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Other Helpful Information
HOW FOOD CHARACTERISTICS AFFECTNOTE: It is a common misconception that micro-waves
cook food from the inside out. This comes from heating
MICROWAVE COOKING
filled pastries with a high sugar content, like jelly doughnuts.
Density of foods:Light, porous food like cakes and breadsThe pastry is cool but the filling is very hot! If you cook a
cook more quickly than heavy, dense foods such as roastschicken or a roast, youOll see the outside is cooked first.
and casseroles. You must take care when microwavingShape of foods:Microwaves penetrate only about 1 inch
porous foods that the outer edges do not become dry and(2.5cm) into foods; the interior portion of thick foods is
brittle.cooked as the heat generated on the outside travels inward.
Height of foods:The upper portion of tall foods,In other words, only the outer edge of any food is actually
particularly roasts, will cook more quickly than the lowercooked by microwave energy; the rest is cooked by
portion. Therefore, it is wise to turn tall foods duringconvection.
cooking, sometimes several times.It follows then that the worst possible shape for a food that
is to be microwaved is a thick cube. The corners will burn
Moisture content of foods:Since the heat generated fromlong before the center is even warm. Round, thin, and ring
microwaves tends to evaporate moisture, relatively dryshaped foods cook most successfully in the microwave.
foods such as roasts and some vegetables should either be
sprinkled with water prior to cooking or covered to retainQuantity of foods:The number of microwaves in your
moisture.oven remains constant regardless of how much food is
being cooked. Therefore, the more food you place in the
Bone and fat content of foods:Bones conduct heat and
fat cooks more quickly than meat. Therefore, care must beoven, the longer the cooking time. Remember to decrease
taken when cooking bony or fatty cuts of meat that thecooking times by at least one-third when halving a recipe.
meats do not cook unevenly and do not become
overcooked.
Cooking Utensils
MICROWAVE-SAFE UTENSILS 2. Glassware:Glassware that is heat-resistant is
microwave-safe. This includes all brands of oven-tempered
glass cookware. However, do not use delicate glassware,
CAUTIONsuch as tumblers or wine glasses, as these might shatter as
the food warms.
SOME ITEMS ARE NOT INTENDED FOR MICROWAVE
COOKING, INCLUDING SOME STONEWARE AND3. Paper: Paper plates and containers are convenient
ITEMS WITH HIGH IRON OR LEAD CONTENTS.and safe to use in your microwave oven, provided the
cooking time is short and foods to be cooked are low in
fat and moisture.Paper towels are also very useful for
Never use metal or metal-trimmed utensils in your
microwave oven:Microwaves cannot penetrate metal.wrapping foods and for lining baking trays in which greasy
They will bounce off any metal object in the oven and causefoods, such as bacon, are cooked. In general, avoid colored
arcing, an alarming phenomenon that resembles lightning.paper products as the color may run.
Most heat-resistant non-metallic cooking utensils are safe4. Plastic storage containers:These can be used to hold
for use in your microwave oven. However, some mayfoods that are to be quickly reheated. However, they should
contain materials that render them unsuitable as microwavenot be used to hold foods that will need considerable time in
cookware. If you have any doubts about a particular utensil,the oven as hot foods will eventually warp or melt plastic
there is a simple way to find out if it can be used in yourcontainers.
microwave oven.5. Plastic cooking bags:These are microwave-safe
Testing utensils for microwave use:Place the utensil inprovided they are specially made for cooking. However, be
question next to a glass bowl filled with water in thesure to make a slit in the bagso that steam can escape.
microwave oven. Microwave at power HIGH for 1 minute. IfNever use ordinary plastic bags for cooking in your
the water heats up but the utensil remains cool to the touch,microwave oven, as they will melt and rupture.
the utensil is microwave-safe. However, if the water does6. Plastic microwave cookware:A variety of shapes and
not change temperature but the utensil becomes warm,
microwaves are being absorbed by the utensil and it is notsizes of microwave cookware is available. For the most
part, you can probably cook with items you already have on
safe for use in the microwave oven. You probably havehand rather than investing in new kitchen equipment.
many items on hand in your kitchen that can be used as7. Pottery, stoneware, and ceramic:
cooking equipment in your microwave oven. Just read
through the following checklist.Containers made of these materials are usually fine for use
in your microwave oven, but they should be tested to be
1. Dinner plates:Many kinds of dinner-ware aresure.
microwave-safe. If in doubt, consult the manu-facturer's
literature or perform the microwave test, above.
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