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Arranging food
For best results, distribute food evenly on
the plate. You can do this in several ways:
•
If you are cooking several items of the
same food, such as baked potatoes,
place them in a ring pattern for uniform
cooking.
•
When cooking foods of uneven shapes
or thickness, such as chicken breasts,
place the smaller or thinner area of the
food towards the center of the dish where
it will be heated last.
•
Layer thin slices of meat on top of
each other.
•
When you cook or reheat whole fish,
score the skin – this prevents cracking.
Shield the tail and head of whole fish with
small pieces of foil to prevent overcooking
and ensure the foil does not touch the
sides of the oven.
•
Do not let food or container touch the top
or sides of the oven. This will prevent
possible arcing.
Using aluminum foil
Metal containers should not be used in a
microwave oven. There are, however, some
exceptions. If you have purchased food
which is prepackaged in an aluminum foil
container, then refer to the instructions on
the package. When using aluminum foil
containers, cooking times may be longer
because microwaves will only penetrate
the top of the food.
If you use aluminum containers without
package instructions, follow these guidelines:
•
Place container in a glass bowl and add
some water so that it covers the bottom
of the container, not more than
1
⁄
4
inch
(6 mm) high. This ensures even heating
of the container bottom.
•
Always remove the lid to avoid damage
to the oven.
•
Use only undamaged containers.
•
Do not use containers taller than
3
⁄
4
inch
(19 mm).
•
Container must be half filled.
•
To avoid arcing, there must be a minimum
1
⁄
4
inch (6 mm) between the aluminum
container and the walls of the oven and
also between two aluminum containers.
•
Reheating food in aluminum foil containers
usually takes up to double the time com-
pared to reheating in plastic, glass, china,
or paper containers. The time when food is
ready will vary a great deal.
•
Let food stand for 2 to 3 minutes after
heating so that heat is spread evenly
throughout container.
Cooking you should not do in
your microwave oven
•
Do not do canning of foods in the oven.
Closed glass jars may explode, resulting
in damage to the oven or possible personal
injury.
•
Do not use the microwave oven to sterilize
objects (baby bottles, etc.). It is difficult to
maintain the high temperature required for
safe sterilization.
C O O K I N G G U I D E
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