Cooking fresh vegetables
•When buying vegetables, try to ensure that, as far as possible, they are of similar size. This is particularly important when you want to cook the vegetables whole (e.g. boiled potatoes).
•Wash the vegetables before preparing them, clean them and only then weigh the required quantity for the recipe and chop them up.
•Season them as you would normally, but as a rule only add salt after cooking.
•Add about 5 tbsps of water for 500 g of vegetables. Vegetables which are high in fibre require a little more water. You will find information in the table (see page 27).
•Vegetables are usually cooked in a dish with a lid. Those with a high moisture content, e.g. onions or boiled potatoes, can be cooked in microwave cling film without adding water.
•After half the cooking time has elapsed vegetables should be stirred or turned over.
•After cooking allow the vegetables to stand for approx. 2 minutes, so that the temperature disperses evenly (standing time).
•The cooking times given are guidelines and depend upon the weight, initial temperature and condition of the type of vegetables in question. The fresher the vegetables, the shorter the cooking time.
Cooking meat, fish & poultry
•When buying food items, try to ensure that, as far as possible, they are of similar size. This will ensure that they are cooked properly.
•Before preparation wash meat, fish and poultry thoroughly under cold running water and pat them dry with kitchen paper. Then continue as normal.
•Beef should be well hung and have little gristle.
•Even though the pieces may be of a similar size, cooking results may vary. This is due, amongst other things, to the kind of food, variations in the fat and moisture content as well as the temperature before cooking.
•After the food has been cooking for 15 minutes it acquires a natural brownness, which may be enhanced by the use of a browning agent. If, in addition, you would like the surface to be crisp you should either use the browning dish or sear the food on your cooker and finish cooking it in your microwave. By doing this you will simultaneously obtain a brown base for making a sauce.
•Turn large pieces of meat, fish or poultry half way through the cooking time, so that they are cooked evenly from all sides.
•After cooking, cover roasts with aluminium foil and allow them to stand for approx. 10 minutes (standing time). During this period the roast carries on cooking and the liquid is evenly distributed, so that when it is carved a minimum amount of juice is lost.
Cooking & defrosting
Please refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging when preparing
12
