The Cuisinart® Microwave Oven, model CMW-100, is a versatile kitchen appliance designed for household use, offering a range of functions for heating, cooking, and defrosting food. Its construction features a solid, nonporous, easy-to-sanitize stainless steel interior, ensuring durability and ease of cleaning. The exterior is equipped with a control panel that includes 25 preprogrammed options, simplifying various cooking tasks.
Function Description
The primary function of this microwave oven is to cook and reheat food using microwave energy. It excels at standard microwave tasks such as reheating leftovers and defrosting frozen items, with the added capability to cook from scratch. The oven provides ten power levels, allowing users to adjust the intensity of microwave cooking from 10% to 100% power, offering flexibility for different types of food and desired cooking results.
Key operational modes include:
- Microwave Cooking: Users can manually set the power level and cooking time, up to 99 minutes and 99 seconds. The oven displays the remaining cooking time during operation.
- Express Cooking: For quick starts, this feature allows instant cooking at 100% power. Users can select cooking times from 1 to 6 minutes directly using dedicated number pads, or increase the cooking time by 30-second increments with the START/+30SEC button, up to a maximum of 99 minutes and 59 seconds.
- Auto Defrost: This function simplifies defrosting by allowing users to input the weight of the food (between 4 and 100 oz). The oven automatically calculates and applies the appropriate defrosting time and power level (defaulting to power level 3, which can be adjusted).
- Defrosting by Time: Alternatively, users can manually set a defrosting time from 1 second to 99 minutes and 99 seconds, with the option to adjust the power level.
- Multi-section Cooking: This advanced feature allows programming the microwave to cook at two different power levels for sequential durations within a single cooking cycle. For example, one could cook at 80% power for 5 minutes, followed by 60% power for 10 minutes.
- Pre-Set Auto Menu Cooking: The oven includes 25 preprogrammed control options accessible via dedicated buttons for common food items like popcorn, beverages, rice, reheat, bacon, baked potatoes, and fresh or frozen vegetables. Users select the desired food item and serving size, and the oven automatically sets the optimal cooking time and power.
- Kitchen Timer: A separate timer function allows users to set a countdown timer for up to 99 minutes and 99 seconds, independent of cooking operations.
- Clock/Pre-Set Function: The oven features a digital clock with AM/PM selection. The pre-set function allows users to program the microwave to start cooking at a specific time of day, after setting the desired cooking parameters (power level, time, or auto menu).
- Memory Function: The oven can store up to five custom cooking procedures, allowing users to quickly recall and execute frequently used settings.
Usage Features
The Cuisinart Microwave Oven is designed for user convenience and safety.
- Control Panel: The intuitive control panel includes number keys, dedicated function buttons (e.g., POPCORN, BEVERAGE, RICE, REHEAT, BACON, BAKED POTATOES, FRESH VEGETABLES, FROZEN VEGETABLES, EXPRESS COOK), and control buttons (AM/PM, CLOCK, KITCHEN TIMER, MEMORY, POWER, AUTO DEFROST, TIME DEFROST, STOP/CLEAR, START/+30 SEC).
- Turntable System: A glass turntable and turntable assembly ensure even cooking by rotating food during operation. It is crucial to use the provided turntable and handle it carefully to prevent breakage. The turntable should always be in place during cooking.
- Child-Lock Function: For safety, the oven includes a child-lock feature that can be activated or deactivated by pressing the STOP/CLEAR button for 3 seconds, preventing unintended operation.
- Cooking End Signal: Upon completion of a cooking cycle, the oven emits five beeps to alert the user.
- Inquiring Function: During operation or in standby mode, users can inquire about the current clock setting, AM/PM status, pre-set time, or current microwave power level by pressing the respective buttons.
- Food Preparation: The oven is capable of cooking various dishes from scratch, such as fish, rice, steamed vegetables, and roasted garlic. Specific buttons for bacon (2, 4, or 6 slices) highlight its ability to handle common food items with tailored settings.
- Container Compatibility: The manual provides detailed guidance on which materials and containers are safe for microwave use (e.g., microwave-safe dinnerware, heat-resistant oven glassware, paper towels, parchment paper, plastic wrap) and which should be avoided (e.g., aluminum trays, metal-trimmed utensils, plastic foam, wood) to prevent arcing, damage, or fire. A material/container test procedure is also provided for uncertain items.
Maintenance Features
Maintaining the Cuisinart Microwave Oven is straightforward, focusing on cleanliness and proper handling to ensure longevity and safe operation.
- Cleaning: The interior surfaces of the oven, particularly the door and areas that come into contact when the door is closed, should be cleaned with mild, nonabrasive soaps or detergents applied with a sponge or soft cloth. Regular cleaning is essential to prevent the accumulation of soil or cleaner residue on sealing surfaces, which could degrade the oven's surface and lead to hazardous situations.
- Turntable Care: The glass turntable and turntable assembly should be handled gently. If the glass turntable or assembly cracks or breaks, a replacement part can be ordered from Customer Services.
- Door Integrity: It is critical to ensure that the oven door closes properly and that there is no damage to the door, hinges, latches, door seals, or sealing surface. Any damage to these components can compromise the safety interlocks and lead to harmful exposure to microwave energy. The oven should not be operated if damaged.
- Ventilation: The oven requires adequate open space for its intake and outlet vents. A minimum clearance of 3.0 inches (7.5cm) is needed between the oven and adjacent walls, with one side remaining open. A minimum clearance of 12 inches (30cm) above the oven is also required. Blocking these openings can damage the oven.
- Mica Cover: The mica cover attached to the right inside wall of the oven cavity should not be removed, as it protects the magnetron.
- General Safety: The manual emphasizes the importance of not operating the oven empty, avoiding overheating liquids, stirring liquids before and during heating, and using wide-mouth containers for liquids to prevent delayed eruptive boiling and potential scalding. It also advises against using the cavity for storage purposes to prevent fire hazards.
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General
Weight and Dimensions
