Abstract: A microwave oven includes a safety mechanism which automatically cuts off a supply of electric power to the oven when a panel of the oven housing has been removed, even if the power supply cord is still plugged in. The safety mechanism includes a switch disposed on the housing for cutting off the power. A cover for the switch is movable between a first position covering the switch, and a second position exposing the switch. The switch is biased to a power-cut-off position and the cover is biased to the first position. A structure of the panel is arranged to automatically move the cover to its second position, as well as to move the switch to a power-supply position, in response to the panel being in an assembled state. When the panel is removed, the switch automatically cuts off the electric power, and the cover moves to the first position covering the switch.

Abstract: A cooking chamber of a microwave oven is illuminated during a given cooking operation. During that cooking operation the color of the illumination is changed in accordance with the progress of the cooking operation, such as the progress of the cooking time or the temperature of food being cooked, to enable the cooking progress to be visually monitored from a distance.