Special Techniques In Microwave Cooking; How Food Characteristics Affect Microwave Cooking - Amana F1340E Owner's Manual

OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES IN
MICROWAVE COOKING
Browning: Meats and poultry that are cooked fifteen
minutes or longer will brown lightly in their own fat.
Foods that are cooked for a shorter period of time
may be brushed with a browning sauce to achieve an
appetizing color. The most commonly used browning
sauces are Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and
barbecue sauce. Since relatively small amounts of
browning sauces are added to foods, the original
flavor of recipes is not altered.
Covering: A cover traps heat and steam and causes
food to cook more quickly. You may either use a lid or
microwave cling-film with a corner folded back to
prevent splitting.
Covering with waxed paper: Waxed paper
effectively prevents spattering and helps food retain
some heat. Since it makes a looser cover than a lid or
cling-film, it allows the food to dry out slightly.
Wrapping in waxed paper or paper towel:
Sandwiches and many other foods containing
prebaked bread should be wrapped prior to
microwaving to prevent drying out.
Arranging and spacing: Individual foods such as
baked potatoes, small cakes, and hors d'oeuvres will
heat more evenly if placed in the oven and equal
distance apart, preferably in a circular pattern. Never
stack foods on top of one another.
Stirring: Stirring is one of the most important of all
microwaving techniques. In conventional cooking,
foods are stirred for the purpose of blending.
Microwaved foods, however, are stirred in order to
spread and redistribute heat. Always stir from the
outside towards the center as the outside food heats
first.
Turning over: Large, tall foods such as roasts and
whole chickens should be turned so that the top and
bottom will cook evenly. It is also a good idea to turn
cut-up chicken and chops.
Placing thicker portions near the edge: Since
microwaves are attracted to the outside portion of
foods, it makes sense to place thicker portions of
meat, poultry and fish to the outer edge of the baking
dish. This way, thicker portions will receive the most
microwave energy and the foods will cook evenly.
Elevating: Thick or dense foods are often elevated
so that microwaves can be absorbed by the
underside and center of the foods.
Piercing: Foods enclosed in a shell, skin, or
membrane are likely to burst in the oven unless they
are pierced prior to cooking. Such foods include both
yolks and whites of eggs, clams and oysters, and
many whole vegetables and fruits.
Testing if cooked: Because foods cook so quickly in
a microwave oven, it is necessary to test food
frequently. Some foods are left in the microwave until
completely cooked, but most foods, including meats
and poultry, are removed from the oven while still
slightly undercooked and allowed to finish cooking
during standing time. The internal temperature of
foods will rise between 5°F (3°C) and 15°F (8°C)
during standing time.
Standing time: Foods are often allowed to stand for
3 to 10 minutes after being removed from the
microwave oven. Usually the foods are covered
during standing time to retain heat unless they are
supposed to be dry in texture (some cakes and
biscuits, for example). Standing allows foods to finish
cooking and also helps flavors to blend and develop.
HOW FOOD CHARACTERISTICS
AFFECT MICROWAVE COOKING
Density of foods: Light, porous food like cakes and
breads cook more quickly than heavy, dense foods
such as roasts and casseroles. You must take care
when microwaving porous foods that the outer edges
do not become dry and brittle.
Height of foods: The upper portion of tall foods,
particularly roasts, will cook more quickly than the
lower portion. Therefore, it is wise to turn tall foods
during cooking, sometimes several times.
Moisture content of foods: Since the heat
generated from microwaves tends to evaporate
moisture, relatively dry foods such as roasts and
some vegetables should either be sprinkled with
water prior to cooking or covered to retain moisture.
Bone and fat content of foods: Bones conduct heat
and fat cooks more quickly than meat. Therefore,
care must be taken when cooking bony or fatty cuts
of meat that the meats do not cook unevenly and do
not become overcooked.
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