or similar, that the meat be cut into pieces no bigger than 2 x 2
cm.
The compactness of the food is also very important for the
cooking time. The more compact the food is, the longer it takes
to cook it.
•
Whole joints require a longer cooking time than stewed
dishes.
•
A joint requires a longer time than a dish with minced meat.
The colder the food, the longer the cooking time needs to be.
Food at room temperature will therefore cook faster than food
from a fridge or freezer.
When cooking vegetables, the cooking time depends on the
freshness of the vegetables. Therefore check the condition of the
vegetables, and add or deduct a little time accordingly.
The short cooking time when using a microwave oven means
that the food does not overcook.
•
If required, a little water can be added.
•
When cooking fish and vegetables, you only need to use the
minimum of water.
Microwave power
The choice of power setting depends on the condition of the
food to be cooked.
In most cases, the food is cooked on full power.
•
Full power is used, among other things, for reheating food
quickly, boiling water or similar.
•
Low power is principally used to defrost food and prepare
dishes containing cheese, milk or egg. (Whole eggs in their
shell cannot be cooked in the microwave oven, as there is a
risk of the eggs exploding). In addition, lower power settings
are also used to finish off and to retain the excellent aroma of
a dish.
General information on cooking
•
If the whole meal is to be prepared in the microwave oven, it
is recommended that you start with the most compact foods,
such as potatoes. Once these are ready, cover them while the
rest of the food is prepared.
•
Most food should be covered. A close-fitting cover retains
the steam and moisture, which shortens the cooking time in
the microwave oven. This is particularly the case when
cooking vegetables, fish dishes and casseroles. Covering
food also distributes the heat better, thus ensuring rapid and
excellent results.
•
In order to achieve the best possible results, it is important to
position the food correctly, as the microwave rays are most
powerful in the centre of the microwave oven. If, for example,
you are baking potatoes, you should position them along the
edge of the glass turntable so that they cook evenly.
•
In order to cook compact dishes such as meat and poultry
evenly, it is important to turn the pieces of meat a few times.
•
You can bake in the microwave oven, although not with
recipes that include yeast.
•
When preparing food with a thick skin, e.g. potatoes, apples,
whole squash or chestnuts, you should prick holes in the skin
to prevent the food from bursting during cooking.
•
When preparing food in a "traditional" oven, you normally
avoid opening the oven door as much as possible. This is not
the case with the microwave oven function: no energy or
significant heat is lost. In other words, you can open the oven
door and look at the food as often as you want. Please note
that this only applies to cooking using the microwave
function. When the grill function is used, heat is given off in
the oven compartment.
Important safety measures when preparing food!
•
If using the microwave oven to heat baby food or liquids in a
feeding bottle, you must always stir the food/liquid and check
the temperature thoroughly before serving. This ensures that
the heat is evenly distributed and avoids scalding injuries.
The lid and/or teat must not be fitted on a feeding bottle when it
is placed in the microwave oven.
•
If some foods are heated too long, they may char and give off
smoke. If this happens, you should leave the oven door
closed and switch off the microwave oven completely.
•
Do not use the microwave oven for deep frying or pickling.
•
Some foods with low water content, e.g. chocolate in
squares and pastries with a sweet filling, should be heated
carefully, otherwise they or the container may be ruined.
USING UTENSILS WHEN PREPARING FOOD
Before starting to prepare food in containers, you should check
that the containers you wish to use are made of a suitable
material, as some types of plastic may become "limp" and
deform, while some types of ceramics may crack (particularly
when heating small quantities of food).
In order to test if a container is suitable for use in a microwave
oven:
•
Place the container in the microwave oven.
•
At the same time, place a half-full glass of water in the
container.
•
Start the microwave oven, and run it for 1 minute on
maximum power.
•
If the container becomes very hot to the touch, you should
avoid using it in the microwave oven.
When you prepare food in the microwave oven, you should
preferably use the following implements and materials:
•
Glass and glass bowls. Do not use glass jars, etc., containing
metal, and be aware that certain types of glass are not heat-
resistant. Test them as described above before cooking.
•
Stoneware (glazed and unglazed). The food stays hot longer
in glazed stoneware than in other dishes.
•
Plastic containers. These can be used for many heating
purposes, but are not suitable for roasting.
Note! Plastic containers made from melamine, polyethylene and
phenol must NOT be used.
•
Porcelain. All porcelain can be used in microwave ovens,
although fireproof porcelain is preferable.
•
Fireproof covered dishes. Glass dishes with lids that fit so
closely that steam cannot escape are ideal for vegetables
and fruit to which no liquid is added (however, the cooking
time must not exceed 5 minutes).
•
Browning dishes. You must be very careful when using this
type of dish. The dish must always be at least 5 mm above
the glass turntable.
•
Clingfilm can be used, particularly for soups, sauces, stewed
dishes or when defrosting food. Can also be used as a loose
covering to prevent fat, etc. from spraying out into the oven
compartment.
•
Kitchen roll is ideal, as it absorbs moisture and fat. For
example, bacon can be placed in layers, with kitchen roll
between each layer. The bacon will then be completely
crispy, as it does not sit in its own fat. Home-baked bread
can be taken directly from the freezer, packed in kitchen roll
and heated in the microwave oven.
•
Wet kitchen roll can be used for fish or vegetables. Covering
the food prevents it from drying out.
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