Kenmore Ultra wave Microwave hood combination 665.61682 Use And Care Manual page 35

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MICROWAVE COOKING TIPS
If you increase or decrease the amount of food
you prepare, the time it takes to cook that food
will also change. For example, if you double a
recipe, add a little more than half the original
cooking time. Check for doneness and, if
necessary, add more time in small increments.
• The lower the temperature of the food being put
into the microwave oven, the longer it takes to
cook. Food at room temperature will be reheated
more quickly than food at refrigerator temperature.
• Food with a lot of fat and sugar will be heated
faster than food containing a lot of water. Fat and
sugar will also reach a higher temperature than
water in the cooking process.
• The more dense the food, the longer it takes to heat.
"Very dense" food like meat takes longer to reheat
than lighter, more porous food like sponge cakes.
• Smaller pieces of food will cook faster than larger
pieces. Also, same-shaped pieces cook more
evenly than different-shaped pieces.
• With foods that have different thicknesses, the
thinner parts will cook faster than the thicker
parts. Place the thinner parts of chicken wings
and legs in the center of the dish.
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• Stirring and turning foods spreads heat quickly to
the center of the dish and avoids overcooking at
the outer edges of the food.
Cover food to:
• Reduce spattering
• Shorten cooking times
• Keep food moist
You can use any covering that lets microwaves pass
through. See "Getting to Know Your Microwave Oven"
for materials that microwaves will pass through.
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• Several foods (for example: baked potatoes,
sausages, egg yolks, and some fruits) are tightly
covered by a skin or membrane. Steam can build
up under the membrane during cooking, causing
the food to burst. To relieve the pressure and to
prevent bursting, pierce these foods before cook-
ing with a fork, cocktail pick, or toothpick.
• Always allow food to stand after cooking. Stand-
ing time after defrosting and cooking allows the
temperature to spread evenly throughout the
food, improving the cooking results.
• The length of the standing time depends on how
much food you are cooking and how dense it is.
Sometimes it can be as short as the time it takes
you to remove the food from the oven and take it to
the serving table. However, with larger, denser food,
the standing time may be as long as 10 minutes.
For best results, place 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 toward 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.
• Do not let food or a container touch the top or sides of
the oven. This will prevent possible arcing.
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, 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 the container in a glass bowl and add some
water so that it covers the bottom of the container,
not more than ¼ in. (.64 cm) 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 3Ain. (1.9 cm).
• Container must be at least half filled.
To avoid arcing, there must be a minimum _ in. (.64 cm)
between the aluminum container and the walls of the
oven and also between two aluminum containers.
• Always place the container on the turntable.
• Reheating food in aluminum foil containers usually
takes up to double the time compared to reheating
in plastic, glass, china, or paper containers. The
time when food is ready will vary depending upon
the type of container you use.
• Let food stand for 2 to 3 minutes after heating so
that heat is spread evenly throughout container.
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• Do not do canning of foods in the oven. Closed glass
jars may explode, resulting in damage to the oven.
• Do not use the microwave oven to sterilize objects
(baby bottles, etc.). It is difficult to keep the oven at
the high temperature needed for sterilization.
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