Turntable on/off (stop turntable)
The glass plate stops turning, so a dish too big to rotate freely can sit still in the oven.
What it is for
Use it for a large rectangular dish that would catch on the walls, such as a 13 × 9 inch lasagne dish. Because the food no longer turns, cook at a lower power and turn the dish round yourself once or twice.
Makes differ, check your microwave’s manual: the same drawing can start a different programme on another brand, and only your model’s manual gives its exact watts, weights and times.
- What it looks like
- A round plate with a curved arrow, crossed out or not, or a key labelled TURNTABLE ON/OFF or STOP TURNTABLE.
- Names makers use
- Turntable On/Off (Dacor); Stop Turntable (Whirlpool); Turntable function (Whirlpool product help)
Where makes differ
Only some models have it. Dacor allows it in manual cooking and Sensor Reheat and switches the turntable back on for other auto programmes; Whirlpool’s JT469 allows it only with forced air and the two combi functions; Whirlpool’s help pages say manual cooking only.
What it does not mean
It does not switch the microwaves off, and it is not a fault setting: if your plate will not turn, check that this function has not been left on before calling for service.
Sources
No published standard we could check defines microwave control icons, so this meaning is taken from 2 makers’ own manuals and support pages, each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Dacor: Dacor (Samsung) — Use and care manual, over-the-range convection microwave oven PCOR30S — “For most cooking, the turntable should be on; however the turntable can be turned off so that it does not rotate when extra large dishes, such as a 13”x9”x2” glass utility casserole, are used… Touch TURNTABLE ON/OFF pad and note TURNTABLE OFF in the display.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- Whirlpool: Whirlpool — JT469 control panel quick guide (GB) — “STOP TURNTABLE: Use this function when you need to use very large vessels that could not turn freely in the oven. The “Stop Turntable” function works only with the following cooking functions: Forced Air, Combi Grill + Microwave, Combi Forced Air + Microwave.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- Whirlpool: Whirlpool product help — Turntable not working, over-the-range microwave — “Is the Turntable function turned off? The Turntable may be turned off (on some models) for manual cooking only. This is helpful when cooking with plates that are bigger than the turntable.” Checked 2026-09-28.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.