help how do I use my new combi microwave

lolarentt

Yes you CAN use metal racks provided with the microwave function - can't remember why but it was in a Panasonic book I had with a microwave a few ovens ago, and it was never a problem. These days I find I only use the microwave function as at home there are always quicker ways of doing any other sort of cooking!

sandy2_2

having had a look on the internet this morning about the turntable not turning, I gave the rotating ring thingy's wheels a good clean, also the bottom of the oven (apparently there could be grease there) then had a look at the shaft that the glass tray fits on, I found that the shaft was secured by sellotape (who knows why) and once that was removed the turntable now turns, phew 1hour journey and a lot of hassle saved by not having to takeng the oven back.

sandy2_2

roddydogs wrote: »

Is it a Panasonic? you CAN use the metal rack with combination cooking (Grill + Microwave) (How else would you use the Grill?)but you must put the metal tray on top of the rack., if using combination oven & microwave, you obviously dont need the rack.

No it's a Orbegozo, which is a very common make here in Spain. As the instruction (that's a joke) is printed in most of EU languages it must be available outside Spain as well. Did try to find more By Googling maker, but nothing
Ah well, back to the metal rack, Roddydogs, I don't understand your replyI'm afraid. I only have a metal rack, I don't have a metal tray to put on top of it, but the utensil guide does say you can use a metal tray, metal rack and aluminium foil container when using the grill, but not when you use the combination.

This microwave doesn't work as a conventional over, just microwave, micro+grill and grill only. Does all sorts of weird and wonderfullthings like assesses weight of food to be cooked or defrosted and automatically does it somehow.

The book says I can use heat resistent glass with the grill, does this mean Pyrex, but I´d never use pyrex with an ordinary electric grill in case it cracked.

Do you think I´d be able to roast a small chicken in it, if so how please
If anyone has a link to a combination cookery book eg panasonic, LG etc I´d be grateful

Just in case you want to try one of the recipes the book lists here goes
Steamed Egg. Material 2 eggs, 4 spoonfuls white sugar, 3/4 cup fresh milk, 1tsp ginger liquid.
Step1 3 spoonfuls of sugar into boiled water and stirred
step 2 eggs stirred in glass container and add to sugar water before mixed with fresh milk
step 3 Cover the lid with space for airflow before placing it in the oven with stipulated time
See what I´m up against!!!!!:rolleyes: :eek:

roddydogs

That recipe shorley would not need the grill or oven., only the microwave.
My handbook also says That you can use pyrex under the grill, but on "googling" round it says you cant.
Phoned the "helpline" and they say that theres 2 grades of Pyrex, 1 that can be used under a grill, but they are updating to say they dont recommend it.
Without a tray you are limited to stuff that can be put on the rack, ie chops, if you want to use combination cooking.
If you couldn't do this, the Grill + Microwave combination would not work together.

HappyIdiotTalk

Our micro has about had it. Are these combo microwave, oven, grill gadgets any good or just a gimmick? I use our current microwave for reheating food, defrosting and plate warming. But might be interested in a combo device for doing cheese on toast and that sort of thing. I'm a bit skeptical about the quality of a microwave and grilled roast chicken though... How do they turn out compared to roasting in a conventional oven?

trying-very-trying

I'm not sure what you mean about a rack? Do you just mean a low level circular rack, a bit like a cooling tray, with short legs and rubber feet. My machine also has a higher level one of same description. These are perfectly safe to use in micro cooking. I don't understand it, but it does work. The higher rack is for grilling or multi layering of dishes.
You do shut the door when grilling. I just use the grill function for finishing any cheese topped dish, e.g macaroni cheese or cheesy cottage pie. I don't think it's really for cheese on toast. It's quicker to use the ordinary grill, and the micro grill can be a bit drying.
I use mine all the time. The dual cook function of convection and micro is great for baked tatties, pasta bakes, cottage pies loads of things. I also use for baking cakes etc. I would rather be without my conventional oven than without my combi oven.

MATH

My Mother got her first combi in 1982 when most of our street didin't even have a basic micro, neighbours popped in just to watch the food go round LOL. Combies are great for giving dishes colour and crisping off food that would otherwise be pasty and soggy using micro alone. They are also useful for cooking small items conventionally when you can't be bothered to pre-heat your main oven or for those who wished they had a double oven and haven't! (ie me)
However, those who use your micro for re-heating and defrosting only are not using even a basic micro to its full potential and probably wouldn't get the most out of a more expensive combi, while those who cook a wide variety of dishes in the micro will love the extra functions of a combi.

My findings and experience:

The grill will not be as powerful as your regular one. For grilling alone (chops, toast etc) I would use the regular grill.

You can use the metal rack on ALL functions but must only use metal containers on Convection only.

As a regular oven it will heat up much faster than your big oven and will save time and money when cooking that one quiche, or two kievs.

For the grill to brown most foods they must be as close to the element as possible. Things at turntable level will brown quicker using sunlight on a cloudy day. That is why they include a higher rack.

Most combies will not grill on 100% micro as the grill turns on during the micro rest periods, so you may only get combi function on micro 75% and lower. If you know the timing for cooking that Shepherd's pie at full micro then add some extra time to micro at 75 or 50% power with grill or cook for the usual time at full power and add 10 mins or so grill at the end.

The oven takes time to cool if used on combi. I've ended up with many a dried crispy slice of bread, trying to defrost a loaf before the oven as cooled:mad:


HTH

Mini-mum_3

trying-very-trying wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean about a rack? Do you just mean a low level circular rack, a bit like a cooling tray, with short legs and rubber feet. My machine also has a higher level one of same description. These are perfectly safe to use in micro cooking. I don't understand it, but it does work. The higher rack is for grilling or multi layering of dishes.

I have a Delonghi combi microwave and it has racks with rubber feet. I was worried about using the rubber feet in convection cooking and using metal in the microwave but the instructions say that it should be used for grilling, convection and microwaving.

beverleyhills

I have used a Panasonic Combination oven for 12 years or more. This is what the model I have does

Microwave function:

Glass turnable and microwaveable containers only.
There is a small round grill made of micro-waveable material. This is for defrosting items like bread.

Combination Function:

Metal turntable.
There is a round slotted metal sheet which fit into the turntable. Use this for cooking meat. Last Christmas I cooked a 5lb rib of beef.
There is a metal rack on legs with 'rubberlike' feet. I place this on the metal turntable for crispy jacket potatoes. Panasonic replaced the feet when they wore through.
Casseroles can be cooked in heatproof, micowaveblel safe pryrex or ceramic dishes on the metal turntable.
Pastry can be cooked using metal tins.
Quiches in ceramic dishes should have the pastry baked blind first using the microwave function.

Grill function:

Sold metal shelf and a slotted metal grill which which fits into the shelf. Allows meat juices to run through.
You use the grill with the door closed. I have never used it much as I was concerned about the heat damaging the door


One or two level convection function: like conventional fan oven

A normal oven shelf for one level. Use the solid metal for two levels.

Bake function: like a conventional oven.

Normal oven shelf and solid shelf.

Opening the oven door on any function stops the clock.

csarina

I bought my first combi micro wave in 1990.......A panasonic....and it was brilliant, still going strong when we moved in here, but was too big to go in our miniscule kitchen, so freecycled it and bough the smaller Panny. I find that things cook at 20o lower than in the normal oven on the convection setting. For 2 years my micro was the only oven I had and cooked meals for 6 - 7 of us, you have to plan well in advance!!!!

It sounds as though what you have is a microwave with a grill, in which case the metal rack is used when you grill anything and you should be able to use metal in the grill, I also have used pyrex without any problem too.

true combi micro will have microwave, grill convection and combination cooking. If you have combi cooking it means that you use the grill to brown and the food cooks by micro wave....rather than by the convection method which is also used in ordinary cooker.

Sorry if this sounds a bit garbled, I really do know what I am talking about but it might sound a bit strange to anyone who has not had this type of microwave before.

The grill will not work unless you shut the door' unlike a grill in a cooker which you usually have to leave open.