13
Dish size
Follow the dish sizes
given in the recipes,
as these affect the
cook ing and reheating
times. A quan tity of
food spread in a
bigger dish cooks and
reheats more quickly.
Quantity
Small quantities cook
faster than large
quantities, also small
meals will reheat more
quickly than large
portions.
Spacing
Foods cook more
quickly and evenly if
spaced apart. NEVER
pile foods on top of
each other.
Shape
Even shapes cook
evenly. Food cooks
better by microwave
when in a round
container rather than
square.
Density
Porous airy foods heat
more quickly than
dense heavy foods.
Covering
Cover foods with
microwave cling film or
a self-fitting lid. Cover
fish, vegetables,
cas seroles, soups. Do
not cover cakes,
sauces, jacket
potatoes, pastry items.
Please refer to cooking
charts and recipes for
more infomation.
Arranging
Individual foods e.g.
chicken portions or
chops, should be
placed on a dish so
that the thicker parts
are to the outside.
Starting temperature
The colder the food,
the longer it takes to
heat up. Food from a
fridge takes longer to
reheat than food at
room temperature.
Food temperature
should be between
5-8° C before cooking.
Turning and stirring
Some foods require
stirring during
cooking. Meat and
poultry should be
turned after half the
cooking time.
Liquids
All liquids must be
stirred
before
,
during
and
after
heating.
Water espe cially must
be stirred before and
during heating, to
avoid eruption. Do not
heat liquids that have
previously been
boiled. DO NOT
OVERHEAT.
Checking food
It is essential that food
is checked after a
recommended cooking
time,
even if an AUTO
PROGRAM has been
used
(just as you
would check food
cooked in a
conven tional oven).
Cleaning
As microwaves work
on food particles, keep
your oven clean at all
times. Stubborn spots
of food can be
removed by using a
branded oven cleaner,
sprayed on to a soft
cloth. Always wipe the
oven dry after
cleaning. Avoid any
plastic parts, the roof
of the oven and door
area. Customers
should not spray
directly into the cavity.
See page 5, point 4
General Guidelines