Commonly Asked Questions and Answers

PULSES

To soak: Place one cup of any variety of beans in a large dish, add 2 cups cold water and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Place in microwave and cook for 5 minutes on HIGH. Then simmer for 30 minutes on MEDIUM LOW. They will then be ready to use.

To cook: Rinse pulses. One cup of pulses to 4 cups of boiling water is required for a maximum of 45 minutes on HIGH.

DRIED MUSHROOMS

Place in a bowl with 2 cups of water and heat, slowly, 8- 10 minutes on LOW.

COMMONLY ASKED

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

MICROWAVES COOK FROM THE INSIDE OUT. They certainly do not. Microwaves penetrate foods from the outside to a depth of about 2.5 cm. Small foods, under 5 cm in diameter, are penetrated to the centre from all sides. With large foods, energy creates heat in the outer layer; then the heat moves to the centre by conduction, as it does conventionally. A few foods may appear to cook more on the inside. One example is an egg. Energy penetrates to the centre, where the fatty yolk becomes hotter than the white, and cooks quicker.

YOU CAN'T USE METAL IN A MICROWAVE OVEN.

False. Metal reflects microwaves; the oven itself is made of metal so microwave energy can't escape. Inside the oven, metal slows cooking because it keeps energy from reaching parts of the food. You can use the reflective properties of metal to protect foods which might overcook in some areas.

DISHES DON'T GET HOT IN A MICROWAVE OVEN.

Keep your oven mitts handy. A microwave-safe utensil will not be heated by microwave energy, but it will become hot from contact with hot food. Heat tends to equalise. A warm object heats the air around it, like a radiator in a cool room. When food becomes hot, some of this heat is transferred to the dish.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

As a general guide:

HIGH – is ideal for vegetables, fruit, soup, beverages, bacon and sauces.

MEDIUM HIGH – for roasting lamb, roasting chicken and fish fillets.

MEDIUM – is for roasting beef, pork and simmering; great for casseroles or stews and cooking seafood. MEDIUM LOW – allows you to defrost.

LOW – is used to keep foods warm once they are cooked.

•The more food in the microwave oven, the longer it takes to cook.

•Reduce liquids in a microwave recipe because there is not as much evaporation, due to the shorter cooking time.

•Reduce seasonings slightly because flavours will be unbalanced by quantity of liquid. Do not add salt until the end of the cooking process.

•Microwaves cook from the outside to the centre, so when arranging foods always place the thicker or more dense portions of food at the outside, with the thinner, less-dense pieces on the inside.

•Foil can be used in the microwave oven success fully.

Just remember two rules:

(a)There must be at least half of the food exposed to the microwaves.

(b)Do not let the foil touch the sides of the oven. Use foil to shield thinner parts of food when defrosting, to prevent over-cooking and drying out.

•All food continues to cook after it leaves the micro wave oven because the heat is stored in the food and not in the oven.

Standing time required will vary according to the volume and density of food.

e.g. Fish and vegetables – 1-5 minutes Cakes – 3-10 minutes

Roasts – 5-15 minutes

Cover foods with a lid or foil when standing.

•When reheating foods always cover with a lid, plastic wrap or paper towel to prevent foods from drying out. Reheat on MEDIUM for best results.

•Always pierce food that has a membrane – for example eggs, tomatoes, potatoes and kidneys.

•Remember to cover vegetables with a lid or plastic wrap when cooking.