Miele M626 Eg Manual

							How does the microwave oven function?
In the microwave oven, food is cooked,
reheated or defrosted more quickly
than by any other method.
How does the microwave oven func-
tion?
In a microwave oven there is a high-fre-
quency tube called a magnetron 
b.
This converts electrical energy into
microwaves. These microwaves are dis-
tributed evenly throughout the oven in-
terior by a metal fan blade known as a
stirrer 
c -, rebounding off the metal
sides of the oven interior and thereby
reaching the food from all sides.  Micro-
wave distribution is improved by engag-
ing the turntable.
In order for microwaves to reach the
food, they must be able to penetrate
the cooking utensil being used.  Micro-
waves can penetrate porcelain, glass,
cardboard and plastics but not metal.
Do not, therefore, use utensils made of
metal, or which contain metal, for
example in the form of gold or silver
trim. The metal reflects the microwaves
and this could lead to the creation of
sparks. The microwaves cannot be ab-
sorbed.Microwaves pass through a suitable
container and find their way directly
into the foodstuff. All foodstuffs contain
moisture molecules which, when sub-
jected to microwave energy, start to os-
cillate 2.5 thousand million times a sec-
ond. The friction caused by this
vibration creates heat, which first starts
developing around the outside of the
foodstuff and then slowly penetrates to-
wards the centre. The moisture, fat and
sugar content of food will affect the
speed at which it is cooked.
As heat is produced directly in the food,
–food can generally be cooked with-
out adding much liquid or cooking
oil.
–cooking, re-heating and defrosting in
a microwave oven is quicker than
using conventional methods.
–nutrients, such as vitamins and mine-
rals, are retained.
–colour, texture and taste of food are
not impaired.
How does the microwave oven function?
11 
						

							Calculating power settings
This microwave has 9 power settings.
Very often, power is expressed in watts
on food packaging or in general
recipes for microwaving.
The following table should help to con-
vert the watts given to a matching
power setting with these ovens.
Microwave oven with max.:
Set-
ting750 Watt
[Watt]850 Watt
[Watt]900/
1000
Watt
[Watt]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
980
150
200
300
400
450
550
600
75080
150
250
350
450
500
600
700
850100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900/1000
Example:
A recipe states: 
Cook in the microwave at 850 watts 
initially for approx. 5 minutes.  Then
continue for 20 minutes at 450 watts.
For the microwave with 850 watts maxi-
mum power, using the table for guid-
ance this converts to:
Cook in the microwave at setting 9
initially for approx. 5 minutes.  Then
continue for 20 minutes at setting 5.Where the recipe gives a wattage
which does not correspond exactly to
the table, select the nearest power set-
ting available.  It may be necessary to
adjust the time very slightly to compen-
sate.
For appliances with a maximum setting
of 1000 watts we recommend using the
top setting (9) to heat clear liquids and
keep them simmering.  To prepare 
noodles and vegetables setting 8 is
suggested followed by 4 or 5.
See recipes for cooking times. Be pre-
pared to make adjustments where ap-
propriate.
The maximum microwave power output
in watts and the intermediate scale of
settings in watts are given for each
model of oven on the data plate, lo-
cated at the rear of the oven.
Please make a note of these.
Examples of use given later in this
book refer to oven models with a maxi-
mum microwave power output of
900/1000 watts. Adjust according to
the table on this page for ovens with a
different scale of output watts.
Calculating power settings
12 
						

							Suitable containers for microwave ovens
Microwaves
–are reflected by metal.
–pass through glass and china-
ware, . . .
–and are absorbed by food.
Material and shape
The material and shape of containers
used affect the cooking results and
times. Round and oval shaped ones
provide good results. Heat distribution
is more even than it is in rectangular
containers.
Metal
The following do not belong in an
oven being used in microwave
mode. Metal containers, aluminium
foil and metal cutlery, or china with
metallic decoration, such as gold
rims or cobalt blue.
The metal reflects the microwaves, hin-
dering the cooking process.
Exceptions:
– If recommended by the producer, pre-
cooked meals packed in aluminium foil
containers can be defrosted and re-
heated in the microwave oven. Import-
ant: remove the lid first. The disadvant-
age is that the food is only heated from
the top. It is better to remove the food
from the aluminium foil container and
transfer it to a dish suitable for a micro-
wave oven. The heat distribution will be
more even.
If sparks and arcing occur when using
a metal container, stop and transfer the
food to a microwave safe container.
– Small pieces of aluminium foil. For
even defrosting and to avoid overcook-
ing unevenly shaped cuts of meat,
poultry or fish, small areas of aluminium
foil may be used to mask wingtips or
other thin parts for the last few minutes
Suitable containers for microwave ovens
13 
						

							 
of the process. The aluminium foil must
not touch the interior walls of the oven.
Make sure that the aluminium foil is
at least 2 cm from the oven walls at
all times. It must not touch the walls.
–Metal meat skewers or clamps:
Metal skewers and clamps should only
be used if they are very small in com-
parison to the size of the cut of meat.
Glassware
Heat-resistant glass or ceramic glass
are ideal for use in the microwave oven.
Crystal glass contains lead which
could cause the glass to crack.
Glass dishes with a milled rim are
subject to the same risk. Both are
unsuitable for use.
Porcelain (chinaware)
Porcelain (chinaware) is a suitable ma-
terial.
Do not use porcelain with gold or sil-
ver edging or items with hollow
knobs or handles, as insufficient
ventilation may cause pressure.
Earthenware
Decorated earthenware is only suit-
able if the decoration is beneath an
all-over glaze. Earthenware can get
very hot, and may crack.Glazes and colours
Some glazes and colours contain
metal.
This makes them unsuitable for use in a
microwave oven.
Plastics
Plastic containers must only be
used for microwave mode alone
and not in normal oven mode. Plas-
tics must be heat-resistant to a mini-
mum of 180°C.
Otherwise the plastic may melt and
fuse with the food.
Special plastic utensils, designed for
use in microwave ovens are available
from most department and hardware
stores. Melamine ware is not suitable
as it absorbs energy and heats up.
When purchasing plasticware, make
sure that it is suitable for use in a micro-
wave oven.
Disposable containers, such as trays
made from polystyrene, can only be
used for very short timed warming and
re-heating of food.
Plastic boiling bags can be used for
cooking and re-heating. They
should be pierced beforehand so
that steam can escape.
This prevents a build-up of pressure
and reduces the risk of the bag bur-
sting.
Suitable containers for microwave ovens
14 
						

							Suitable containers for microwave ovens
Roasting bags and tubes can be used.
Roasting tubes should be about 40 cm
longer and roasting bags about 20 cm
longer than the food being roasted, and
carefully tied with string. Turn the ends
over and secure them. Holes should be
made according to the manufacturer’s in-
structions.
Do not use metal clips or wire ties,
even if bound by paper.
There is a danger that they will ignite
when heated.
Wood
Wooden dishes are not suitable
Moisture contained in the wood evap-
orates when exposed to microwave en-
ergy, causing the wood to dry and
crack.
Disposable containers
Only those plastic disposable con-
tainers which are specified by the pro-
ducer as suitable for use in a micro-
wave oven may be used.
Do not leave the oven unattended
when re-heating or cooking food in
disposable containers made of plas-
tic paper or other inflammable ma-
terial.
Disposable containers are not always
recyclable or degradable.
Testing dishes for their suita-
bility
If in doubt as to whether glass, earthen-
ware or porcelain plates or dishes are
suitable for use in a microwave oven, a
simple test can be performed:
Place the item you wish to test in the
centre of the oven, fill a suitable
glass with water and also place this
in the oven.
Close the door.
Enter a time of 30 seconds with the
time selector 
m.
Select power setting P 8 with the ü
touchpad, or for the M 616 EG P 9.
Do not switch off the turntable .
Press the START control.
If a crackling noise is heard accom-
panied by sparks during the test,
switch off the appliance immediately.
Any crockery which causes this reac-
tion is unsuitable for use in the micro-
wave oven.
The water in the glass should be warm,
but the dish cool. If the dish is very hot
and the water is cold, it would be un-
wise to use the dish.
Suitable containers for microwave ovens
15 
						

							Suitable containers for microwave ovens
Note: Although some ovenproof earth-
enware can be used in a microwave
oven, it may contain a considerable
amount of moisture, causing it to
become hot during use. It is normally
advisable to avoid using it in a micro-
wave oven.
If any doubt exists about the suita-
bility of containers, please contact
the maker.
This test cannot be used to check
whether items with hollow knobs or
handles are suitable for use in a micro-
wave oven.
A cover
–prevents too much steam escaping,
especially when cooking foodstuffs
which need longer to cook, such as
potatoes.
–shortens and evens out the cooking
process.
–keeps the oven interior cleaner.
–prevents food from drying out.
–contains the aroma.Always use lids or covers made of
microwave-safe glass or plastic, or use
a clingfilm recommended for use in a
microwave oven, (pierce as instructed
by the producer).
Sealed glass containers, such as
jars of food, must be opened before
they are placed in the oven.
Do not use a lid or cover if:
–food coated with breadcrumbs is
being cooked.
–cooking meals which are to be given
a crisp finish.
–using the grill.
Suitable containers for microwave ovens
16 
						

							Preparation for use
Setting the time of day
Connect the appliance to the elec-
tricity supply. 
0:00 flashes in the display area.
Use the +/- touchpads to set the
hours (0 to 23).
Press the m touchpad and use the
+/- touchpads to set the minutes.
Press the m touchpad again to con-
firm the time now showing in the dis-
play area.
The appliance is now ready for use.
Altering the time of day
Press the m touchpad twice.
0:00 flashes in the display area.
Alter the time of day as described
above.
Minute minder
Press the m touchpad and then use
the +/- touchpads to set the minute
minder time you require (5 seconds
up to 99 minutes).
Press the ü touch pad.
The symbol 
h for microwave mode
flashes in the display and P 9 ap-
pears.
Hold the - touchpad pressed in until
P 0 appears.
The 
h symbol disappears and the
l symbol for the minute minder
flashes.
Press the START touchpad.
The time which has been entered ap-
pears in the display area and begins
to count down in one second steps.
An audible tone sounds when the
minute minder time has elapsed.
Audible tone
An audible tone sounds when the set
time has elapsed. This is repeated after
a few seconds.
Press touchpad C to turn off the tone
early.
The time of day reappears in the dis-
play area.
Opening the door
Press the a button to open the
door.
The light comes on.
If the microwave is being used, open-
ing the door will interrupt the cooking
process. The relevant operating mode
indicator will flash in the display area.
Closing the door
Push the door shut.
Press the START touchpad to continue
an interrupted cooking process.
Preparation for use
17 
						

							Operating modes
M 626 EC, M 636 EC
The 7 operating modes detailed below
are available.
M 616 EG, M 626 EG, M 636 EG
Here you can choose between 3 opera-
ting modes, Microwave Solo, Grill and
a combination of these two, see 1, 4,
and 7 below; (Fan Heat and Fan Grill-
ing (with or without microwave mode)
are not available).
–1. Microwave-Solo mode ü
Suitable for defrosting, reheating or
cooking.
–2. Fan Heat 
D *
Ideal for baking.
–3. Fan Grilling 
I *
Use to grill or roast thicker cuts of
meat and pieces of poultry. The fan
and the grill heating element operate
at the same time.
–4. Grilling 
J
Ideal for grilling thinner items e.g.
steaks or sausages.
–5. Combination mode - Microwave
ü with Fan Heat D *
You can use this combination mode
to prepare puddings very quickly.
–6. Combination mode - Microwave
ü with Fan Grilling I *
This combination is particularly suit-
able for roasting and grilling.
–7. Combination mode - Microwave
ü with Grilling J
Ideal for crisping and browning. The
microwave cooks the food, the grill
browns and crisps the surface.* only with models M 626 EC and
M 636 EC
Automatic programmes
The Automatic Defrosting programme
N offers 4 programmes (d1 – d4).
The Automatic Cooking programme
Q offers 8 programmes (C1 – C8). 
All the automatic programmes are
weight dependent, which means that
the weight of the food must be entered.
The automatic programmes for defrost-
ing and cooking can also be set to run
one after the other.
Short step system
Touchpads 1, 2, 3 allow you to store in
the memory programmes you use fre-
quently. Each memory store can be
used again with a different programme. 
Delaying start 
(only on models M 626 EC and
M 636 EC)
The length of cooking time and the end
of a process can be pre-programmed
up to 24 hours beforehand.
Automatic "Keeping warm"
The automatic keeping warm function
will switch on for a maximum of 15
minutes after a cooking process using
a power setting of 5 or higher has fin-
ished.
Operating modes
18 
						

							Operation
Microwave-Solo 
There is a choice of 9 power settings.
The higher the power setting, the more
microwaves reach the food.
When heating up food of differing com-
position, or which cannot be stirred or
turned during cooking, as with a plated
meal, it is preferable to heat these on a
lower power setting. This ensures that
the heat is distributed evenly. Heat for
long enough to reach the temperature
required.
Times for defrosting, reheating and
cooking
The necessary time depends on:
–the initial temperature of the food.
Food taken from the refrigerator will
need longer to be reheated or
cooked than food already at room
temperature.
–the type and texture of the food.
Fresh vegetables probably contain
more water and cook more quickly
than stored vegetables.
–the shape and material of the con-
tainer.
–the amount of food.
In general:
Double the amount of food - at least
one third extra cooking time.
For smaller amounts of food reduce
the time accordingly.
Ideally the container should be
placed in the middle of the oven.
Press the m touchpad and use the
+/- touchpads to enter the cooking
time you require (5 seconds up to 99
minutes).
Press the ü touchpad.
The 
h symbol for microwave mode
flashes in the display area and P 9
appears.
Use the +/ - touchpads to select the
power setting you require.
The 
h symbol flashes and the se-
lected power setting appears.
Press the START touchpad.
The set time appears in the display
area and begins to count down in
one second steps.
An audible tone sounds when the
cooking time has elapsed.
Press touchpad C to turn off the tone
early.
Press the 
ü touchpad if you want to
call up the power setting while the ap-
pliance is in operation.
Automatic "Keeping warm"
The automatic keeping warm function
will switch on for a maximum of 15
minutes after a cooking process using
a power setting of 5 or higher has fin-
ished.
H:H and the symbol 
h appear in the
display area. The turntable continues to
operate.
The process is cut short if the door is
opened during this time.
The keeping warm stage cannot be
set separately.
Operation
19 
						

							Operation
Switching off the turntable
The turntable is always switched on
and should only be switched off if there
is a danger of something blocking it,
e.g. a large dish which is wider than
the turntable.
Press the  touchpad before you
start the cooking process to switch
off the turntable.
The  symbol for the switched off
turntable appears in the display area.
If you want to switch off the turntable
while the microwave is being used, you
must interrupt the cooking process by
twice pressing the C touchpad and
then re-enter the settings.
Interrupting a process
Press the C touchpad once to stop
an operating function.
The symbol for the operating func-
tion flashes in the display area and
the time remaining appears.
Press the START touchpad to con-
tinue the process.
Cancelling a process
Press the C touchpad twice to can-
cel the operating function which is in
progress. 
The time of day appears.
Fault indication
Press the C touchpad once if you
make an unintentional entry and the
letter E appears in the display area.
You can then re-enter the settings. 
If E15 appears in the display this indi-
cates overheating in the oven inte-
rior. Let the appliance cool down with
the door open for 15 – 20 minutes.
Afterwards, press the C touchpad
and enter the settings again.
Operation
20