GE Appliances WES1450 User manual

Microwave Oven
DE68-03723A 49-40618 06-09 JR
WES1450
WES1452
Owner’s Manual
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . .2–11
Operating Instructions
Auto Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . .29, 30
Changing Power Level . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Features of Your
Microwave Oven . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12, 13
Microwave Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Other Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 27
Sensor Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22–25
Time Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15–20
Troubleshooting Tips
Before You Call
for Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31, 32
Things That Are Normal
With Your Microwave Oven . . . . . . .32
Consumer Support
Consumer Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Write the model and serial numbers here:
Model #________________________
Serial # ________________________
You can find them on a label inside
of the oven.
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Safety InstructionsOperating InstructionsTroubleshooting TipsConsumer Support
2
■Read and follow the specific
precautions in the Precautions to
Avoid Possible Exposure to Excessive
Microwave Energy section above.
■This appliance must be grounded.
Connect only to a properly grounded
outlet. See the Grounding Instructions
section on page 8.
■Be certain to place the front surface
of the door three inches or more back
from the countertop edge to avoid
accidental tipping of the appliance
in normal usage.
■Some products such as whole eggs
and sealed containers—for example,
closed jars—are able to explode and
should not be heated in this microwave
oven. Such use of the microwave oven
could result in injury.
To reduce the risk of burns, electric shock, fire, injury to persons
or exposure to excessive microwave energy:
WARNING!
PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID POSSIBLE EXPOSURE
TO EXCESSIVE MICROWAVE ENERGY
(a) Do Not Attempt to operate this
oven with the door open since
open-door operation can result
in harmful exposure to microwave
energy. It is important not to defeat
or tamper with the safety interlocks.
( b) Do Not Place any object between
the oven front face and the door
or allow soil or cleaner residue to
accumulate on sealing surfaces.
(c) Do Not Operate the oven if it is
damaged. It is particularly important
that the oven door close properly
and that there is no damage to the:
(1) door (bent)
(2) hinges and latches
(broken or loosened)
(3) door seals and sealing surfaces.
(d) The Oven Should Not be adjusted
or repaired by anyone except
properly qualified service personnel.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
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When using electrical appliances basic safety precautions should be
followed, including the following:

Consumer SupportTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions
3
Use this appliance only for its intended purpose as described in this
Owner’s Manual.
■This microwave oven is not approved
or tested for marine use.
■Do not store anything directly on top
of the microwave oven surface when
the microwave oven is in operation.
■Do not operate this appliance if it has
a damaged power cord or plug, if it is not
working properly or if it has been damaged
or dropped.
■Do not cover or block any openings
on the appliance.
■Use this appliance only for its intended use
as described in this manual. Do not use
corrosive chemicals or vapors in this
appliance. This microwave oven is
specifically designed to heat, dry or cook
food and is not intended for laboratory or
industrial use.
■Do not store this appliance outdoors. Do not
use this product near water—for example,
in a wet basement, near a swimming pool,
near a sink or in similar locations.
■Keep power cord away from heated
surfaces.
■Do not immerse power cord or plug in
water.
■Do not let power cord hang over edge
of table or counter.
■This appliance shall not be installed less
than 36″above the floor to the bottom of
the product. A minimum spacing of 3″must
be maintained between the microwave
oven and the sidewalls.
■This microwave is not approved for a built-in
installation.
■To reduce the risk of fire in the oven cavity:
— Do not overcook food. Carefully attend
appliance when paper, plastic or other
combustible materials are placed inside
the oven while cooking.
— Remove wire twist-ties and metal handles
from paper or plastic containers before
placing them in the oven.
— Do not use the oven for storage purposes.
Do not leave paper products, cooking
utensils or food in the oven when not in use.
— If materials inside the oven ignite, keep the
oven door closed, turn the oven off and
disconnect the power cord, or shut off
power at the fuse or circuit breaker panel.
If the door is opened, the fire may spread.
— Do not use the Sensor Features twice in
succession on the same food portion. If food
is undercooked after the first countdown,
use Time Cook for additional cooking time.
■See door surface cleaning instructions
in the Care and cleaning of the microwave
oven section of this manual.
■GE does not support any servicing of this
microwave oven, except as described by
the Consumer Support section of this
manual. Do not attempt to service the
microwave oven yourself. If service is
desired, then this appliance should be
serviced only by qualified service personnel.
Contact the nearest authorized service
facility for examination, repair or
adjustment.
■It is important to keep the area clean where
the door seals against the microwave. Use
only mild, non-abrasive detergents applied
with a clean sponge or soft cloth. Rinse well.
■As with any appliance, close supervision is
necessary when used by children.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
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Arcing is the microwave term
for sparks in the oven. Arcing
is caused by:
■Metal or foil touching the side
of the oven.
■Foil not molded to food
(upturned edges act like
antennas).
■Metal, such as twist-ties,
poultry pins, or gold-rimmed
dishes, in the microwave.
■Recycled paper towels
containing small metal pieces
being used in the microwave.
■Do not pop popcorn in your
microwave oven unless in
a special microwave popcorn
accessory or unless you use
popcorn labeled for use in
microwave ovens.
■Some products such as
whole eggs and sealed
containers—for example,
closed jars—are able to
explode and should not
be heated in this microwave
oven. Such use of the
microwave oven could
result in injury.
■Do not boil eggs in a
microwave oven. Pressure
will build up inside egg yolk
and will cause it to burst,
possibly resulting in injury.
■Operating the microwave
with no food inside for more
than a minute or two may
cause damage to the oven
and could start a fire. It
increases the heat around
the magnetron and can
shorten the life of the oven.
■Foods with unbroken outer
“skin” such as potatoes,
hot dogs, sausages, tomatoes,
apples, chicken livers and
other giblets, and egg yolks
should be pierced to allow
steam to escape during
cooking.
FOODS
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4
WARNING!
If you see arcing, press the CLEAR/OFF pad and
correct the problem.
ARCING
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
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■SUPERHEATED WATER
Liquids, such as water,
coffee or tea, are able to be
overheated beyond the boiling
point without appearing to be
boiling. Visible bubbling or
boiling when the container is
removed from the microwave
oven is not always present.
THIS COULD RESULT IN VERY
HOT LIQUIDS SUDDENLY
BOILING OVER WHEN THE
CONTAINER IS DISTURBED OR
A SPOON OR OTHER UTENSIL
IS INSERTED INTO THE LIQUID.
To reduce the risk of injury to
persons:
— Do not overheat the liquid.
— Stir the liquid both before and
halfway through heating it.
— Do not use straight-sided
containers with narrow necks.
— After heating, allow the
container to stand in the
microwave oven for a short
time before removing the
container.
— Use extreme care when
inserting a spoon or other
utensil into the container.
■Avoid heating baby food in
glass jars, even with the lid off.
Make sure all infant food is
thoroughly cooked. Stir food
to distribute the heat evenly.
Be careful to prevent scalding
when warming formula.
The container may feel cooler
than the formula really is.
Always test the formula
before feeding the baby.
■Don’t defrost frozen
beverages in narrow-necked
bottles (especially carbonated
beverages). Even if the
container is opened, pressure
can build up. This can cause
the container to burst,
possibly resulting in injury.
■Hot foods and steam can
cause burns. Be careful when
opening any containers of hot
food, including popcorn bags,
cooking pouches and boxes.
To prevent possible injury,
direct steam away from
hands and face.
■Do not overcook potatoes.
They could dehydrate and
catch fire, causing damage
to your oven.
■Cook meat and poultry
thoroughly—meat to at least
an INTERNAL temperature of
160°F and poultry to at least
an INTERNAL temperature
of 180°F. Cooking to these
temperatures usually protects
against foodborne illness.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS 5

Make sure all cookware used in
your microwave oven is suitable
for microwaving. Most glass
casseroles, cooking dishes,
measuring cups, custard cups,
pottery or china dinnerware
which does not have metallic
trim or glaze with a metallic
sheen can be used. Some
cookware is labeled “suitable
for microwaving.”
■If you are not sure if a dish is
microwave-safe, use this test:
Place in the oven both the
dish you are testing and
a glass measuring cup filled
with 1 cup of water—set the
measuring cup either in or
next to the dish. Microwave
30–45 seconds at high. If the
dish heats, it should not be
used for microwaving.
If the dish remains cool
and only the water in the
cup heats, then the dish is
microwave-safe.
■If you use a meat
thermometer while cooking,
make sure it is safe for use
in microwave ovens.
■Do not use recycled paper
products. Recycled paper
towels, napkins and waxed
paper may contain metal
flecks which could cause
arcing or ignite. Paper
products containing nylon
or nylon filaments should
be avoided, as they may
also ignite.
■Some styrofoam trays (like
those that meat is packaged
on) have a thin strip of metal
embedded in the bottom.
When microwaved, the metal
can burn the floor of the oven
or ignite a paper towel.
■Do not use the microwave
to dry newspapers.
■Not all plastic wrap is suitable
for use in microwave ovens.
Check the package for
proper use.
■Paper towels, waxed paper
and plastic wrap can be used
to cover dishes in order to
retain moisture and prevent
spattering. Be sure to vent
plastic wrap so steam can
escape.
■Cookware may become hot
because of heat transferred
from the heated food. Pot
holders may be needed
to handle the cookware.
MICROWAVE-SAFE COOKWARE
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
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6
WARNING!
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING
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Consumer SupportTroubleshooting TipsOperating InstructionsSafety Instructions
■“Boilable” cooking pouches
and tightly closed plastic
bags should be slit, pierced
or vented as directed by
package. If they are not,
plastic could burst during or
immediately after cooking,
possibly resulting in injury.
Also, plastic storage
containers should be at least
partially uncovered because
they form a tight seal. When
cooking with containers
tightly covered with plastic
wrap, remove covering
carefully and direct steam
away from hands and face.
■Use foil only as directed in this
guide. TV dinners may be
microwaved in foil trays less
than 3/4″high; remove the
top foil cover and return the
tray to the box. When using
foil in the microwave oven,
keep the foil at least 1″away
from the sides of the oven.
■Plastic cookware—Plastic
cookware designed for
microwave cooking is very
useful, but should be used
carefully. Even microwave-
safe plastic may not be as
tolerant of overcooking
conditions as are glass or
ceramic materials and
may soften or char if
subjected to short periods
of overcooking. In longer
exposures to overcooking,
the food and cookware
could ignite.
Follow these guidelines:
Use microwave-safe
plastics only and use
them in strict compliance
with the cookware
manufacturer’s
recommendations.
Do not microwave empty
containers.
Do not permit children
to use plastic cookware
without complete
supervision.
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This appliance must be grounded. In the event of an electrical short
circuit, grounding reduces the risk of electric shock by providing
an escape wire for the electric current.
This appliance is equipped with a power cord having a grounding wire
with a grounding plug. The plug must be plugged into an outlet that is
properly installed and grounded.
Consult a qualified electrician or service technician if the grounding
instructions are not completely understood or if doubt exists as to
whether the appliance is properly grounded.
If the outlet is a standard 2-prong wall outlet, it is your personal
responsibility and obligation to have it replaced with a properly
grounded 3-prong wall outlet.
Do not under any circumstances cut or remove the third (ground)
prong from the power cord.
We do not recommend using an extension cord with this appliance.
If the power cord is too short, have a qualified electrician or service
technician install an outlet near the appliance. (See WARNING—
EXTENSION CORDS section.)
For best operation, plug this appliance into its own electrical
outlet to prevent flickering of lights, blowing of fuse or tripping
of circuit breaker.
GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
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8
WARNING!
Improper use of the grounding plug can result in a risk
of electric shock.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
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Usage situations where appliance’s power cord will be
disconnected infrequently.
Because of potential safety
hazards under certain conditions,
we strongly recommend against
the use of an adapter plug. However,
if you still elect to use an adapter,
where local codes permit,
a TEMPORARY CONNECTION may
be made to a properly grounded
2-prong wall receptacle by the use
of a UL-listed adapter which is
available at most local hardware stores.
The larger slot in the adapter must be aligned with the larger slot in
the wall receptacle to provide proper polarity in the connection of the
power cord.
CAUTION: Attaching the adapter ground terminal
to the wall receptacle cover screw does not ground the appliance
unless the cover screw is metal and not insulated, and the wall
receptacle is grounded through the house wiring.
You should have the circuit checked by a qualified electrician to make
sure the receptacle is properly grounded.
When disconnecting the power cord from the adapter, always hold
the adapter with one hand. If this is not done, the adapter ground
terminal is very likely to break with repeated use. Should this happen,
DO NOT USE the appliance until a proper ground has again been
established.
Usage situations where appliance’s power cord will be
disconnected frequently.
Do not use an adapter plug in these situations because frequent
disconnection of the power cord places undue strain on the adapter
and leads to eventual failure of the adapter ground terminal. You
should have the 2-prong wall receptacle replaced with a 3-prong
(grounding) receptacle by a qualified electrician before using the
appliance.
ADAPTER PLUGS
Ensure proper ground
and firm connection
before use.
TEMPORARY
METHOD
Align large
prongs/slots
(Adapter plugs not
permitted in Canada)
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10
WARNING!
A short power supply cord is provided to reduce the risks resulting
from becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord.
Extension cords may be used if you are careful in using them.
If an extension cord is used—
The marked electrical rating of the extension cord should
be at least as great as the electrical rating of the appliance;
The extension cord must be a grounding-type 3-wire cord
and it must be plugged into a 3-slot outlet;
The extension cord should be arranged so that it will not drape
over the countertop or tabletop where it can be pulled on by
children or tripped over unintentionally.
If you use an extension cord, the interior light may flicker and the
blower sound may vary when the microwave oven is on. Cooking
times may be longer, too.
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EXTENSION CORDS
Most pacemakers are shielded from interference from electronic
products, including microwaves. However, patients with pacemakers
may wish to consult their physicians if they have concerns.
NOTICE–PACEMAKERS
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