GE Monogram ZE2160 User manual

Owner’s
Manual
Countertop
Microwave Oven
ZE2160

Consumer Information
Countertop Microwave Oven
2
Introduction
Your new Monogram microwave oven makes an eloquent statement of style, convenience and
kitchen planning flexibility. Whether you chose it for its purity of design, practical cooking
features or assiduous attention to detail—or for all of these reasons—you’ll find that your
Monogram microwave oven’s superior blend of form and function will delight you for
years to come.
The information on the following pages will help you operate and maintain your microwave
oven properly.
Contents
Adapter Plugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Aluminum Foil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 6, 15, 22
Appliance Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Auto Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Auto Defrost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Consumer Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3, 27
Cooking Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Extension Cords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Features of Your Oven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Grounding Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Microwave-Safe Cookware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Model and Serial Number Location . . . . . . .3
Other Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20, 21
Beeper Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Child Lock-Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Cooking Complete Reminder . . . . . . . . . .20
Delay Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Scroll Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Start/Pause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Timer On/Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Power Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Precautions to Avoid Possible Exposure to
Excessive Microwave Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Problem Solver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Time Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12–16
Add 30 Seconds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Express Cook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Time Cook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12, 13
Time Defrost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14, 15
Sensor Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18, 19
Beverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Chicken/Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Popcorn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Potato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Reheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Vegetable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4–8
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
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.

3
Before
using
your
oven
Read this manual carefully. It is intended to
help you operate and maintain your new
microwave oven properly.
Keep it handy for answers to your questions.
Write
down the
model &
serial
numbers
See the Features of Your Oven section for
model and serial number location.
These numbers are also on the Consumer
Product Ownership Registration Card included
in this manual.
Before sending in this card, please write these
numbers here:
Model Number
Serial Number
Use these numbers in any correspondence or
service calls concerning your microwave oven.
If you
received a
damaged
oven
Immediately contact the dealer (or builder)
that sold you the oven.
Save time
& money
Before you request service, check the Problem
Solver in the back of this manual.
It lists causes of minor operating problems that
you can correct yourself.
If you
need
service
To obtain service, see the Consumer Services
page in the back of this manual.
We’re proud of our service and want you to be
pleased. If for some reason you are not happy
with the service you receive, here are the steps
to follow for further help.
FIRST, contact the people who serviced your
appliance. Explain why you are not pleased.
In most cases, this will solve the problem.
NEXT, if you are still not pleased, write all the
details—including your phone number—to:
Manager, Customer Relations
GE Appliances
Appliance Park
Louisville, KY 40225

4
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
When using electrical appliances, basic safety
precautions should be followed, including the
following:
WARNING–To reduce the
risk of burns, electric shock, fire, injury
to persons or exposure to excessive
microwave energy:
• Read and follow the specific ‘‘Precautions
to Avoid Possible Exposure to Excessive
Microwave Energy’’ on page 2.
• This appliance must be grounded. Connect
only to properly grounded outlet. See
Grounding Instructions section on page 7.
• Install or locate this appliance only in
accordance with the provided Installation
Instructions.
• 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.
• 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 cover or block any openings on
the appliance.
• 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.
• This microwave oven is not approved or
tested for marine use.
• Do not immerse power cord or plug in water.
• Keep power cord away from heated surfaces.
• Do not mount the microwave oven over
or near any portion of a heating or cooking
appliance.
• Do not mount this appliance over a sink.
• Do not store anything directly on top of the
microwave oven surface when the microwave
oven is in operation.
• Do not let power cord hang over edge of
table or counter.
• 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. If the power cord is damaged, it
must be replaced by General Electric Service
or an authorized service agent using a power
cord available from General Electric.
• See door surface cleaning instructions in the
Care and Cleaning section(s) of this manual.
• This appliance must only be serviced by
qualified service personnel. Contact nearest
authorized service facility for examination,
repair or adjustment.
• As with any appliance, close supervision is
necessary when used by children.
• 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 to facilitate 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 oven
door closed, turn oven off and disconnect
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.

• 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.
• 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.
• Foods with unbroken outer ‘‘skin’’ such as
potatoes, sausages, tomatoes, apples, chicken
livers and other giblets and egg yolks should
be pierced to allow steam to escape during
cooking.
• Do not overcook potatoes. They could
dehydrate and catch fire, causing damage
to your oven.
• 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.
• 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.
• Do not 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.
SAFETY FACT—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.
• 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.
• Do not pop popcorn in your microwave oven
unless it is in a special microwave popcorn
accessory or unless you use popcorn labeled
for use in microwave ovens.
5
FOODS
ARCING
If you see arcing, press the CLEAR/OFF pad
and correct the problem.
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.

6
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
MICROWAVE-SAFE COOKWARE
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 one cup of water—set the
measuring cup either in or next to the dish.
Microwave 1 minute 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 can
contain metal flecks which may 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 oven to dry
newspapers.
• 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.
• Not all plastic wrap is suitable for use in
microwave ovens. Check the package for
proper use.
• Cookware may become hot because of
heat transferred from the heated food.
Pot holders may be needed to handle
the cookware.
•“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 manual.
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 inch 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:
1. Use microwave-safe plastics only and
use them in strict compliance with the
cookware manufacturer’s recommendations.
2. Do not microwave empty containers.
3. Do not permit children to use plastic
cookware without complete supervision.

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 two-
prong wall receptacle by the use of a UL listed
adapter (Fig. 2) 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 two-prong wall
receptacle replaced with a three-prong
(grounding) receptacle by a qualified
electrician before using the appliance.
GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING–Improper use
of the grounding plug can result in a risk
of electric shock.
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. (Fig. 1)
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.
Where a standard two-prong wall receptacle is
encountered, it is your personal responsibility
and obligation to have it replaced with a
properly grounded three-prong wall receptacle.
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 the 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.
PREFERRED METHOD
Fig. 1
Fig. 2 TEMPORARY METHOD
(Adapter plugs not permitted in Canada)
USE OF ADAPTER PLUGS
7
Ensure proper ground and
firm connection before use
Align large prongs/slots

8
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
USE OF EXTENSION CORDS
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
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—
1. The marked electrical rating of the cord set
or extension cord should be at least as great
as the electrical rating of the appliance.
2. The extension cord must be a grounding-
type 3-wire cord and it must be plugged into
a 3-slot outlet.
3. The longer 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.

9
421 3
67 5
Features of Your Oven
Countertop Microwave Oven
1. Door Latches.
2. Window with Metal Shield. Screen allows
cooking to be viewed while keeping
microwaves confined in the oven.
3. Convenience Guide.
4. Touch Control Panel and Display.
5. Door Latch Release. Press latch release
button to open door.
6. Removable Turntable. Turntable and
support must be in place when using the
oven. The turntable may be removed for
cleaning.
7. Removable Turntable Support. The
turntable support must be in place when
using the oven.
NOTE: Rating plate, oven vent(s) and oven
light are located on the inside walls of the
microwave oven.
Optional
Accessories
Available at extra cost from your GE supplier.
Choose the appropriate Installation Kit to
convert this oven to a built-in wall oven.
For 27 ″installations:
Model Kit
ZE2160SF JX2127SH
For 30 ″installations:
Model Kit
ZE2160SF JX2130SH
Throughout
this manual,
features and
appearance
may vary
from your
model
1200 watts

Cooking Controls
Countertop Microwave Oven
You can
microwave by
time, with the
sensor features
or with the auto
feature
Check the Convenience Guide before you begin.
1. Time Features
Press Enter
TIME COOK Amount of cooking time
Press once or twice
TIME DEFROST Amount of defrosting time
EXPRESS COOK Starts immediately!
ADD 30 SEC Starts immediately!
POWER LEVEL Power level 1–10
2. Sensor Features
Press Enter Options
POPCORN Starts immediately! more/less time
BEVERAGE Starts immediately!
REHEAT Starts immediately!
CHICKEN/FISH Starts immediately! more/less time
Press once (chicken pieces)
Press twice (fish fillets)
POTATO Starts immediately! more/less time
VEGETABLE Starts immediately! more/less time
Press once (fresh vegetables)
Press twice (frozen vegetables)
Press three times (canned vegetables)
3. Auto Feature
Press Enter
AUTO DEFROST Food weight
10
1 2
3