10
About food
Food
Do
Don't
Eggs,
sausages,
nuts, seeds,
fruits &
vegetables
Puncture egg yolks before cooking to
•
prevent “explosion”.
Pierce skins of potatoes, apples, squash,
•
hot dogs and sausages so that steam
escapes.
Cook eggs in shells.
•
Reheat whole eggs.
•
Dry nuts or seeds in shells.
•
Popcorn
Use specially bagged popcorn for
•
microwave cooking.
Listen while popping corn for the
•
popping to slow to 1 or 2 seconds or use
special
popcorn
pad.
Pop popcorn in regular brown bags
•
or glass bowls.
Exceed maximum time on popcorn
•
package.
Baby food
Transfer baby food to small dish and heat
•
carefully, stirring often. Check temperature
before serving.
Put nipples on bottles after heating and
•
shake thoroughly. “Wrist” test before
feeding.
Heat disposable bottles.
•
Heat bottles with nipples on.
•
Heat baby food in original jars.
•
General
Cut baked goods with filling after heating
•
to release steam and avoid burns.
Stir liquids briskly before and after heating
•
to avoid “eruption”.
Use deep bowl, when cooking liquids or
•
cereals, to prevent boilovers.
Heat or cook in closed glass jars or air
•
tight containers.
Can in the microwave as harmful
•
bacteria may not be destroyed.
Deep fat fry.
•
Dry wood, gourds, herbs or wet papers.
•
About microwave cooking
Arrange food carefully. Place thickest areas
•
towards outside of dish.
Watch cooking time. Cook for the shortest
•
amount of time indicated and add more as
needed. Food severely overcooked can smoke
or ignite.
Cover foods while cooking. Check recipe or
•
cookbook for suggestions: paper towels, wax
paper, microwave plastic wrap or a lid. Covers
prevent spattering and help foods to cook
evenly.
Shield with small flat pieces of aluminum foil
•
any thin areas of meat or poultry to prevent
overcooking before dense, thick areas are
cooked thoroughly.
Stir foods from outside to center of dish once or
•
twice during cooking, if possible.
Turn foods over once during microwaving to
•
speed cooking of such foods as chicken and
hamburgers. Large items like roasts must be
turned over at least once.
Rearrange foods such as meatballs halfway
•
through cooking both from top to bottom and
from the center of the dish to the outside.
Add standing time. Remove food from oven
•
and stir, if possible. Cover for standing time
which allows the food to finish cooking without
overcooking.
Check for doneness. Look for signs indicating
•
that cooking temperatures have been reached.
Doneness signs include:
•
- Food steams throughout, not just at edge.
- Center bottom of dish is very hot to the
touch.
- Poultry thigh joints move easily.
- Meat and poultry show no pinkness.
- Fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Information You Need To Know
