Reheating, Food Portion, Standing Instructions

Cooking Guide for fresh vegetables

Use a suitable glass pyrex bowl with lid. Add 30-45 ml cold water (2-3 tbsp.) for every 250 g unless another water quantity is recommended – see table. Cook covered for the minimum time – see table. Continue cooking to get the result you prefer. Stir once during and once after cooking. Add salt, herbs or butter after cooking.

Cover during a standing time of 3 minutes.

Hint : Cut the fresh vegetables into even sized pieces. The smaller they are cut, the quicker they will cook.

All fresh vegetables should be cooked using full microwave power (800 W).

Food	Portion	Time (min.)	Standing	Instructions
Food	Portion	Time (min.)	time (min.)	Instructions
			time (min.)
Broccoli	250 g	4-4½	3	Prepare even sized florets. Arrange the
	500 g	7-7½		stems to the centre.
Brussels sprouts	250 g	5½-6½	3	Add 60-75 ml (4-5 tbsp.) water.
Carrots	250 g	4½-5	3	Cut carrots into even sized slices.
Cauliflower	250 g	5-5½	3	Prepare even sized florets. Cut big
	500 g	8½-9		florets into halves. Arrange stems to
				the centre.
Courgettes	250 g	3½-4	3	Cut courgettes into slices. Add 30 ml
				(2 tbsp.) water or a knob of butter.
				Cook until just tender.
Egg plants	250 g	3½-4	3	Cut egg plants into small slices and
				sprinkle with 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
Leeks	250 g	4½-5	3	Cut leeks into thick slices.
Mushrooms	125 g	1½-2	3	Prepare small whole or sliced
	250 g	3-3½		mushrooms.
				Do not add any water. Sprinkle with
				lemon juice. Spice with salt and
				pepper. Drain before serving.
Onions	250 g	5½-6	3	Cut onions into slices or halves. Add
				only 15 ml (1 tbsp.) water.
Pepper	250 g	4½-5	3	Cut pepper into small slices.
Potatoes	250 g	4-5	3	Weigh the peeled potatoes and cut
	500 g	7½-8½		them into similar sized halves or
				quarters.
Turnip cabbage	250 g	5-5½	3	Cut turnip cabbage into small cubes.

REHEATING

Your microwave oven will reheat food in a fraction of the time that conventional ovens hobs normally take.

Use the power levels and reheating times in the following chart as a guide. The times in the chart consider liquids with a room temperature of about +18 to +20 °C or a chilled food with a temperature of about +5 to +7 °C.

Arranging and covering

Avoid reheating large items such as joint of meat – they tend to overcook and dry out before the centre is piping hot. Reheating small pieces will be more successful.

Power levels and stirring

Some foods can be reheated using 800 W power while others should be reheated using 600 W, 450 W or even 300 W.

Check the tables for guidance. In general, it is better to reheat food using a lower power level, if the food is delicate, in large quantities, or if it is likely to heat up very quickly (mince pies, for example).

Stir well or turn food over during reheating for best results. When possible, stir again before serving.

Take particular care when heating liquids and baby foods. To prevent eruptive boiling of liquids and possible scalding, stir before, during and after heating. Keep them in the microwave oven during standing time. We recommend putting a plastic spoon or glass stick into the liquids. Avoid overheating (and therefore spoiling) the food.

It is preferable to underestimate cooking time and add extra heating time, if necessary.

Heating and standing times

When reheating food for the first time, it is helpful to make a note of the time taken – for future reference.

Always make sure that the reheated food is piping hot throughout.

Allow food to stand for a short time after reheating - to let the temperature even out.

The recommended standing time after reheating is 2-4 minutes, unless another time is recommended in the chart.

Take particular care when heating liquids and baby food. See also the chapter with the safety precautions.

06 COOKING GUIDE

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2014-08-01 �� 6:25:52