QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: {Cont'd)
FOODS
Q. What is wrong when baked foods have a hard, dry, brown spot?
A. A hard, dry, brown spot shows overcooking. Shorten the cooking or reheating time.
Q.Why do eggs sometimes pop?
A. When baking, frying or poaching eggs, the yolk may pop due to steam build*up inside the yolk membrane. To prevent this, simply pierce the yolk with a toothpick before cooking it.
CAUTION: Never microwave cook eggs in the shell.
Q. Why are scrambled eggs sometimes a little dry after cooking?
A.Eggs dry out if they are overcooked. Though the same recipe is used each time, one may need to vary the cooking time for one of these reasons:
®Eggs vary in size.
o Eggs are at room temperature one time and at refrigerator temperature another time.
•The shapes of utensils vary, thereby making it necessary to vary the cooking time. ® Eggs continue cooking during standing time.
Q.Is it possible to pop corn in a microwave oven?
A. Yes, if using one of the two methods described below.
(I)
(2)Prepackaged commercial microwave popcorn that contains specific times and power outputs needed for an acceptable final product.
FOLLOW EXACT DIRECTIONS, GIVEN BY EACH MANUFACTURER FOR THEIR POPCORN
POPPING PRODUCT AND DO NOT LEAVE THE OVEN UNATTENDED WHILE THE CORN IS BEING POPPED.
IF CORN FAILS TO POP AFTER THE SUGGESTED TIMES, DISCONTINUE COOKING.
OVERCOOKING COULD RESULT IN AN OVEN FIRE.
CAUTION: NEVER USE A BROWN PAPER BAG FOR POPPING CORN.
Q.What is wrong when three potatoes bake_ thoroughly and the fourth one is still not cooked?
A. The fourth potato may be slightly heavier than the others and should be cooked 30 to 60 seconds longer. Remember to allow space around each potato when baking. Also, for more even cooking, put potatoes in a circle.
Q.Why do baked apples sometimes burst during cooking?
A. The peeling has not been removed from the top half of each apple to allow for expansion of the interior of
the apple during cooking. As in regular cooking methods, the interior of the apple expands during the cooking process.
Q. How are
A. When cooking foods that tend to boil over, use a larger utensil than usual for cooking. If you open the oven door or touch STOP, the food will stop boiling. (Remember to touch START again after closing the door to restart the cooking cycle.)
Q. Why is a standing time recommended after microwave cooking is over?
A. Standing time is recommended after microwave cooking is over. This is to allow foods to continue
cooking evenly throughout for a few moments after the actual microwave oven cooking cycle. The
amount of standing time depends upon the density of the food.
Q.Why is an additional time required for cooking food stored in refrigerator?
A. As | in conventional | cooking, | the | initial | temperature | of food affects | total | cooking time. More time is needed | 37 | |
to | cook the food | just taken | out | of a | refrigerator | than food at | a room | temperature. | ||
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