sec
REHEAT	200 g 2m: 0sec	300 g 2m: 40sec	400 g 3m: 20sec	500 g 4m: 0sec	600 g 4m: 40sec	700 g 5m: 20sec	800 g 6m: 0sec
PASTA*	100 g 25m: 0sec	200 g 30m: 0sec	300 g 35m: 0sec		*Add sufficientwater
RICE*	150 g 23m: 0sec	300 g 26m: 0sec	450 g 29m: 0sec	600 g 32m: 0sec	*Add sufficient water

If, after the program has ended the food is underdone, use the Basic Cooking Procedure for a short time to complete the process.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

Adding time during Cooking

• During Express cooking you can increase the cooking time by repeatedly pressing the START/QUICK START button.
• You cannot add time during any other cooking programme.

Queries

• During Basic cooking: press the POWER button to briefly display the microwave power in the current programme.
• During any cooking cycle: press the CLOCK button to briefly display the clock time.

Commands, Displays and Sounds

• Every time you press a button to give a legitimate instruction, the oven will beep once. If the action is not part of the process you will hear two short beeps and nothing will happen.
• Before inputting any cooking process, it is good practice to press the RESET/STOP button twice to clear the oven memory.
• When setting a cooking process, if you do not confirm the process by pressing the START/QUICK START button, after a period of time the process will be cancelled and the oven will revert to displaying the clock time.
• Half way through a defrost cycle the oven will beep twice to remind you to adjust/turn the food.
• The buzzer will sound four times to remind you when cooking is finished. The word will remain indefinitely on screen until you open the oven door or press any button.
• When entering a cooking time, you can enter up to 99min: 99 seconds. (i.e a maximum time of 100min: 39 sec.).

CHILD LOCK

The Child safety lock prevents operation by small children. All oven functions are disabled when the child lock is on.

• Press and hold the RESET/STOP button for about five seconds after which time a beep sounds and the LOCK indicator appears.
  
• To cancel, press and hold the RESET/STOP button until the beep sounds and the normal display re-appears.
  

TIPS FOR GOOD COOKING

• Please read this section together with the Safety Guide on P2.
• 
  Raw meat should never be fully cooked in a microwave oven. You may partially cook raw meat in a microwave provided you complete the cooking process by conventional methods - i.e grilling, roasting etc.
• Stir liquids and purees before during and after cooking to distribute the heat evenly. Mashed potato will cook more evenly and more thoroughly if lightly covered.
• Never tightly cover food. Always cover it loosely.
• Do not allow plastic film to touch food as it may chemically break down or melt or even catch fire and contaminate the food.
• Arrange food in the dish so that the thicker part is on the outside and the thinner part inside for more even cooking.
• 6-7 minutes per 500 gr. will cook most fruit and vegetables. Seafood takes less time.
• Different foods require different temperatures to cook. Add more minutes as you drop the power.
• Up to 20% of the cooking takes place after the oven turns off so always remember that your food will continue cooking after you've removed it.
• Food that takes an hour in to cook in a regular oven should take around 15 minutes in the microwave.
• Foods with baking powder should stand a few minutes before cooking to allow the leavening agents to work.
• If a recipe calls for milk and water, reduce the water.
• Rotate large items of food occasionally during cooking to encourage even heat distribution.
• Food cooks best and reheats better in a round dish or a dish with curved sides.
• Salt attracts microwaves. Don't just sprinkle it on food before cooking, stir it in or add it later.
• Fats and sugars attract microwaves - thoroughly mix sugar with other ingredients. Care should be taken when cooking foods with high sugar or fat contents as they can reach very high temperatures.
• Handle pastry-wrapped foods like mince pies carefully as the filling gets hotter than the pastry.

Hints for reheating food

• Heat leftovers and pre-cooked food to at least 70°C. Food should be hot and steaming before it is served.
• When re-heating liquids such as meat stews see that the liquid boils for around 3-5 minutes to ensure the pieces of meat are completely heated through.

Hints for defrosting

• Only defrost food in the microwave if you plan to cook the food immediately after it has thawed. Some areas of the food may begin to cook during defrosting, which can allow bacteria to flourish. Any raw meat must be fully defrosted and then cooked by normal cooking processes, i.e grilled, roasted, etc. Do not cook defrosted raw meat in a microwave oven.
• Remove food from the wrapping, place it on a microwave safe dish. Rotate and re-arrange food during defrosting. Where appropriate, stir the food and if possible, separate food items and remove those which have already defrosted.

Steam and Smoke

• Steam is a natural product of microwave cooking. It escapes from the vents in the top and rear of the appliance. These vents should never be blocked.
• Steam may condense in and around the oven during cooking and should be dried off after use.
• If during cooking, smoke starts to come from the oven do NOT open the oven door! Immediately switch off at the mains, unplug the oven and wait for the smoke to completely subside and the oven to fully cool down before removing the food.
• Before you use your microwave oven again, consult a service technician and have the oven tested.

Testing Your Oven

• Place a cup of water in the oven and heat it on full power for 2 minutes. If the water gets hot the oven is working.

APPROXIMATE COOKING TIMES FOR FISH (ON FULL POWER)

The times given above are approximate and should be adjusted to suit portion sizes and individual taste. The average cooking time for fish is around 3.5 minutes per 450 g (1 lb). The fish should be lightly covered during the standing period.

APPROXIMATE COOKING TIMES FOR FRESH VEGETABLES (ON FULL POWER)

The times given above are approximate and should be adjusted to suit quantities, portion sizes and individual taste. The average cooking time for vegetables is around 5.5 minutes per 450 g (1 lb). When adding salt, mix it with the water or add it after cooking.

To cook vegetables: Mix them with the water in a ceramic curved bottomed bowl and cover lightly. After cooking leave the vegetables to stand for 2-3 minutes before straining (if necessary) and serving.

TROUBLESHOOTING

If the oven fails to operate:

• Check that the oven is plugged in securely. If it is not, unplug from the outlet, wait 10 seconds and plug it in again securely.
• Check for a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. If these are intact, test the outlet with another appliance.
• Check that the clock is set and that the child lock is off.
• Make sure that the oven door closes fully and securely.
• If none of the above rectifies the situation, contact the Tesco helpline. Do not try to adjust or repair the oven yourself.

CLEANING AND CARE

• These steps should be taken after every use.
• Disconnect the power supply and wait for the appliance to completely cool down.
• Remove the turntable support ring and the turntable and wash then in warm soapy water.
• Clean the oven cavity, the outer edge of the cavity, and the oven door with water and a mild detergent. A special microwave oven cleaner is not necessary. Do not use scouring pads, or other abrasives.
• Make sure that the door seals are clean, dry and undamaged.
• Wipe outer surfaces and control panel with a damp soft cloth.
• If liquids have been splashed on the wall of the oven cavity, they must be fully removed otherwise smoke may occur when the appliance is next used.
• If the cavity emits odours, boil a cup of water with a squeeze of lemon juice for 5-7 min. to remove them.
• Dry all parts thoroughly and replace them.
  For advice and spares contact the Tesco helpline: 0845 456 6767

WARRANTY

This appliance is covered by a warranty for 12 months from the date of purchase. If a fault develops during this period, please return your complete product to a Tesco store with your proof of purchase. This warranty in no way affects your consumer rights.

SPECIFICATIONS

THIS APPLIANCE MUST BE EARTHED

UK: Waste electrical products should not be disposed of with household waste. Separate disposal facilities exist, for your nearest facilities. See www.recycle-more.co.uk or in-stor e for details.
ROI: Produced after 13th August 2005. Waste electrical products should not be disposed of with household waste. Please recycle where facilities exist. Check with your Local Authority or retailer for recycling advice

Documents / Resources

References

• Everything you need to know to Recycle More

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