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When you are combination cooking, the container must be fully
About Your Microwave Oven
Tips for good microwave cooking
heatproof as well as suitable for microwave cooking.
Microwave cooking is very quick and efficient. Microwave
Arrange food in the dish so that the thicker part is on the outside
Avoid containers which narrow at the top as these may cause the
cooking can also help preserve the minerals and vitamins in
and the thinner part inside for more even cooking. Fold under the
contents to erupt when removed from the oven.
many foods.
thin edges of fish fillets and other tapered foods. Where it is
Tesco stores stock a wide range of microwave containers and
possible to control the shape, e.g. by tying a meat roast into a
The microwave power output of your oven is 800 watts.
wraps designed for microwave ovens. Plastic films should not
cylinder, more uniform results will be obtained.
Because the temperature in a microwave oven is relatively cool
touch food as they may gas, melt or break down when hot and
(unlike a normal oven) you have to remember that the food can
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5-6 minutes per 500 g. will cook most diced foods including
contaminate food.
be extremely hot. Always take precautions when handling
meat, poultry fruit and vegetables. Seafood takes less time.
Wax paper, oven cooking bags, parchment paper and white
containers.
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Different foods require different temperatures to cook
microwave paper towels are safe for microwave use. Wooden
properly. Add more minutes as you drop the power.
Radio Interference
:
objects may catch fire - so avoid their use.
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About 20% of the cooking takes place after the oven turns off
Do not use aluminium foil for microwave cooking unless the
so your food will continue cooking after you've removed it.
recipe requires it. Keep foil at least 25mm away from the oven
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Food that takes an hour in to cook in a regular oven should
walls. Metal skewers, ties, etc. should be removed from food
take around15 minutes in the microwave.
before cooking.
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Foods such as cakes with baking powder should stand a few
NEVER place food directly on the turntable. ALWAYS use a
minutes before cooking to allow the leavening agents to
suitable container.
work.
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If a recipe calls for milk and water, reduce the water.
Cooking In your Oven
Suitable and unsuitable containers:
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Stir liquids and purees before during and after cooking.
Your oven can carry out a number of cooking processes.
Some basic guidelines are given in the table below.
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Rotate large items of food occasionally during cooking to
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Basic Microwave Cooking
(
*Combination
refers to microwave + grill and microwave +
encourage even heat distribution.
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Basic Grilling
convection cooking)
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Food cooks better in a dish with round or curved sides.
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Convection Cooking ( standard convection oven)
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Salt attracts microwaves. Don't just sprinkle it on food before
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Microwave/Grill combination cooking
cooking, stir it in or add it later.
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Microwave/Convection combination cooking
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To ensure better distribution of heat when cooking large
In these above two processes, food is partially cooked by
pieces of meat in the microwave, remove the bone, cook on
microwaves and then finished by either grilling or oven cooking.
medium power for longer periods of time, rotate twice
This accelerates the cooking process whilst maintaining the
during cooking .
finish and texture of traditionally cooked foods. There is also a
programme that enables you to defrost frozen food and then
combination cook it thus completing the entire cooking process
in one operation.
Preset cooking programmes
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Fats and sugars attract microwaves - thoroughly mix sugar
with other ingredients. Take care when cooking foods with
high sugar or fat contents as they can reach very high
temperatures.
Use heat resistant porcelain, glass or plastic containers made for
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Handle pastry-wrapped foods like mince pies carefully as the
microwave ovens, otherwise there is a risk of shrinking,
filling gets hotter than the pastry.
deforming or burning. Metal containers, or containers having
metal decoration or trim are not suitable for use with your
Always follow the advice in the Safety Guide on Page 2.
microwave oven.
Operation of the microwave oven can cause interference to your
radio, TV or similar equipment. When there is interference, it may
be reduced or eliminated by taking the following measures:
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Clean the door and sealing surface of the oven.
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Reorient the receiving antenna of radio or television.
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Relocate the microwave oven with respect to the receiver.
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Move the microwave oven away from the receiver.
Your oven has 10 preset programmes. Some programmes use
one cooking method, others use combination cooking.
These programmes allow you to automate the cooking of a range
of standard foods for greater convenience.
In addition to the preset cooking programmes there are four
programmes to reheat food and four defrost programmes.
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Stuffing in poultry does not have an opportunity to
completely cook, because the meat outside is heated quickly.
Stuffing for poultry should be cooked beforehand and
inserted later.
Useful Information
Cookware
Heat–Resistant Glass
Non Heat–Resistant Glass
Heat–Resistant Ceramics
Microwave–Safe Plastics
Kitchen Paper
Metal Trays / Metal Racks
Aluminium Foil
Metal Foil Containers
Microwave Grill Convection Combination*
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