Summit MHOTR241W - About Microwave Cooking; Food Arrangement and Cooking Tips; Checking Food Doneness; Food Preparation Dos and Donts

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ABOUT MICROWAVE COOKING
 Arrange food carefully by placing the thickest areas towards the outside of dish.
 Be mindful of the cooking time. Begin cooking for the shortest amount of time indicated, then
add more time, as needed. Food severely overcooked can smoke or ignite.
 Try to cover your food while cooking. Check the recipe or cookbook you are using for
suggestions: paper towels, wax paper, microwave plastic wrap or a lid are suitable covers.
Covers prevent spattering and help foods to cook evenly.
 Stir foods from outside to center of dish once or twice during cooking, if possible.
 Turn foods over once during microwaving to speed cooking of foods like chicken and
hamburgers. Large items like roasts must be turned over at least once.
 Rearrange foods such as meatballs halfway through cooking both from top to bottom and from
the center of the dish to the outside.
 Add standing time. Remove food from oven and stir, if possible. Cover for an additional amount
of time, which allows the food to finish cooking without overcooking.
 Check for doneness. Look for signs indicating that cooking temperatures have been reached.
 Doneness signs include:
o Food steams throughout, not just at the edge.
o Center bottom of dish is very hot to the touch.
o Poultry thigh joins move easily.
o Meat and poultry show no pinkness.
o Fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
FOOD
DO
DON’T
Eggs,
sausages,
fruits &
vegetable
 Puncture egg yolks before cooking to
prevent “explosion”.
 Pierce skins of potatoes, apples, squash,
hot dogs, and sausages so that steam
escapes.
 Cook egg in shells.
 Reheat whole eggs.
Popcorn
 Use specially bagged popcorn for the
microwave oven.
 Listen while popping corn for the popping
to slow to 1 or 2 seconds or use a special
popcorn pad.
 Pop popcorn in regular brown
bags or glass bowls.
 Exceed maximum time on
popcorn package.
Baby food
 Transfer baby food to small dish and heat
carefully, stirring often. Check temperature
before serving.
 Put nipples on bottles after heating and
shake thoroughly. “Wrist” test before
feeding.
 Heat disposable bottles.
 Heat bottles with nipples on.
 Heat baby food in original jars.
General
 Cut baked goods with filling after heating
to release steam and avoid burns.
 Stir liquids briskly before and after heating
to avoid “eruption”.
 Use deep bowl, when cooking liquids or
cereals, to prevent boil overs.
 Heat or cook in closed glass jars
or airtight containers.
 Can in the microwave as
harmful bacteria may not be
destroyed.
 Deep fat fry.
 Dry wood, gourds, herbs or wet
papers.