john royce <blues...@mail.invalid> wrote: > We have been trying to think of a means of supporting one casserole dish on > top of another one ( the top one usually a smaller diameter ) by means of > something that will tolerate microwaves
It works fine with microwaveable/ceramic containers and fits neatly over a plate so you can, for example reheat a meal and cook something else at the same time. It wouldn't work if you used those microwave containers designed to "brown" food because they get extremely hot.
> and the hotter temperatures using the normal oven heating element. Does > such a thing exist anywhere for this purpose, or what might be some neat > way to solve this problem? Thanks for advice.
Out microwave was supplied with two wire racks that permit food to be stacked when using it as a combination oven. Although chrome plated wire they don't "spark" in the microwave. So umm, I'd say check what comes with the next microwave that you buy. Some of them are better for that sort of stuff than others.
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "john royce" <blues...@mail.invalid> saying something like:
>We have been trying to think of a means of supporting one casserole dish on >top of another one ( the top one usually a smaller diameter ) by means of >something that will tolerate microwaves and the hotter temperatures using >the normal oven heating element. Does such a thing exist anywhere for this >purpose, or what might be some neat way to solve this problem? Thanks for >advice.
Pyrex casserole dish lid, turned upside down, is just the thing.
> When making casseroles in the microwave combination oven, I try to fill the > oven right up; so as to be frugal with electricity.
> Although some casserole dishes come with lids, I find that these fairly > close fitting lids usually create a build up of pressure and some of the > liquid then squirts out, all over the place.
> To utilise all available oven space it means stacking two casserole dishes > one on top of the other. Using a normal oven this would be simple to do > (bearing in mind I'm not using lids) by using a metal rack on the lower one > to support the upper one.
> But when using the combination feature (which I find usefully lessons the > cooking time) both normal heating and microwave are used "together". So when > the microwave is on, a metal rack cannot be used.
> We have been trying to think of a means of supporting one casserole dish on > top of another one ( the top one usually a smaller diameter ) by means of > something that will tolerate microwaves and the hotter temperatures using > the normal oven heating element. Does such a thing exist anywhere for this > purpose, or what might be some neat way to solve this problem? Thanks for > advice.
You will save exactly nothing. The MW puts out so many BTUs and that is absorbed by the food. Two cups of water will take twice as long to boil because it takes twice as many BTUs to raise the temperature the the boiling point. The same principle applies to your plan to put piles of food in the oven. Two equal piles will take twice as long to cook and it won't cook as evenly either when the food is crowded together. Time to rethink your cunning plan. I use two different microwaves on two different circuits.
> You will save exactly nothing. > The MW puts out so many BTUs and that is absorbed by the food. Two > cups of water will take twice as long to boil because it takes twice > as many BTUs to raise the temperature the the boiling point. The same > principle applies to your plan to put piles of food in the oven. Two > equal piles will take twice as long to cook and it won't cook as > evenly either when the food is crowded together. > Time to rethink your cunning plan. I use two different microwaves on > two different circuits.
Agreed. But the OP later wrote:
"Using the oven eating element easily brings the temperature up to where the wood (chopsticks) cannot cope with it."
Which seems to question just what the OP is doing. Using microwave heating, using element heating, or both?
And if he really wants to minimise electricity usage perhaps a hay box would help?
> > You will save exactly nothing. > > The MW puts out so many BTUs and that is absorbed by the food. Two > > cups of water will take twice as long to boil because it takes twice > > as many BTUs to raise the temperature the the boiling point. The same > > principle applies to your plan to put piles of food in the oven. Two > > equal piles will take twice as long to cook and it won't cook as > > evenly either when the food is crowded together. > > Time to rethink your cunning plan. I use two different microwaves on > > two different circuits.
> Agreed. But the OP later wrote:
> "Using the oven eating element easily brings the temperature up to where > the wood (chopsticks) cannot cope with it."
> Which seems to question just what the OP is doing. Using microwave > heating, using element heating, or both?
> And if he really wants to minimise electricity usage perhaps a hay box > would help?
> -- > Rod
He could save electricity by cutting vent holes in the top and using all those sticks for kindling under the food. In other words, use the oven like a hibachi. There's plenty of sticks lying about in this season. Do this outside though for safety reasons. Also, this may void the warranty on your microwave.
> On Wed, 4 Nov 2009 10:13:30 +0800, "Dave C." <no...@nohow.never> > wrote:
>>Let's get this straight... you are trying to think of a creative way to >>save about .0000000000002 pennies worth of electricity? C'mon, be >>serious now... is this a troll? -Dave
> These nut cases appear every so often. To store all of those > casseroles, he needs a large freezer... when the freezer is empty, > he's wasting electricity. It's a cycle he hasn't give much thought > to. Being frugal doesn't mean being cheap, it just means don't waste. > However, he's taking the concept to the point of being a cheapskate. > I wonder if he reuses toilet paper?
Some people are so *opinionated* dont you think? The original question was not 'just' about saving money, (which if you are not a merkin, might actually have consequences) sometimes its just more convenient to cook as much as a microwave will take; which often is not all that much anyway.
Our cooking rarely if ever gets frozen, so why introduce to others such aspects as this that your over active mind uneccesarily produces? You readily call someone else a nutcase for asking a valid food related question, but empty vessals make the most noise, and you certainly qualify wouldn't you say? Its always a big problem in (therapy) groups that the shallow and opionated want to *hog* everything. when two or more empty vessals start talking to each other they succeed and then spoil the newsgroup for others. Why dont you look at yourself?
> On Nov 4, 5:32 pm, Rod <polygo...@ntlworld.com> wrote: >> Al wrote:
>> <>
>> > You will save exactly nothing. >> > The MW puts out so many BTUs and that is absorbed by the food. Two >> > cups of water will take twice as long to boil because it takes twice >> > as many BTUs to raise the temperature the the boiling point. The same >> > principle applies to your plan to put piles of food in the oven. Two >> > equal piles will take twice as long to cook and it won't cook as >> > evenly either when the food is crowded together. >> > Time to rethink your cunning plan. I use two different microwaves on >> > two different circuits.
>> Agreed. But the OP later wrote:
>> "Using the oven eating element easily brings the temperature up to where >> the wood (chopsticks) cannot cope with it."
>> Which seems to question just what the OP is doing. Using microwave >> heating, using element heating, or both?
>> And if he really wants to minimise electricity usage perhaps a hay box >> would help? >> Rod
Thanks to all (except the couple of empty vessals who waste everyones time). To answer some general points: this oven uses both microwave and heating element both at the same time. Our instruction manual specifically say not to use any metal. Once I put in a plate that had a gold glazed rim and it started sparking like crazy. Its not just about economy, the microwave is not so big; so to fill it up is more convenient. Upturned lids are so close fitting that pressure builds up and liquid squirts out, so thats a no go.
Grateful especially for the information about the ignition temperatures of wood. Mistakely I assumed that the higher temperatures produced by the heating element would cause the wood to catch fire. This information has now solved this issue since I can easily make something out of some strips of hardwood. Thanks.
(snipped) > Grateful especially for the information about the ignition temperatures of > wood. Mistakely I assumed that the higher temperatures produced by the > heating element would cause the wood to catch fire. This information has > now solved this issue since I can easily make something out of some strips > of hardwood. Thanks.
Just a note of (possibly excessive) caution here. Back in the 1970's energy crisis, a lot of people tried home heating with wood burning stoves. At the time, I read that the ignition temperature of wood can be drastically lowered by long-term exposure to elevated temperatures - in extreme cases, ignition temperature can be lower than the boiling point of water.
The article was in connection with placing a wood-burner an adequate distance from walls and furniture for safety. I don't know how accurate that information is, but if your wood rack will be exposed to elevated oven temperatures over a period of years, this may apply to you as well.
<blues...@mail.invalid> wrote: >Some people are so *opinionated* dont you think? The original question was >not 'just' about saving money, (which if you are not a merkin, might >actually have consequences) sometimes its just more convenient to cook as >much as a microwave will take; which often is not all that much anyway.
John, your message was lost after "merkin". Lose that word and you'll be listened to more closely.
-- I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
john royce wrote: > Some people are so *opinionated* dont you think? The original question was > not 'just' about saving money, (which if you are not a merkin, might > actually have consequences) sometimes its just more convenient to cook as > much as a microwave will take; which often is not all that much anyway.
> Our cooking rarely if ever gets frozen, so why introduce to others such > aspects as this that your over active mind uneccesarily produces? You > readily call someone else a nutcase for asking a valid food related > question, but empty vessals make the most noise, and you certainly qualify > wouldn't you say? Its always a big problem in (therapy) groups that the > shallow and opionated want to *hog* everything. when two or more empty > vessals start talking to each other they succeed and then spoil the > newsgroup for others. Why dont you look at yourself?
oh you're gonna fit right in with AmandaF/Mandy Ruby. You both sound like twits.
> >>Let's get this straight... you are trying to think of a creative way to > >>save about .0000000000002 pennies worth of electricity? C'mon, be > >>serious now... is this a troll? -Dave
> > These nut cases appear every so often. To store all of those > > casseroles, he needs a large freezer... when the freezer is empty, > > he's wasting electricity. It's a cycle he hasn't give much thought > > to. Being frugal doesn't mean being cheap, it just means don't waste. > > However, he's taking the concept to the point of being a cheapskate. > > I wonder if he reuses toilet paper?
> Some people are so *opinionated* dont you think? The original question was > not 'just' about saving money, (which if you are not a merkin, might > actually have consequences) sometimes its just more convenient to cook as > much as a microwave will take; which often is not all that much anyway.
> Our cooking rarely if ever gets frozen, so why introduce to others such > aspects as this that your over active mind uneccesarily produces? You > readily call someone else a nutcase for asking a valid food related > question, but empty vessals make the most noise, and you certainly qualify > wouldn't you say? Its always a big problem in (therapy) groups that the > shallow and opionated want to *hog* everything. when two or more empty > vessals start talking to each other they succeed and then spoil the > newsgroup for others. Why dont you look at yourself?
I'd suggest you ask your question in
rec.food.cooking rec.food.equipment
or if it's that important, try to find a bigger microwave/combo unit
or why aren't you just using a regular/convection unit
(btw I actually don't have a full sized one but use a counter-top convection/toaster unit for lots of my meals. I also have an advantium microwave/convection oven but I don't really like it and am hoping to switch it out for a full sized convection oven)
Piling one dish upon another is going to alter the way the mocrowave heats both dishes! The waves are going through double densities. So whatever you think you are saving, you are probably spending in needing to heat longer. If you want to cover a dish withour the top "exploding" just don't civer it tightly; leave a little open space for the steam to escape. xxxxo -------------------------------------
john royce wrote: > When making casseroles in the microwave combination oven, I try to fill > the > oven right up; so as to be frugal with electricity. > Although some casserole dishes come with lids, I find that these fairly > close fitting lids usually create a build up of pressure and some of > the > liquid then squirts out, all over the place. > To utilise all available oven space it means stacking two casserole > dishes > one on top of the other. Using a normal oven this would be simple to > do > (bearing in mind I'm not using lids) by using a metal rack on the > lower one > to support the upper one. > But when using the combination feature (which I find usefully lessons > the > cooking time) both normal heating and microwave are used > "together". So when > the microwave is on, a metal rack cannot be used. > We have been trying to think of a means of supporting one casserole > dish on > top of another one ( the top one usually a smaller diameter ) by means > of > something that will tolerate microwaves and the hotter temperatures > using > the normal oven heating element. Does such a thing exist anywhere for > this > purpose, or what might be some neat way to solve this problem? Thanks > for > advice.
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On Nov 5, 3:47 pm, info_at_1-script_dot_...@foo.com (spendwize.com) wrote:
> Piling one dish upon another is going to alter the way the mocrowave heats > both dishes! The waves are going through double densities. So whatever you > think you are saving, you are probably spending in needing to heat longer. > If you want to cover a dish withour the top "exploding" just don't civer > it tightly; leave a little open space for the steam to escape. > xxxxo
Please don't bother the OP with technical facts about how microwaves work. HE/she would rather experiment with putting wood and other objects into a device designed to cook food in certain reasonable portions. I hope it works out for the OP. I would add in passing that some of the off-gassing from putting objects not designed for microwave cooking into such ovens can cause health problems, but what the hell!
> > On Nov 4, 5:32 pm, Rod <polygo...@ntlworld.com> wrote: > >> Al wrote:
> >> <>
> >> > You will save exactly nothing. > >> > The MW puts out so many BTUs and that is absorbed by the food. Two > >> > cups of water will take twice as long to boil because it takes twice > >> > as many BTUs to raise the temperature the the boiling point. The same > >> > principle applies to your plan to put piles of food in the oven. Two > >> > equal piles will take twice as long to cook and it won't cook as > >> > evenly either when the food is crowded together. > >> > Time to rethink your cunning plan. I use two different microwaves on > >> > two different circuits.
> >> Agreed. But the OP later wrote:
> >> "Using the oven eating element easily brings the temperature up to where > >> the wood (chopsticks) cannot cope with it."
> >> Which seems to question just what the OP is doing. Using microwave > >> heating, using element heating, or both?
> >> And if he really wants to minimise electricity usage perhaps a hay box > >> would help? > >> Rod
> Thanks to all (except the couple of empty vessals who waste everyones time). > To answer some general points: this oven uses both microwave and heating > element both at the same time. Our instruction manual specifically say not > to use any metal. Once I put in a plate that had a gold glazed rim and it > started sparking like crazy. Its not just about economy, the microwave is > not so big; so to fill it up is more convenient. Upturned lids are so close > fitting that pressure builds up and liquid squirts out, so thats a no go.
I solved that lid problem by drilling 1/8" holes in the lids in various places. Liquids can't squirt out unless the container is either over filled and/or over heated. If you start boiling everything, it has to go somewhere. Be prepared to replace your equipment more often too as the cooking methods you favor are more taxing to the electronics. Heat is one of the main killers of electronic parts. Your oven is staying hotter longer and is not able to dispense with the heat. One of the first things that goes with microwaves subjected to this is the overheat sensor/s. These are mere $30 parts, but take an expensive service call or bench charge to replace. I'd do it for you for about $100. And that's the cheapest thing that can happen.
Al wrote: > On Nov 5, 3:47 pm, info_at_1-script_dot_...@foo.com (spendwize.com) > wrote: >> Piling one dish upon another is going to alter the way the mocrowave >> heats both dishes! The waves are going through double densities. So >> whatever you think you are saving, you are probably spending in >> needing to heat longer. If you want to cover a dish withour the top >> "exploding" just don't civer it tightly; leave a little open space >> for the steam to escape. >> xxxxo
> Please don't bother the OP with technical facts about how microwaves > work. HE/she would rather experiment with putting wood and other > objects into a device designed to cook food in certain reasonable > portions. I hope it works out for the OP. I would add in passing that > some of the off-gassing from putting objects not designed for > microwave cooking into such ovens can cause health problems, but what > the hell!
And we won't bother you with facts like the one that the OP has a "microwave combination oven", not a microwave oven.
>Al wrote: >> On Nov 5, 3:47 pm, info_at_1-script_dot_...@foo.com (spendwize.com) >> wrote: >>> Piling one dish upon another is going to alter the way the mocrowave >>> heats both dishes! The waves are going through double densities. So >>> whatever you think you are saving, you are probably spending in >>> needing to heat longer. If you want to cover a dish withour the top >>> "exploding" just don't civer it tightly; leave a little open space >>> for the steam to escape. >>> xxxxo
>> Please don't bother the OP with technical facts about how microwaves >> work. HE/she would rather experiment with putting wood and other >> objects into a device designed to cook food in certain reasonable >> portions. I hope it works out for the OP. I would add in passing that >> some of the off-gassing from putting objects not designed for >> microwave cooking into such ovens can cause health problems, but what >> the hell!
>And we won't bother you with facts like the one that the OP has a "microwave >combination oven", not a microwave oven.
But in the present case it's you who doesn't comprehend the facts... that it's a combo has not a whit of bearing... the oven cooks with microwaves, the conventional radiant energy portion functions to brown. When the radiant energy produced by the conventional portion is blocked by over crowding the microwaves will overcook the food way before it browns. With those combo ovens it's far more important not to over crowd than with single function ovens.
> Al wrote: > > On Nov 5, 3:47 pm, info_at_1-script_dot_...@foo.com (spendwize.com) > > wrote: > >> Piling one dish upon another is going to alter the way the mocrowave > >> heats both dishes! The waves are going through double densities. So > >> whatever you think you are saving, you are probably spending in > >> needing to heat longer. If you want to cover a dish withour the top > >> "exploding" just don't civer it tightly; leave a little open space > >> for the steam to escape. > >> xxxxo
> > Please don't bother the OP with technical facts about how microwaves > > work. HE/she would rather experiment with putting wood and other > > objects into a device designed to cook food in certain reasonable > > portions. I hope it works out for the OP. I would add in passing that > > some of the off-gassing from putting objects not designed for > > microwave cooking into such ovens can cause health problems, but what > > the hell!
> And we won't bother you with facts like the one that the OP has a "microwave > combination oven", not a microwave oven.
You're not bothering me. I read it the first time. Still doesn't mean you can place any dam thing in it safely.
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