A46951, SCA/SCNZ R990K(S)/(W) C/B
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HELPFUL HINTS
MICROWAVE COOKING
1. ARRANGEMENT
Arrange foods carefully. Place thickest areas toward outside of dish.
Eg.
Arrange vegetables in a shallow dish in the following way:
Hard Vegetables around the outside, Soft Vegetables
in the centre, Medium Vegetables in-between.
2. TURNING
Foods such as poultry and joints of meat should be turned over after half the
cooking time.
3. COVERING
Cover foods in the microwave if you would normally cover the food in your
ordinary oven, or to retain moisture. Cover foods such as Vegetables, Casse-
roles, or when Reheating.
Use to cover foods:
4. PIERCING
Pierce potatoes, eggs, oysters, tomatoes or any foods with a skin or membrane
to allow steam to escape.
5. SHIELDING
Shield using small pieces of aluminium foil to shield thin areas of meat, fish and
poultry or edges of cakes to prevent overcooking.
6. STANDING TIME
Standing time is important. After cooking or defrosting ensure adequate
standing time. This allows the food to continue cooking or heating. Refer to
cooking guides for each menu or according to manufacturers instructions.
7. STIRRING
Stir foods from the outside to the centre of the dish, once or twice during cooking
if possible.
Eg. Casseroles and Sauces.
8. SIZE
Small pieces cook faster than large ones. To speed cooking, cut pieces
smaller than 5 cm so microwaves can penetrate to the centre from all sides.
For even cooking, make all the pieces the same size.
9. DENSITY
The depth to which microwaves penetrate food varies depending on the food's
density. Porous foods like minced beef or mashed potatoes microwave faster
than dense ones like steak or whole potatoes.
10. FAT AND BONE
Marbling within meat, or a thin, even layer of fat on a roast, speeds cooking.
Large fatty areas or excess drippings in dish attract energy away from meat,
and slows cooking. Centre bones do not affect cooking, but bone on the side
of meat conducts heat to the areas next to it.
11. STARTING TEMPERATURE
Frozen or refrigerated food takes longer to heat than food at room tempera-
ture. Cooking times in this book are based on normal storage temperatures.
Since rooms, refrigerators and freezers differ in temperature, check for
doneness at the minimum time.
12. QUANTITY
Microwave cooking times are directly related to the amount of food in the oven.
Because energy is absorbed by the food itself, one potato or a single piece of
chicken cooks rapidly. When the energy is divided among several items,
cooking takes more time.
13. CONDENSATION
Condensation is a normal part of microwave cooking. The humidity and
moisture in food will influence the amount of condensation in the oven.
Generally, covered foods will not cause as much condensation as uncovered
foods. Ensure that the ventilation openings are not blocked.
14. GENERAL
Your microwave oven is capable of heating food and beverages very quickly
therefore, it is very important that you select the appropriate cooking time and
power level for the type and quantity of food to be heated. If you are unsure of
the cooking time and power level required, begin with low cooking times and
power levels until the food is sufficiently heated evenly throughout.
PAPER TOWEL
LID
PLASTIC WRAP
TOMATO
EGG
FISH CHICKEN
STIR
SCA/SCNZ R990K C/B
05.9.6, 10:13 AM
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