Tips For Microwave Cooking - LG LMP1171SS Owner's Manual

UNDERSTANDING YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN

TIPS FOR MICROWAVE COOKING

BROWNING
Meat and poultry with high fat content that are cooked
for 10 or 15 minutes or longer will brown lightly. Foods
cooked a shorter time can be brushed with a browning
agent, such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or
barbecue sauce.
COVERING
A cover traps heat and steam and causes the food to cook
more quickly. Use a lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap
with one corner folded back to vent the excess steam.
Lids on glass casseroles can become hot during cooking.
Handle carefully. Waxed paper will prevent the food from
splattering in the oven and help retain heat. When warming
bread items, use waxed paper, napkins, or paper towels.
To absorb extra moisture, wrap sandwiches and fatty foods
in paper towels.
SPACING
Arrange individual foods, such as baked potatoes,
cupcakes, and hors d'oeuvres' in a circle and at least
1 inch apart. This will help the food cook more evenly.
STIRRING
Stirring blends flavors and redistributes the heat in foods.
Always stir from the outside toward the center of the dish.
Food at the outside of the dish heats first.
TURNING
Large foods, such as roasts and whole poultry, should be
turned so that the top and bottom cook evenly. Also turn
over chicken pieces and chops.
ARRANGEMENT
Do not stack food. Arrange in a single layer in the dish
for more even cooking. Because dense foods cook more
slowly, place thicker portions of meat, poultry, fish, and
vegetables toward the outside of the dish.
TESTING FOR DONENESS
Because foods cook quickly in a microwave oven, you
need to test frequently for doneness.
STANDING TIME IN OVEN
Depending on density, food often needs to stand from 2
to 15 minutes either in or outside the oven after cooking
power shuts off. Outside of oven, you usually need to
cover food during standing time to retain heat. Remove
most foods when they are slightly undercooked and they
will finish cooking during standing time. The internal
temperature of food will rise about 10°F during
standing time.
SHIELDING
To prevent some portions of foods in rectangular or square
dishes from overcooking, you may need to shield them with
small strips of aluminum foil to block the microwaves. You
can also cover poultry legs and wing tips with foil to keep
them from overcooking. Always keep foil at least 1 inch
from oven walls to prevent arcing.
PIERCING
Pierce the shell, skin, or membrane of foods before cooking
to prevent them from bursting. Foods that require piercing
include yolks and whites of eggs, hot dogs, clams, oysters,
and whole vegetables, such as potatoes and squash.
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