spacemaker microwave oven - ge appliances - kitchen appliances

Spacemaker Microwave OvenOwner’s Manual

Models: JVM1540JNM1541HVM1540

2

30Helpful InformationMicrowave Terms 30Care and Cleaning 31

36If Something Goes WrongBefore You Call For Service 36GE Service Numbers 38Warranty Back Cover

ge.com

10

Important Safety InformationPrecautions to Avoid Possible Exposure

to Excessive Microwave Energy 2Special Notes About Microwaving 5

Operating InstructionsFeatures of Your Microwave 10The Controls on Your Microwave 11Time Cooking 14Automatic Cooking 20Other Features 24Oven Shelf 29

MFL3191850149-40528-1

10-08 JR

Write the model and serial numbers here:

Model# ______________________________

Serial# ______________________________

Find these numbers on a label inside the oven.

2

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

READ ALL SAFETY INFORMATIONBEFORE USING

FOR YOURSAFETY

PRECAUTIONSTO AVOIDPOSSIBLEEXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVEMICROWAVEENERGY

For your safety, the information in this manualmust be followed to minimize the risk of fire or explosion or to prevent property damage,personal injury or loss of life.

Do Not Attempt to operate this ovenwith the door opensince open-dooroperation can result in harmful exposure to microwave energy. It is important not todefeat or tamper withthe safety interlocks.

Do Not Place any objectbetween the oven frontface and the door orallow soil or cleanerresidue to accumulateon sealing surfaces.

Do Not Operate the oven if it is damaged. It isparticularly importantthat the oven doorclose properly and that there is nodamage to the:

1 door (bent),2 hinges and latches

(broken or loosened),3 door seals and sealing

surfaces.

The Oven Should Not be adjusted or repairedby anyone exceptproperly qualifiedservice personnel.

WARNING!To reduce the risk of burns, electric shock, fire, injury to persons, or exposure to excessivemicrowave energy:

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

3

• Read and follow thespecific “Precautions toAvoid Possible Exposureto Excessive MicrowaveEnergy” on page 2.

• This appliance must begrounded. Connect onlyto properly groundedoutlet. See GroundingInstructions section onpage 9.

• Do not mount thisappliance over a sink.

• Do not store anythingdirectly on top of themicrowave oven surfacewhen the microwave ovenis in operation.

• Install or locate thisappliance only inaccordance with theprovided InstallationInstructions.

• This over-the-range ovenwas designed for use overranges no wider than 36″.It may be installed overboth gas and electriccooking equipment.

• Do not operate thisappliance if it has adamaged power cord orplug, if it is not workingproperly, or if it has beendamaged or dropped. If the power cord isdamaged, it must bereplaced by GeneralElectric Service or anauthorized service agentusing a power cord fromGeneral Electric.

• Do not cover or block any openings on theappliance.

• Use this appliance onlyfor its intended use asdescribed in this manual.Do not use corrosivechemicals or vapors inthis appliance. Thismicrowave oven isspecifically designed toheat, dry or cook food,and is not intended for laboratory orindustrial use.

This microwave oven isintended for householduse and is UL listed forinstallation over electricand gas ranges.

This microwave oven isnot approved or testedfor marine use.



• Do not store this applianceoutdoors. Do not use thisproduct near water—for example, in a wetbasement, near aswimming pool, near asink or in similar locations.

• Keep power cord awayfrom heated surfaces.

• Do not immerse powercord or plug in water.

• To reduce the risk of firein the oven cavity:

— Do not overcook food. Carefully attendappliance when paper,plastic or othercombustible materials are placed inside theoven while cooking.

— Remove wire twist-tiesand metal handles from paper or plasticcontainers before placingthem in the oven.

— Do not use the oven for storage purposes. Do not leave paperproducts, cookingutensils or food in theoven when not in use.

— If materials inside ovenignite, keep the ovendoor closed, turn theoven off and disconnectthe power cord, or shutoff power at the fuse orcircuit breaker panel. If the door is opened, the fire may spread.

— Do not use the Sensor Features twice insuccession on the samefood portion. If food isunder cooked after thefirst countdown, use Time Cook for additionalcooking time.

• It is important to keep thearea clean where the doorseals against themicrowave. Use only mild,non-abrasive detergentsapplied with a cleansponge or soft cloth. Rinsewell.

• This appliance must onlybe serviced by qualifiedservice personnel. Contactnearest authorized servicefacility for examination,repair or adjustment.

• As with any appliance,close supervision isnecessary when used by children.

• Some products such aswhole eggs and sealedcontainers—for example,closed jars—are able toexplode and should notbe heated in thismicrowave oven. Such useof the microwave ovencould result in injury.


READ ALL SAFETY INFORMATIONBEFORE USING

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS4

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT MICROWAVING

Arcing is the microwaveterm for sparks in theoven. Arcing is caused by:

• The metal shelf (ifincluded) not installedcorrectly so it touches themicrowave wall.

• The temperature probe(if included) in themicrowave but notinserted in the food.

• Metal or foil touchingthe side of the oven.

• Foil not molded to food(upturned edges act likeantennas).

• Metal, such as twist-ties,poultry pins or gold-rimmed dishes, in themicrowave.

• Recycled paper towelscontaining small metalpieces being used in themicrowave.

If you see arcing, pressthe CLEAR/OFF pad andcorrect the problem.

ARCING

• Do not pop popcorn inyour microwave ovenunless in a specialmicrowave popcornaccessory or unless youuse popcorn labeled foruse in microwave ovens.

• Do not boil eggs in amicrowave oven. Pressurewill build up inside eggyolk and will cause it toburst, possibly resulting in injury.

• Operating the microwavewith no food inside formore than a minute ortwo may cause damage to the oven and couldstart a fire. It increasesthe heat around themagnetron and canshorten the life of the oven.

• Foods with unbrokenouter “skin” such aspotatoes, hot dogs,sausages, tomatoes,apples, chicken livers and other giblets, andegg yolks should bepierced to allow steam to escape duringcooking.

FOODS



SAFETY FACTSUPERHEATED WATER

Liquids, such as water,coffee or tea, are able to be overheated beyond the boiling point withoutappearing to be boiling.Visible bubbling or boilingwhen the container isremoved from the microwaveoven is not always present.THIS COULD RESULT IN VERY HOT LIQUIDSSUDDENLY BOILING OVERWHEN THE CONTAINER ISDISTURBED OR A SPOON OR OTHER UTENSIL ISINSERTED INTO THE LIQUID.

To reduce the risk of injuryto persons:

— Do not overheat theliquid.

— Stir the liquid bothbefore and halfwaythrough heating it.

— Do not use straight-sided containers withnarrow necks.

— After heating, allow thecontainer to stand inthe microwave oven fora short time beforeremoving the container.

— Use extreme care wheninserting a spoon orother utensil into thecontainer.

• Avoid heating baby foodin glass jars, even with thelid off. Make sure allinfant food is thoroughlycooked. Stir food todistribute the heat evenly.Be careful to preventscalding when warmingformula or breast milk.The container may feelcooler than the milk reallyis. Always test the milkbefore feeding the baby.

• Don’t defrost frozenbeverages in narrow-necked bottles (especiallycarbonated beverages).Even if the container isopened, pressure canbuild up. This can causethe container to burst,possibly resulting ininjury.

• Hot foods and steam can cause burns. Becareful when opening any containers of hotfood, including popcornbags, cooking pouchesand boxes. To preventpossible injury, directsteam away from handsand face.

• Do not overcookpotatoes. They coulddehydrate and catch fire, causing damage to your oven.

• Cook meat and poultrythoroughly—meat to at least an INTERNALtemperature of 160°F and poultry to at least anINTERNAL temperature of 180°F. Cooking tothese temperaturesusually protects againstfoodborne illness.




Make sure all cookwareused in your microwaveoven is suitable formicrowaving. Most glasscasseroles, cooking dishes,measuring cups, custardcups, pottery or chinadinnerware which does nothave metallic trim or glazewith a metallic sheen canbe used. Some cookware is labeled “suitable formicrowaving.”

• If you are not sure if a dish is microwave-safe,use this test: Place in theoven both the dish youare testing and a glassmeasuring cup filled with1 cup of water—set themeasuring cup either in or next to the dish.Microwave 30–45 secondsat high. If the dish heats,it should not be used formicrowaving.

If the dish remains cooland only the water in thecup heats, then the dishis microwave-safe.

• If you use a meat thermometer whilecooking, make sure it issafe for use in microwaveovens.

• Do not use recycledpaper products. Recycledpaper towels, napkinsand waxed paper cancontain metal fleckswhich may cause arcingor ignite. Paper productscontaining nylon ornylon filaments shouldbe avoided, as they mayalso ignite.

• Some styrofoam trays (like those that meat ispackaged on) have a thinstrip of metal embeddedin the bottom. Whenmicrowaved, the metal canburn the floor of the ovenor ignite a paper towel.

• Do not use the microwaveto dry newspapers.

• Not all plastic wrap is suitable for use inmicrowave ovens. Check the package for proper use.

• Paper towels, waxedpaper and plastic wrapcan be used to coverdishes in order to retainmoisture and preventspattering. Be sure tovent plastic wrap so steam can escape.

• Cookware may becomehot because of heattransferred from theheated food. Pot holdersmay be needed to handlethe cookware.

• “Boilable” cookingpouches and tightlyclosed plastic bags shouldbe slit, pierced or ventedas directed by package. If they are not, plasticcould burst during orimmediately aftercooking, possibly resultingin injury. Also, plasticstorage containers shouldbe at least partiallyuncovered because theyform a tight seal. Whencooking with containerstightly covered withplastic wrap, removecovering carefully anddirect steam away fromhands and face.

MICROWAVE-SAFECOOKWARE

How to test for a microwave-safe dish.



7

• Use foil only as directed inthis manual. When usingfoil in the microwaveoven, keep the foil at least1″ away from the sides ofthe oven.

• Plastic cookware—Plasticcookware designed formicrowave cooking is veryuseful, but should be usedcarefully. Even microwave-safe plastic may not be astolerant of overcookingconditions as are glass orceramic materials andmay soften or char ifsubjected to short periodsof overcooking. In longerexposures to overcooking,the food and cookwarecould ignite.

Follow these guidelines:

1 Use microwave-safeplastics only and use them in strict compliance with the cookwaremanufacturer’srecommendations.

2 Do not microwave emptycontainers.

3 Do not permit children to use plastic cookwarewithout completesupervision.



GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS/OPTIONAL KITS

WARNINGImproper use of the

grounding plug can result in a risk of electric shock.This appliance must begrounded. In the event of an electrical short circuit,grounding reduces the risk of electric shock byproviding an escape wire for the electric current.

This appliance is equippedwith a power cord having a grounding wire with agrounding plug. The plugmust be plugged into anoutlet that is properlyinstalled and grounded.

Consult a qualified electrician or servicetechnician if the groundinginstructions are notcompletely understood, or if doubt exists as towhether the appliance isproperly grounded.

If the outlet is a standard 2-prong wall outlet, it is your personal responsibilityand obligation to have itreplaced with a properlygrounded 3-prong walloutlet.

Do not, under anycircumstances, cut orremove the third (ground)prong from the power cord.

Do not use an adapter plugwith this appliance.

Do not use an extensioncord with this appliance. If the power cord is tooshort, have a qualifiedelectrician or servicetechnician install an outletnear the appliance.

For best operation, plug this appliance into its ownelectrical outlet to preventflickering of lights, blowingof fuse or tripping of circuitbreaker.

GROUNDINGINSTRUCTIONS

Ensure proper groundexists before use.


The fan will operateautomatically undercertain conditions (seeAutomatic Fan feature).Take care to prevent thestarting and spreading ofaccidental cooking fireswhile the vent fan is in use.

• Clean the underside ofthe microwave often. Do not allow grease to build up on themicrowave or the fan filter.

• In the event of a greasefire on the surface unitsbelow the microwaveoven, smother a flamingpan on the surface unitby covering the pancompletely with a lid, acookie sheet or a flat tray.

• Use care when cleaningthe vent fan filter.Corrosive cleaningagents, such as lye-basedoven cleaners, maydamage the filter.

• When preparing flamingfoods under the microwave,turn the vent fan on.

• Never leave surface unitsbeneath your microwaveoven unattended at highheat settings. Boiloverscause smoking and greasyspillovers that may igniteand spread if themicrowave vent fan isoperating. To minimizeautomatic fan operation,use adequate sizedcookware and use highheat on surface unitsonly when necessary.

THE VENTFAN

Filler Panel KitsJX46WH/BL—White/BlackJX40WH—WhiteJX41—Black

When replacing a 36″range hood, filler panelkits fill in the additionalwidth to provide a custombuilt-in appearance.

For installation betweencabinets only; not for end-of-cabinet installation.Each kit contains two 3″-wide filler panels.

JX81C—Recirculating CharcoalFilter Kit (included with ModelJNM1541)

Filter kits are used whenthe microwave oven cannotbe vented to the outside.

Available at extra cost fromyour GE supplier.

Optional Kits

Charcoal filter (JX81C)

NOTICE—PACEMAKERSMost pacemakers areshielded from interferencefrom electronic products,including microwaves.

However, patients withpacemakers may wish toconsult their physicians ifthey have concerns.



Operating Instructions

Features of Your Microwave(Throughout this manual, features and appearancemay vary from your model.)

1 Door Handle. Pull toopen the door. Thedoor must be securelylatched for themicrowave to operate.

2 Door Latches.

3 Window with MetalShield. Screen allowscooking to be viewedwhile keepingmicrowaves confined in the oven.

4 Touch Control Panel.

5 Cooktop Light.

6 Grease Filters.

7 Removable Turntable.Turntable and supportmust be in place when using the oven.The turntable may beremoved for cleaning.

8 Convenience Guide.

9 Shelf (on some models).Lets you microwaveseveral foods at once.Food microwaves bestwhen placed directly on the turntable.

10 Rating Plate. Locatedon the inside wall ofthe microwave oven.

Features

321

4

10

9

58 76 6

10

11

Time FeaturesTime Cooking

Press EnterTIME COOK I & II (Press once or twice) Amount of cooking time.DEFROST AUTO/TIME (Press twice) Amount of defrosting time.EXPRESS COOK Starts immediately!POWER LEVEL Power level 1–10.ADD 30 SEC Starts immediately!

Quick Start

The Controls on Your Microwave Oven(Throughout this manual, features and appearance may vary from your model.)

1

You can microwaveby time, temperatureor with theconveniencefeatures.

Convenience Features

Press Enter OptionPOPCORN Starts immediately! more/less time

serving sizeBEVERAGE Starts immediately! serving sizeREHEAT (See Reheat Guide) serving sizePOTATO Starts immediately! serving sizeVEGETABLE (on some models) Starts immediately! food type/serving sizeDEFROST AUTO/TIME Food weight(Press once)

2

GUIDE ON MICROWAVEBefore you begin, checkthe guide located on theinside front of the ovenwhen you open the door.

GUIDES IN BOOK• Cooking

• Time Defrost

• Reheat

12

Quick Start

13


Variable power levels addflexibility to microwavecooking. The power levelson the microwave oven can be compared to thesurface units on a range.High (power level 10) orfull power is the fastest wayto cook and gives you100% power. Each powerlevel gives you microwaveenergy a certain percent ofthe time. Power level 7 ismicrowave energy 70% ofthe time. Power level 3 isenergy 30% of the time.

A high setting (10) willcook faster but food mayneed more frequentstirring, rotating or turningover. Most cooking will bedone on High (power level10). A lower setting willcook more evenly and needless stirring or rotating ofthe food.

Some foods may havebetter flavor, texture orappearance if one of thelower settings is used. Usea lower power level whencooking foods that have atendency to boil over, suchas scalloped potatoes.

Rest periods (when themicrowave energy cyclesoff) give time for the food

to “equalize” or transferheat to the inside of thefood. An example of this is shown with power level3—the defrost cycle. Ifmicrowave energy did notcycle off, the outside of thefood would cook beforethe inside was defrosted.

Here are some examples of uses for various powerlevels:

How to Change the Power Level The power level may beentered or changedimmediately afterentering the featuretime for TIME COOK,TIME DEFROST orEXPRESS COOK. Thepower level may also bechanged during timecountdown.

1 Press TIME COOK orselect Time Defrost.

2 Enter cooking ordefrosting time.

3 Press POWER LEVEL.4 Select desired power

level 1–10.5 Press START.

Power Level Best Uses

High 10 Fish, bacon, vegetables, boiling liquids.

Med-High 7 Gentle cooking of meat and poultry; baking casserolesand reheating.

Medium 5 Slow cooking and tenderizingsuch as stewsand less tendercuts of meat.

Low 2 or 3 Defrosting withoutcooking; simmering; delicate sauces.

Warm 1 Keeping food warm without overcooking; softening butter.

Changing PowerLevels

Time Cook IAllows you to microwavefor any time up to 99minutes and 99 seconds.

Power level 10 (High) is automatically set, butyou may change it formore flexibility.

You may open the doorduring Time Cook tocheck the food. Close thedoor and press START to resume cooking.

Time Cook IILets you change powerlevels automatically duringcooking. Here’s how to do it:

1 Press TIME COOK.

2 Enter the first cook time.

3 Change the power level if you don’t want fullpower. (Press POWERLEVEL. Select a desiredpower level 1–10.)

4 Press TIME COOKagain.

5 Enter the second cooktime.

6 Change the power level if you don’t want fullpower. (Press POWERLEVEL. Select a powerlevel 1–10.)

7 Press START.

At the end of Time Cook I,Time Cook II counts down.

1 Press TIME COOK.

2 Enter cooking time.

3 Change power level if you don’t want fullpower. (Press POWERLEVEL. Select a desiredpower level 1–10.)

4 Press START.

Time Cook


Time Features

14

15

Cooking Guide for Time Cook I & II

NOTE: Use power level High (10) unless otherwise noted.

Vegetable Amount Time Comments

Asparagus(fresh spears) 1 lb. 6 to 9 min., In 11⁄2-qt. oblong glass baking dish,

Med-High (7) place 1/4 cup water. (frozen spears) 10-oz. package 5 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole.

Beans(fresh green) 1 lb. cut in half 9 to 11 min. In 11⁄2-qt. casserole, place 1/2 cup water.(frozen green) 10-oz. package 6 to 8 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 2 tablespoons

water.(frozen lima) 10-oz. package 6 to 8 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 1/4 cup water.

Beets(fresh, whole) 1 bunch 17 to 21 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place 1/2 cup water.

Broccoli(fresh cut) 1 bunch 7 to 10 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place 1/2 cup water.

(11⁄4 to 11⁄2 lbs.)(fresh spears) 1 bunch 9 to 13 min. In 2-qt. oblong glass baking dish, place

(11⁄4 to 11⁄2 lbs.) 1/4 cup water. (frozen, 10-oz. package 5 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole.chopped)(frozen spears) 10-oz. package 5 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 3 tablespoons

water.

Cabbage(fresh) 1 medium head 8 to 11 min. In 11⁄2- or 2-qt. casserole, place 1/4 cup

(about 2 lbs.) water.(wedges) 7 to 10 min. In 2- or 3-qt. casserole, place 1/4 cup

water.

Carrots(fresh, sliced) 1 lb. 7 to 9 min. In 11⁄2-qt. casserole, place 1/4 cup water.(frozen) 10-oz. package 5 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 2 tablespoons

water.

Cauliflower(flowerets) 1 medium head 9 to 14 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place 1/2 cup water.(fresh, whole) 1 medium head 10 to 17 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place 1/2 cup water.(frozen) 10-oz. package 5 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 2 tablespoons

water.

Vegetable Amount Time Comments

Corn(frozen kernel) 10-oz. package 5 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 2 tablespoons

water.

Corn on the cob(fresh) 1 to 5 ears 3 to 4 min. In 2-qt. oblong glass baking dish, place

per ear corn. If corn is in husk, use no water; if corn has been husked, add 1/4 cup water. Rearrange after half of time.

(frozen) 1 ear 5 to 6 min. Place in 2-qt. oblong glass baking dish. 2 to 6 ears 3 to 4 min. Cover with vented plastic wrap.

per ear Rearrange after half of time.

Mixed vegetables(frozen) 10-oz. package 5 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 3 tablespoons

water.

Peas(fresh, shelled) 2 lbs. unshelled 9 to 12 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 1/4 cup water.(frozen) 10-oz. package 5 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 2 tablespoons

water.

Potatoes(fresh, cubed, 4 potatoes 9 to 12 min. Peel and cut into 1 inch cubes. Place white) (6 to 8 oz. each) in 2-qt. casserole with 1/2 cup water.

Stir after half of time.(fresh, whole, 1 (6 to 8 oz.) 3 to 4 min. Pierce with cooking fork. Place in sweet or white) center of the oven. Let stand 5 minutes.

Spinach(fresh) 10 to 16 oz. 5 to 7 min. In 2-qt. casserole, place washed spinach.(frozen, 10-oz. package 5 to 7 min. In 1-qt. casserole, place 3 tablespoons chopped water.and leaf)

Squash(fresh, summer 1 lb. sliced 5 to 7 min. In 11⁄2-qt. casserole, place 1/4 cup water.and yellow)(winter, acorn 1 to 2 squash 8 to 11 min. Cut in half and remove fibrous butternut) (about 1 lb. each) membranes. In 2-qt. oblong glass

baking dish, place squash cut-side-down. Turn cut-side-up after 4 minutes.

16


Cooking Guide for Time Cook I & II

17

Time Features

Allows you to defrost for thelength of time you select.See the Defrosting Guide for suggested times.

Power level 3 isautomatically set, but you may change this formore flexibility. You maydefrost small items morequickly by raising the powerlevel after entering the time.However, they will needmore frequent attentionthan usual.

Power level 7 cuts the totaldefrosting time in abouthalf; power level 10 cuts thetotal time to approximately1/3. Rotate or stir foodfrequently.

At one half of selecteddefrosting time, the ovensignals TURN. At this time,turn food over and breakapart or rearrange pieces for more even defrosting.Shield any warm areas withsmall pieces of foil.

A dull thumping noise maybe heard during defrosting.This sound is normal whenthe oven is not operating atHigh power.

Defrosting Tips• Foods frozen in paper or

plastic can be defrosted inthe package. Tightly closedpackages should be slit,pierced or vented AFTERfood has partiallydefrosted. Plastic storagecontainers should be atleast partially uncovered.

• Family-size, prepackagedfrozen dinners can bedefrosted and microwaved.If the food is in a foilcontainer, transfer it to a microwave-safe dish.

• Foods that spoil easily, suchas milk, eggs, fish, stuffings,poultry and pork, shouldnot be allowed to sit outfor more than one hour after defrosting. Roomtemperature promotes the growth of harmfulbacteria.

• For more even defrostingof larger foods, such asbeef, lamb and veal roasts,use Auto Defrost.

• Be sure large meats are completely defrostedbefore cooking.

• When defrosted, foodshould be cool butsoftened in all areas. If stillslightly icy, return to themicrowave very briefly, orlet it stand a few minutes.

1 Press DEFROSTAUTO/TIME twice.

2 Enter defrosting time.

3 Press START.

4 Turn food over when the oven signals.

5 Press START.

(Auto Defrost explained in the section onConvenience Features.)

Time Defrost

Food Time Comments

Breads, CakesBread, buns or rolls (1 piece) 1 min.Sweet rolls (approx. 12 oz.) 3 to 5 min.

Fish and SeafoodFillets, frozen (1 lb.) 6 to 8 min.Shellfish, small pieces (1 lb.) 5 to 7 min. Place block in casserole. Turn over and

break up after half the time.

FruitPlastic pouch—1 to 2 3 to 6 min.(10-oz. package)

Meat Bacon (1 lb.) 2 to 5 min. Place unopened package in oven.

Let stand 5 minutes after defrosting. Franks (1 lb.) 2 to 5 min. Place unopened package in oven.

Microwave just until franks can be separated. Let stand 5 minutes, if necessary, to complete defrosting.

Ground meat (1 lb.) 5 to 7 min. Turn meat over after half the time.Roast: beef, lamb, veal, pork 12 to 16 min. Use power level 1.

per lb.Steaks, chops and cutlets 5 to 7 min. Place unwrapped meat in cooking dish.

per lb. Turn over after half the time and shield warm areas with foil. When finished, separate pieces and let stand to complete defrosting.

PoultryChicken, broiler-fryer 15 to 19 min. Place wrapped chicken in dish. Unwrap cut up (21⁄2 to 3 lbs.) and turn over after half the time. When

finished, separate pieces and microwave 2–4 minutes more, if necessary. Let standto finish defrosting.

Chicken, whole 17 to 21 min. Place wrapped chicken in dish. After half (21⁄2 to 3 lbs.) the time, unwrap and turn chicken over.

Shield warm areas with foil. Finish defrosting. If necessary, run cold water in the cavity until giblets can be removed.

Cornish hen 7 to 13 min. Place unwrapped hen in the oven breast-per lb. side-up. Turn over after half the time.

Run cool water in the cavity until giblets can be removed.

Turkey breast (4 to 6 lbs.) 5 to 9 min. Place unwrapped breast in dish breast-per lb. side-down. After half the time, turn over

and shield warm areas with foil. Finish defrosting. Let stand 1–2 hours in refrigerator to complete defrosting.


Defrosting Guide

18

Time Features

19

You can use this feature two ways:

• It will add 30 seconds tothe time counting downeach time the pad ispressed.

• It can be used as a quickway to set 30 seconds ofcooking time.

Add 30 Seconds

This is a quick way to setcooking time for 1 –6 minutes.

Press one of the ExpressCook pads (from 1 to 6)for 1 to 6 minutes ofcooking at power level 10.For example, press the 2 pad for 2 minutes ofcooking time.

The power level can be changed as time iscounting down. PressPOWER LEVEL and enter 1–10.

Express Cook

How to Use the PopcornFeature

1 Follow package instructions, using TimeCook if the package isless than 3.0 ounces orlarger than 3.5 ounces.Place the package ofpopcorn in the center of the microwave.

2 Press POPCORN. Theoven starts immediately.Tap POPCORN to selectthe bag size you arecooking.

.

Popcorn



20

NOTE: Do not use the metalshelf when cooking popcorn.

Use only withprepackaged microwave

popcorn weighing 3.0 to 3.5 ounces.


21

The Reheat feature reheatsservings of many previouslycooked foods.

1 Press REHEAT.

2 Select food type 1–6 forone serving (see ReheatGuide below). On somemodels, the oven startsimmediately.

3 On some models, pressSTART.

4 Press 2 or 3 to change theserving size.

NOTE: The serving size maybe changed or added afterthe oven starts. Pressnumber pad 2 or 3. On somemodels, the serving size for food type 6 cannot bechanged.

Reheat

1 Pasta Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap.

2 Meats Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap.

3 Veggies Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap.

4 Beverages Works best with wide mouth mug—do not cover.

5 Sauces Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap.

6 Plate of leftovers Cover with vented plastic wrap.

Food Type Comments

Reheat Guide

NOTE: Do not use the metalshelf when using the Reheatfeature.

The Beverage feature heatsservings of any beverage.

Press BEVERAGE. Theoven starts immediately.

On some models, the servingsize is automatically set at1, but can be changed bypressing 2 or 3 right afterpressing BEVERAGE.

Drinks heated with theBeverage feature may bevery hot. Remove thecontainer with care.

Beverage

22



The Potato feature cooksup to four 8–10 ouncepotatoes.

Press POTATO once forone potato, twice for twopotatoes, three times forthree potatoes and fourtimes for four potatoes.The oven will startimmediately afterPOTATO is pressed.

Potato

The Vegetable featureautomatically sets thecooking times and powerlevels to cook fresh, frozenor canned vegetables.

1 Press VEGETABLE.“Select Veggie type 1–3”will be displayed.

2 Select food type 1–3 (see chart below).

3 Enter weight in ounces(see chart below).

4 The oven startsautomatically.

Vegetable (Model HVM1540 only)

Food Code Food Weight1 Canned 4–20 oz.2 Frozen 4–20 oz.3 Fresh 4–16 oz.


23

Auto Defrost

The Defrost Auto/Timefeature gives you two waysto defrost frozen foods.Press DEFROSTAUTO/TIME once forAuto Defrost or twice forTime Defrost.

Use Auto Defrost for meat,poultry and fish. Use TimeDefrost for most otherfrozen foods.

Auto Defrost automaticallysets the defrosting timesand power levels to giveeven defrosting results formeats, poultry and fishweighing up to six pounds.

There is a handy guidelocated on the inside frontof the oven.

• Remove meat frompackage and place onmicrowave-safe dish.

• Twice during defrost, the oven signals TURN.At each TURN signal,turn the food over.Remove defrosted meator shield warm areas withsmall pieces of foil.

• After defrosting, mostmeats need to stand 5 minutes to completedefrosting. Large roastsshould stand for about 30 minutes.

1 Press DEFROSTAUTO/TIME once.

2 Using the ConversionGuide at right, enterfood weight. Forexample, press pads 1and 2 for 1.2 pounds (1 pound, 3 ounces).

3 Press START.

(Time Defrost isexplained in the TimeFeatures section.)

Conversion GuideIf the weight of food isstated in pounds andounces, the ounces mustbe converted to tenths(.1) of a pound.

Weight of Enter Food Food in Weight Ounces (tenths of

a pound)

1–2 .1

3 .2

4–5 .3

6–7 .4

8 .5

9–10 .6

11 .7

12–13 .8

14–15 .9

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

Guide

To remind you that youhave food in the oven, theoven will display “FOOD ISREADY” or “END” andbeep once a minute untilyou either open the ovendoor or press CLEAR/OFF.

Cooking CompleteReminder

Press to enter the time ofday or to check the time of day while microwaving.

1 Press CLOCK.

2 Enter time of day.

3 On some models, selectAM or PM.

4 Press START or CLOCK.

Clock


Other Features Your Model May Have

24


25

(On some models)The scroll speed of thedisplay can be changed.Press and hold the AM/PMpad about 3 seconds tobring up the display. Select 1–5 for slow to fast scroll speed.

Scroll Speed

To turn the clock displayoff, press and hold 0 forabout three seconds.

To redisplay the clock,repeat.

Display On/Off

Delay Start allows you to set the microwave to delaycooking up to 24 hours.

1 Press DELAY START.

2 Enter the time you wantthe oven to start. (Besure the microwave clockshows the correct time of day.)


4 Select any combinationof Defrost Auto/Time or Time Cook I & II.

5 Press START.

The Delay Start time will be displayed. The oven willautomatically start at thedelayed time.

The time of day may bedisplayed by pressingCLOCK.

Delay Start

In addition to starting manyfunctions, START/PAUSEallows you to stop cookingwithout opening the door or clearing the display.

Start/Pause

The Reminder feature canbe used like an alarm clockand can be used at anytime, even when the oven isoperating. The Remindertime can be set up to 24 hours later.

1 Press REMINDER.

2 Enter the time you wantthe oven to remind you.(Be sure the microwaveclock shows the correcttime of day.)


4 Press REMINDER. WhenReminder signal occurs,press REMINDER to turnit off. The Remindertime may be displayed bypressing REMINDER.

NOTE: The REM indicatorwill remain lit to show thatthe Reminder is set. Toclear the Reminder beforeit occurs, press REMINDER,then 0. The REM indicatorwill no longer be lit.

Reminder

Timer On/Off operates asa minute timer and can beused at any time, evenwhen the oven is operating.

1 Press TIMER ON/OFF.

2 Enter time you want tocount down.

3 Press TIMER ON/OFFto start.

When time is up, the ovenwill signal. To turn off thetimer signal, press TIMERON/OFF.

NOTE: The timer indicatorwill be lit while the timer is operating.

Timer On/Off



26


27

You may lock the controlpanel to prevent themicrowave from beingaccidentally started or used by children.

To lock or unlock thecontrols, press and holdCLEAR/OFF for about 3 seconds. When thecontrol panel is locked, “L”or “LOC” will be displayed to the extreme right.

Child Lock-Out

For best cooking results,leave the turntable on. It can be turned off forlarge dishes. PressTURNTABLE to turn the turntable on or off.

Sometimes the turntablecan become too hot totouch. Be careful touchingthe turntable during andafter cooking.

Turntable

Press to turn the surfacelight on or off.

On some models, there is a night light option.

Press SURFACE LIGHTonce for bright light, twicefor the night light or threetimes to turn the light off.

Surface Light

When the microwave ovenis off, you may operate thevent fan:

1 Press the Vent Fan padonce for high fan speed.

2 Press the Vent Fan pad asecond time for low fanspeed.

3 Press the Vent Fan pad a third time to turn the fan off.

When the microwave is on, the vent fan willautomatically turn on atlow fan speed, stay on whilethe microwave is operatingand automatically turn offafter the microwave goesoff if the Vent Fan pad isnot pressed.

When the microwave ovenis on you may also:

1 Press the Vent Fan padonce for high fan speed.

2 Press the Vent Fan pad asecond time for low fanspeed.

3 Press the Vent Fan pad a third time to set the fanto turn off automaticallyafter the microwave goes off.

If the vent fan is stilloperating after themicrowave goes off, pressthe Vent Fan pad until itturns off.

NOTE: The vent fan cannot be turned off while themicrowave is operating.

Vent Fan



28


29

How to Use the ShelfWhen Microwaving

Food microwaves bestwhen placed on theturntable or on the shelf in the lower position.

NOTE: Only use the shelfwhen reheating on more thanone level. Do not store theshelf inside the oven cavity.

Use the lower shelfsupports when cooking oneoblong or oversized dish.

Use the upper shelfsupports for two-levelcooking.

Shelf and Reheating

• To reheat on 2 levels

or

• To reheat 2 dishes on thelower level:

1 Multiply reheat time by 11/2.

2 Switch places after 1/2the time.

• To reheat on 3 levels (on some models)

1 Double the reheatingtime.

2 Switch places twice andgive the dishes a 1/2 turnduring reheating. (Placedense foods, or those that require a longercook time, on the upper shelf first.)

For best results

Uneven results

2-level reheating

Shelf (on some models)

Switch places after 1/2 time.

Switch places after 1/2 time.

Switch places twice

• Make sure the shelf is positioned properly inside the microwave to prevent damage to the oven from arcing.

• Do not use amicrowave browningdish on the shelf. The shelf could overheat.

• Do not use the ovenwith the shelf on themicrowave floor. Thiscould damage themicrowave.

• Use pot holders when handling the shelf—it may be hot.

• Do not use the shelf when cooking popcorn.

30

Helpful Information

Microwave Terms

Arcing Arcing is the microwave term for sparks in the oven. Arcing is caused by:

• the metal shelf being installed incorrectly and touching the microwave walls.

• metal or foil touching the side of the oven.

• foil that is not molded to food (upturned edges act like antennas).

• metal such as twist ties, poultry pins, gold-rimmed dishes.

• recycled paper towels containing small metal pieces.

Covering Covers hold in moisture, allow for more even heating and reduce cooking time. Venting plastic wrap or covering with wax paper allows excess steam to escape.

Shielding In a regular oven, you shield chicken breasts or baked foods to prevent over-browning. When microwaving, you use small strips of foil to shield thin parts, such as the tips of wings and legs onpoultry, which would cook before larger parts.

Standing Time When you cook with regular ovens, foods such as roasts or cakes are allowed to stand to finish cooking or to set. Standing time is especially important in microwave cooking. Note that a microwaved cake is not placed on a cooling rack.

Venting After covering a dish with plastic wrap, you vent the plastic wrap by turning back one corner so excess steam can escape.

Term Definition

31

Care and Cleaning

An occasional thoroughwiping with a solution ofbaking soda and waterkeeps the inside fresh.

NOTE: Be certain the poweris off before cleaning anypart of this oven.

Helpful Hints

Walls, Floor, Inside Window,Metal and Plastic Parts onthe Door

Some spatters can beremoved with a papertowel, others may require a damp cloth. Removegreasy spatters with a sudsycloth, then rinse with adamp cloth. Do not useabrasive cleaners or sharputensils on oven walls.Never use a commercialoven cleaner on any part of your microwave.

Temperature Probe(if included)

Clean immediately afterusing. To clean, wipe witha sudsy cloth, then rublightly with a plasticscouring ball if necessary.Rinse and dry. The probecan also be washed in thedishwasher.

Removable Turntable andTurntable Support

To prevent breakage, do not place the turntableinto water just aftercooking. Wash it carefullyin warm, sudsy water or in the dishwasher. Theturntable and support can be broken if dropped.Remember, do not operatethe oven without theturntable and support in place.

Shelf (if included)

Clean with mild soap andwater or in the dishwasher.Do not clean in a self-cleaning oven.

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

How to Clean the Inside

Helpful Information

Care and Cleaning

Case

Clean the outside of themicrowave with a sudsycloth. Rinse and then dry.Wipe the window cleanwith a damp cloth.

Control Panel

Wipe with a damp cloth.Dry thoroughly. Do not use cleaning sprays, largeamounts of soap and water,abrasives or sharp objectson the panel—they candamage it. Some papertowels can also scratch the control panel.

Door Panel

Before cleaning the frontdoor panel, make sure youknow what type of panelyou have. Refer to theeighth digit of the modelnumber. “S” is stainlesssteel, "G" is Graphite, “L” is CleanSteel and “B”, “W”or “C” are plastic colors.

Stainless Steel

The stainless steel panelcan be cleaned withStainless Steel Magic or asimilar product using aclean, soft cloth. Applystainless cleaner carefully to avoid the surroundingplastic parts. Do not useappliance wax, polish,

bleach or productscontaining chlorine onStainless Steel finishes.

CleanSteel or Graphite

Use a clean, soft, light andlightly dampened cloth,then dry thoroughly. Donot use appliance wax,polish, bleach or productscontaining any chemicalagent on the CleanSteel or Graphite surfaces.

Plastic Color Panels

Use a clean, soft, lightlydampened cloth, then drythoroughly.

Door Seal

It’s important to keep thearea clean where the doorseals against the microwave.Use only mild, non-abrasivedetergents applied with aclean sponge or soft cloth.Rinse well.

Bottom

Clean off the grease anddust on the bottom often.Use a solution of warmwater and detergent.

We recommend againstusing cleaners withammonia or alcohol, as they can damage the appearance of themicrowave oven. If youchoose to use a commonhousehold cleaner, firstapply the cleaner directlyto a clean cloth, thenwipe the soiled area.

How to Clean the Outside

32

Light Bulb Replacement

1 To replace the bulb(s),first disconnect the powerat the main fuse or circuitbreaker panel or pull the plug.

2 Remove the screw fromlight cover and lower the cover.

3 Be sure the bulb(s) to bereplaced are cool beforeremoving. After breakingthe adhesive seal, removethe bulb by gently turning.

4 Replace the screw.Connect electrical powerto the oven.

Replace the burned-outbulb with a 30- or 40-watt incandescent bulb(30-watt—WB36X10198/40-watt—WB36X10003),available from your GE supplier.

Cooktop Light/Night Light

1 To replace the oven light,first disconnect the powerat the main fuse or circuitbreaker panel or pull the plug.

2 Remove the top grille bytaking out the 4 screwsthat hold it in place.

3 Push tab back and liftlight housing. Replacethe bulb and press thelight housing back intoplace.

4 Replace the top grilleand 4 screws. Connectelectrical power to the oven.

Replace the burned-outbulb with a 30- or 40-watt incandescent bulb(30-watt—WB36X10198/40-watt—WB36X10003),available from your GE supplier.

Oven Light

33

REMOVE SCREW

REMOVE SCREWS

Helpful Information

The Exhaust Feature

34

The vent fan has two metalreusable grease filters.

Models that recirculate airback into the room alsouse a charcoal filter.

The Vent Fan

Charcoal Filter(on some models)

Reusable Grease Filters(on all models)

The reusable grease filterstrap grease released byfoods on the cooktop.They also prevent flamesfrom foods on the cooktopfrom damaging the insideof the microwave.

For this reason, the filtersmust ALWAYS be in placewhen the hood is used.The grease filters shouldbe cleaned once a month,or as needed.

Reusable GreaseFilters

To remove, slide them tothe side using the tab. Pullthem down and out.

To clean the grease filters,soak them and then swishthem around in hot waterand detergent. Don’t useammonia or ammoniaproducts because they willdarken the metal. Lightbrushing can be used toremove embedded dirt.

Rinse, shake and let themdry before replacing.

To replace, slide the filtersin the frame slot on theleft side of the opening.Pull up and to the right tolock into place.

Removing andCleaning the Filter

35

If the model is not ventedto the outside, the air willbe recirculated through adisposable charcoal filterthat helps remove smokeand odors.

The charcoal filter should be replaced when it is noticeably dirty or discolored (usually after 6–12 months, dependingon hood usage). See“Optional Kits,” page 9 for more information.

The charcoal filtercannot be cleaned. Itmust be replaced. OrderPart No. WB02X10776from your GE supplier.

Charcoal Filter (on some models)

To remove the charcoalfilter, disconnect power atthe main fuse or circuitbreaker panel or pull the plug.

Remove the top grille byremoving the 4 screws thathold it in place. Slide thefilter toward the front ofthe oven and remove it.

To Remove Charcoal Filter

Remove 4 grille screws toremove the grille.

To install a new filter,remove plastic and otherouter wrapping from thenew filter.

Insert the filter into the top opening of the oven as shown. When properlyinstalled, the wire mesh ofthe filter should be visiblefrom the front. Replace the grille and 4 screws.

To Install Charcoal Filter

If Something Goes Wrong

Before You Call For Service

Oven will notstart

Floor of the oven iswarm, even whenthe oven has notbeen used

“LOC” appears on display

Vent fan will not turn off

“BAD PROBE”appears on display

“PLEASE INSERTPROBE“ appears on display

“SENSOR ERROR”appears on display

Problem Possible Cause What to Do

A fuse in your home • Replace fuse or reset circuit breaker.may be blown or the circuit breaker tripped.

Power surge. • Unplug the microwave oven, then plug it back in.

Plug not fully inserted • Make sure the 3-prong plug on theinto wall outlet. oven is fully inserted into wall outlet.

Door not securely closed. • Open the door and close securely.

The cooktop light is • This is normal.located below the ovenfloor. When the lightis on, the heat it produces may make the oven floor get warm.

The control has been • Press and hold CLEAR/OFF forlocked. about 3 seconds to unlock the control.

The vent fan • The vent fan cannot be turned off automatically turns on while the microwave is operating. to cool internal parts This is normal. Wait for the microwave while the microwave to turn off and the fan will either go is on. off automatically or you will need to

turn it off by pressing the Vent Fan pad after the microwave is off.

The probe has not been • Insert the probe properly into thecompletely inserted into oven wall outlet.the oven wall outlet.

The probe is defective. • Replace the probe.

Probe has been • Insert the probe properly into the forgotten or not oven wall outlet.inserted properly.

When using a Sensor • Do not open door until steam isfeature, the door was sensed and time is shown countingopened before steam down on display.could be detected.

Steam was not detected • Use Time Cook to heat for more time.in maximum amount of time.

36

37

• Moisture on the ovendoor and walls whilecooking. Wipe themoisture off with a papertowel or soft cloth.

• Moisture between theoven door panels whencooking certain foods.Moisture should dissipateshortly after cooking isfinished.

• Steam or vapor escapingfrom around the door.

• Light reflection arounddoor or outer case.

• Dimming oven light andchange in the blowersound at power levelsother than high.

• Dull thumping soundwhile oven is operating.

• The vent fan operatingwhile the microwave isoperating. The vent fanwill not go off nor can itbe turned off until themicrowave is off.

• TV-radio interferencemight be noticed whileusing the microwave.Similar to the interferencecaused by other smallappliances, it does notindicate a problem withthe microwave. Plug themicrowave into a differentelectrical circuit, move theradio or TV as far awayfrom the microwave aspossible or check theposition and signal of the TV/radio antenna.

Things ThatAre Normal

Before You Call For Service

38

ge.com

Have a question or need assistance with your appliance? Try the GE Appliances Website 24 hours a day, any day of the year!

For greater convenienceand faster service, you cannow download Owner’sManuals, order parts oreven schedule service on-line.

GE AppliancesWebsite

ge.com

800.GE.CARES (800.432.2737)

Expert GE repair service is only one step away from your door. Get on-line and schedule your service at yourconvenience 24 hours any day of the year!

Or call 800.GE.CARES(800.432.2737) duringnormal business hours.

Schedule Service

ge.com

800.TDD.GEAC(800.833.4322)

GE supports the UniversalDesign concept—products,services and environmentsthat can be used by peopleof all ages, sizes andcapabilities. We recognizethe need to design for a wide range of physicaland mental abilities andimpairments.

For details of GE’sUniversal Designapplications, includingkitchen design ideas forpeople with disabilities,check out our Websitetoday. For the hearingimpaired, please call800.TDD.GEAC(800.833.4322).

Real Life Design Studio

GE Service Numbers

We’ll Be There!

ge.com

800.626.2224

Purchase a GE extendedwarranty and learn aboutspecial discounts that are available while yourwarranty is still in effect.

You can purchase it on-line anytime, or call800.626.2224 duringnormal business hours. GE Consumer HomeServices will still be thereafter your warranty expires.

Extended Warranties

ge.com

800.626.2002

Individuals qualified to service their ownappliances can have parts or accessories sentdirectly to their home.(VISA, MasterCard andDiscover cards areaccepted.)

Order on-line today, 24 hours every day or by phone at 800.626.2002during normal businesshours.

Instructions contained in this manual coverprocedures to beperformed by any user.Other servicing generallyshould be referred to qualified servicepersonnel. Caution must be exercised, sinceimproper servicing maycause unsafe operation.

Parts andAccessories

39

Register YourAppliance

ge.com

Register your newappliance on-line—at your convenience!

Timely product registrationwill allow for enhancedcommunication andprompt service under theterms of your warranty,should the need arise. You may also mail in thepre-printed registrationcard included in thepacking material.

Printed in China

LIMITED ONE-YEAR WARRANTYFor one year from date of original purchase, GE will replace any part in the microwave oventhat fails due to a defect in materials orworkmanship. During this limited one-year warranty,GE will provide, free of charge, all labor and related service costs to replace the defective part.

************************************All warranty service will be provided by our FactoryService Centers or by our authorized CustomerCare® servicers during normal working hours.Should your appliance need service, duringwarranty period or beyond, call 800.GE.CARES(800.432.2737).Please have serial and model numbers availablewhen calling for service.

MICROWAVE OVENWARRANTY

What Is Covered

What Is Not Covered

Staple sales slip or cancelled check here. Proof of originalpurchase date is needed to obtain service under warranty.

• Service trips to your home to teach you how touse the product.

• Improper installation, delivery or maintenance.If you have an installation problem, contact yourdealer or installer. You are responsible forproviding adequate electrical, exhausting andother connecting facilities.

• Product not accessible to provide requiredservice.

• Replacement of house fuses or resetting ofcircuit breakers.

• Replacement of the cooktop light bulbs.• Failure of the product or damage to

the product if it is abused, misused (forexample, cavity arcing from wire rack ormetal/foil), or used for other than the intendedpurpose or used commercially.

• Damage to product caused by accident, fire,floods or acts of God.

• Incidental or consequential damage caused by possible defects with this appliance.

• Damage caused after delivery.

This warranty is extended to the original purchaser and any succeeding owner for products purchased for homeuse within the USA. If the product is located in an area where service by a GE Authorized Servicer is not available,you may be responsible for a trip charge or you may be required to bring the product to an Authorized GE ServiceLocation for service. In Alaska, the warranty excludes the service calls to your home.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the abovelimitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also haveother rights which vary from state to state. To know what your legal rights are in your state, consult your local orstate consumer affairs office or your state’s Attorney General.

Warrantor: General Electric Company. Louisville, KY 40225

EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES—Your sole and exclusive remedy is product repair as provided in this Limited Warranty. Any implied warranties, including the impliedwarranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, are limited to one year orthe shortest period allowed by law.

spacemaker microwave oven - ge appliances - kitchen appliances

Documents