English
- En-15 -
Cooking Techniques
(continued)
Converting Favorite Recipes
Select recipes that convert easily to microwave cooking such
as casseroles, stews, baked chicken, fish and vegetable
dishes. The results from foods such as cooked soufflles or
two-crust pies would be less than satisfactory. Never attempt
to deep fat fry in your microwave oven. A basic rule, when
converting conventional recipes to microwave recipes, is
to cut the suggested cooking time to a quarter. Also, find
a similar microwave recipe and adapt that time and power
setting. Season meats with herbs and spices (and half the
salt) before cooking; the rest of the salt after cocking.
Stews are not browned before cooking. Omit any oil or fat
that would be used for browning. Cut stew meat into 2.5 cm
pieces. Cut carrots, potatoes and other firm vegetables into
small pieces. Carrots should be thinly sliced and potatoes cut
into dice.
Cover with glass lid and cook at HIGH to bring liquid to a boil
and cook at LOW until tender. Stir occasionally. Note: A small
plate placed on top of the meat and vegetables will help stop
the meat overcooking.
Casseroles microwave cook well. Cut foods into uniform
pieces. Condensed soup makes a good base for casseroles.
Select a dish that is large enough to allow for stirring.
Cooking covered with a glass lid or cling film reduces cooking
time. Stir occasionally during cooking. To keep crumb topping
crisp sprinkle on before stand time.
Heating Frozen Foods
Most frozen convenience foods have microwave heating
directions on the back of the package. Refer to these
directions for recommended power levels, heating times and
general instructions.
General Directions for Heating Frozen
Convenience Foods
Pierce pouch
vegetables or entrees with a fork or knife.
Place pouch in a dish before heating.
Frozen foods in
metal containers deeper than 2 cm
such
as lasagna or baked stuffed potatoes, must be removed
from the foil container and placed in an appropriately sized
microwave-safe container. Heat covered with a lid or plastic
wrap.
Note:
If food is difficult to be removed from container, rinse
the bottom of the container with hot water.
To heat frozen dinner in foil containers
, remove dinner
from box, if there is a foil cover, remove it. Some foods,
such as bread, French fries or batter type desserts such as
brownies, do not microwave well. Remove these types of
food from tray. Cover tray except desserts with plastic wrap.
Heat according to manufacturers’ directions. Place foil tray
in the center of the oven. Foil tray should not touch oven
walls or other metals. Leave at least 2-3 cm space between
foil tray and oven walls. Heat only 1 foil tray in the oven at a
time.
