Emerson MW8998B Dinners, Individual Frozen Foods, Complete Meals from Table Leftovers

COOKING GUIDE (CONTINUED)

CEREALS

Microwaveable hot cereals can be cooked directly in the cereal bowl and make cleaning up easy.

CONVENIENCE FOODS

Frozen Foods

A large variety of frozen foods, special dishes and dinners are available and the selections continue to increase. The market is changing rapidly, therefore it is impossible to list the foods and types available and recommend cooking procedures. In this book we can only give general directions to assist you.

T.V. Dinners

To prepare a T.V. dinner, follow the maker’s instructions for use with microwave ovens. To cook a T.V. dinner will require approximately five to seven minutes for the food to thaw and heat to serving temperature (depending on the types of food). Allow plastic wrap to remain over the dish for two minutes to allow heat to equalize. Dinners that contain mashed potatoes have presented a bit of a problem due to the large compact mass of this particular food. You may want to remove about half the mashed potatoes after defrosting is started, then spread the remaining potatoes over the individual section of the tray. Heat the removed mashed potatoes in an individual dish. For foods that should be crisp when cooking is completed, remove the plastic wrap and use the broiler of a conventional range to crisp the food.

Individual Frozen Foods

These may be commercially prepared or frozen at home. Place the container of frozen food in the oven and heat only until the food starts to defrost and can be removed easily. Empty contents into a casserole or serving dish and continue to defrost and heat. Do not heat foods in deep foil containers. To crisp and brown special toppings, use the broiler of a conventional range. If allowed to heat to serving temperature in a plastic container, the container will warp or melt from the high heat of food.

Frozen Foods in Cooking Pouches or Boilable Bags

To prepare these foods, slit the plastic bag. An X-type cut will help remove the food at the end of cooking time. Place the cut side down on a serving dish (with no metal trim). Heat foods other than vegetables for about three minutes. Frozen vegetables require about eight to nine and a half minutes of cooking time. Allow the pouch bag to remain over the food for about two minutes to allow time for the heat to equalize. Foods prepared in cheese or white sauce should be removed from the pouch and placed in a glass casserole dish and stirred to prevent overcooking of the sauce around the edges of the dish.

Complete Meals from Table Leftovers

Complete meals from leftovers can be prepared in advance. Foods can be frozen and ready for quick heating in the oven at any time. Choose foods suitable for freezing and put serving portions on paper, glass or china (no metal trim) plates. Wrap with recommended freezer paper and freeze quickly. When apportioning the servings of food on the plate, use approximately the same amount of each kind of food for more even heating. Mashed potatoes will heat quicker if spread slightly and hollowed, with a pat of butter in the center. To prevent small pieces of vegetables, corn, peas, etc., from dehydrating during heating, mound well near the center of the plate.

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