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CLING FILM
Cling film helps keep the food moist and the trapped steam assists in
speeding up cooking times. However it should be pierced before cooking,
to allow excess steam to escape. Always take care when removing cling
film from a dish as the build-up of steam will be very hot. Always purchase
cling film that states on the packet “suitable for microwave cooking” and
use as a covering only. Do not line dishes with cling film. Do not cover
foods when cooking by COMBINATION or GRILL.
General Guidelines
MOISTURE CONTENT
Many fresh foods e.g. veget ables and fruit, vary in their moisture content
throughout the season. Jacket potatoes are a particular example of this.
For this reason cooking times may have to be adjusted throughout the
year. Dry ingredients e.g. rice, pasta, can dry out further during storage
and cooking times may differ from ingredients freshly purchased.
STANDING TIME
Dense foods e.g. meat, jacket potatoes and cakes, require a
STANDING TIME (inside or outside of the oven) after cook ing,
to allow heat to finish con ducting to cook the centre completely.
MEAT JOINTS – Stand 15 mins. wrapped in aluminium foil.
JACKET POTATOES – Stand 5 mins. wrapped in aluminium foil after cooking by
microwave only.
LIGHT CAKES – Stand 5 mins. before removing from dish.
RICH DENSE CAKES – Stand 15-20 mins.
FISH – Stand 2-3 mins.
EGG DISHES – Stand 1-2 mins.
PRECOOKED CONVENIENCE FOODS – Stand for 2-3 mins.
PLATED MEALS – Stand for 2-3 mins.
VEGETABLES – Boiled potatoes benefit from standing 1-2 mins., however most other types
of vegetables can be served immediately.
DEFROSTING – It is essential to allow standing time to com plete the process. This can vary
from 5 mins. e.g. raspberries, to up to 1 hour for a joint of meat.
If food is not cooked after STANDING TIME, return to oven and cook for additional time.
PIERCING
The skin or membrane on some foods will cause steam to build up during
cooking. These foods must be pierced or a strip of skin should be peeled
off before cooking to allow the steam to es cape. Eggs, potatoes, apples,
sausages etc., will all need to be pierced before cooking. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO BOIL EGGS IN THEIR SHELLS.