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Spacing
Individualfoods, such as baked potatoes, cupcakes and
appetizem, will cook more evenly if placed in the oven equal
distances aparL When possible, arrange foods in a cimular
pattern.
Covering
As with convention_ cooking, mdistom evaporates durk_g
microwavecooking. Casserole llds or plasticwrap am used
for a tighter seal. When usingplastic wrap, vent the plastic
wrap by folding back pert of the plasticwrap from the edge
of the dish to allow steam to escape. Loosenor remove
plasticwrap as recipe directsfor stand time. When removing
plasticwrap covers, as well as any glass lids, be carefulto
removethem away from you to avoid steam bums. Vadous
degrees of moisture retentionare also obtained by using
wax paper or paper towels. However, unlessspecified, a
recipe is cooked covered.
Shielding
Thinarees of rcestandpoulW cuckmorequiddythanmealy
porl_s. Toixe_mt _ng,
tbeesthinaresscan be sr_sid-
ed wi_ sinpsof siuminurnfoil Wcudan t_othp_cks rnaybe ussdto
h_d tbe fo_ in rt_c_
Timing
A range in cooking tlmeis givenin eachrecipe.Thet_ne renge
cornpenssh_forthe _
dhrences _ foodshapo_
star_g tampera_ure andmgmn¢ prd_a_
A_Vs mokfood
_ the rn_nun cuc_ng ti'me_,en in a recipeand check_
do.hess.
Iftbe food ki_,
cuntinue €od,dng. # is eesi-
or to eqd 1_meto an underconked pmducLOnce the fcud is ovor-
cooked, no_,ng can be done.
Stirring
Stirringis usually necessary dudng microwavecooking. We
have noted when sitrdngis halpluI, usingthe wo_s once,
twice,frequently or occasionallyto describe the amount of
stirdng necessary.Always bring the cooked outsideedges •
toward the center and the less cooked center portions
towardthe outside of the dish.
Rearranging
Rearrange small items such as chicken pieces, shdmp,
hamburger patties or pork chops. Rearrange pieces from
the edge to the center and pieces from the center to the
edge of the dish.
Turning
if is not posslt)le to stirasme foods to redistribute the heal At
times, mimowmm ane;_/will concantrstein one area of a
food.To belp insureeven cuoking, these foods nesd to be
turned.Turn over isrge foods, such as roasts or turke_js,
halfwaythrough cooking.
Stand Time
Most foods will continueto cook by conductionafter the
microwaveoven is tumed off. In meat cookery, _e internal
temperature will rias 5'F to 15°F (3°C to 8°C), if allowedto
stand, tented with foil, for 10 to 15 minutes.Casseroles and
vegetables need a shorter amount of standingtime, but this
standingtime is necessary to allow foods to complete
cooking to the center withoutovemooking on the edges.
Testing
for Doneness
_e ssme testsfordononessussd_ convemki_ coddngn_,
be uesdfor _
cooicng. M eat isdoee wbenfod(-tesder
or spli_ al fibem Chickenis donewbenjuicesare deer ydicw
anddrumstick movesfreely.Fishisdone whenti _
and is
opQque. C ake is donewhen a toothpk:k or caketssl0m" is inesrted
and comss out dasn. Candy is do_ v/_en it reaches the p_oper
temperature foreach stage of crystollza_on.
-20-
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