Sharp R-640 Operation Manual page 26

MICROWAVE COOKING ADVICE
Food Characteristics
Composition
Density
Quantity
Size
Shape
Temperature of
food
Face & Hands: Always use oven gloves to remove food or cookware from the oven. Stand
back when opening the oven door to allow heat or steam to disperse. When removing
covers (such as cling film), opening roasting bags or popcorn packaging, direct steam away
from face and hands.
Check the temperature of food and drink and stir before serving. Take special care when
serving to babies, children or the elderly. The contents of feeding bottles and baby food
jars are to be stirred or shaken and the temperature is to be checked before consumption
to avoid burns.
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Foods high in fat or sugar (e.g. Christmas pudding, mince pies) require less heating
time. Care should be taken as overheating can lead to fire.
Bones in food conduct heat, making the food cook more quickly. Care must be taken
so that the food is cooked evenly.
Food density will affect the amount of cooking time needed.
Light, porous foods, such as cakes or bread, cook more quickly than heavy, dense
foods, such as roasts and casseroles.
The number of microwaves in your oven remains the same regardless of how much
food is being cooked. The cooking time must be increased as the amount of food
placed in the oven increases.
e.g. Four potatoes will take longer to cook than two.
Small foods and small pieces cook faster than large ones, as microwaves can
penetrate from all sides to the centre. For even cooking make all the pieces the same
size.
Foods which are irregular in shape, such as chicken breasts or drumsticks, take
longer to cook in the thicker parts. For even cooking, place the thickest parts to the
outside of the dish where they will receive more energy.
Round shapes cook more evenly than square shapes when microwave cooking.
The initial temperature of food affects the amount of cooking time needed. Chilled
foods will take longer to cook than food at room temperature.
e.g. A cake made with chilled ingredients, (i.e. margarine) will take longer to cook
than a cake made with ingredients at room temperature.
The temperature of the container is not a true indication of the temperature of the
food or drink. Cut into foods with fillings, for example jam doughnuts, to release heat
or steam.
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2011-03-18 14:45:03 2011-03-18 14:45:03