Microwave Cooking Microwave Cooking TechniquesTechniques

Chapter 9.4Chapter 9.4

AdvantagesAdvantages

Warms up leftoversWarms up leftovers Defrosts meatDefrosts meat Softens brown sugar if used Softens brown sugar if used

immediatelyimmediately Plumps raisinsPlumps raisins Freshens snacks and chips Freshens snacks and chips

The microwave oven has The microwave oven has been around since 1945been around since 1945 •Nearly 6 Feet Tall, Weighing 750 Pounds•$5000 each

The MicrowaveThe Microwave

Cooks food fast with less fat and Cooks food fast with less fat and liquid than conventional methodsliquid than conventional methods

Read owners manual understand Read owners manual understand how to use your microwaves how to use your microwaves different settingdifferent setting

Microwave power levelsMicrowave power levels

Some microwaves Some microwaves identify power identify power levels with levels with percentagespercentages

Others use a Others use a description like description like high, medium, high, medium, and low.and low.

Microwave Power Microwave Power LevelsLevels

DescriptioDescriptionn

% of % of PowerPower

HighHigh 100100

Med-HighMed-High 7070

MediumMedium 5050

Med-LowMed-Low 3030

LowLow 1010

How Microwaves CookHow Microwaves Cook

Cook by making food molecules Cook by making food molecules vibratevibrate

Can penetrate food 1 ½ inches in Can penetrate food 1 ½ inches in depthdepth

Cooks some foods better than other Cooks some foods better than other especially foods can be cooked in especially foods can be cooked in moist heatmoist heat

How Food Composition Affects How Food Composition Affects Microwave cookingMicrowave cooking

Foods high in water cook faster than Foods high in water cook faster than foods low in waterfoods low in water

Foods with fat, sugar, & salt also Foods with fat, sugar, & salt also attract microwaves (be careful for attract microwaves (be careful for hot spots)hot spots)

Other Cooking FactorsOther Cooking Factors

Food Density: The more dense the Food Density: The more dense the longer it takes to cooklonger it takes to cook

Shape and Size: small pieces cook Shape and Size: small pieces cook faster than large onesfaster than large ones

Starting temp. of foodStarting temp. of food Amount of food: the more you have Amount of food: the more you have

the longer it will take to cookthe longer it will take to cook

Microwave CookwareMicrowave Cookware Microwaves are reflected by metal Microwaves are reflected by metal

but pass through glass, plastic, and but pass through glass, plastic, and paper.paper.

Use oven proof glassUse oven proof glass Microwave safe plasticMicrowave safe plastic Microwave safe paper towels Microwave safe paper towels

(avoid recycled paper because they (avoid recycled paper because they may contain may contain fragments of metal and fragments of metal and chemicals)chemicals)

Unacceptable dishes for the Unacceptable dishes for the microwave:microwave:

Metal and Foil because they cause Metal and Foil because they cause arcing ( electrical sparks)arcing ( electrical sparks)

dishes with gold or silver on itdishes with gold or silver on it

Food PlacementFood Placement

Best arrangement is a ring shapeBest arrangement is a ring shape If possible leave spaces between foodIf possible leave spaces between food Put the thickest and toughest foods Put the thickest and toughest foods

along the outside of the platealong the outside of the plate

Example: Place the tops of broccoli Example: Place the tops of broccoli spears toward the center and the spears toward the center and the stalks toward the outsidestalks toward the outside

Covering FoodCovering Food

Shortens cooking timeShortens cooking time Keeps in moisture and steamKeeps in moisture and steam

Can use paper towels, waxed paper, Can use paper towels, waxed paper, glass and plastic coversglass and plastic covers

Stirring, Rotating, & TurningStirring, Rotating, & Turning

Microwaves aren’t always distributed Microwaves aren’t always distributed evenlyevenly

Be sure to stir, rotate, and turns Be sure to stir, rotate, and turns foods ½ way through cook time foods ½ way through cook time unless otherwise directedunless otherwise directed

2 part cooking2 part cooking

First part is when the microwave is First part is when the microwave is on and the waves are being on and the waves are being produced.produced.

Second part is the standing time in Second part is the standing time in which the heat inside the food which the heat inside the food continues cooking the food.continues cooking the food.

Accident PreventionAccident Prevention Don’t turn on the microwave unless Don’t turn on the microwave unless

there is food in it.there is food in it. Follow a foods microwave directionsFollow a foods microwave directions Loosen tight lids on containersLoosen tight lids on containers Do not put magnets on microwaveDo not put magnets on microwave