Cooking Guide

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 (900W).

Food

Portion

Time

Standing

Instructions

 

 

(min.)

Time (min.)

 

Broccoli

250g

4½-5

3

Prepare even sized florets.

 

500g

7-7½

 

Arrange the stems to the centre.

 

 

 

 

 

Brussels

250g

6-6½

3

Add 60-75 ml (5-6 tbsp.) water.

Sprouts

500g

9-9½

 

 

Carrots

250g

4½-5

3

Cut carrots into even sized

 

500g

8-8½

 

slices.

 

 

 

 

 

Cauliflower

250g

5-5½

3

Prepare even sized florets. Cut

 

500g

8½-9

 

big florets into halves. Arrange

 

 

 

 

stems to the centre.

Courgettes

250g

3-3½

3

Cut courgettes into slices. Add

 

500g

7-7½

 

30 ml (2 tbsp.) water or a knob of

 

 

 

 

butter. Cook until just tender.

 

 

 

 

 

Egg Plants

250g

3½-4

3

Cut egg plants into small slices

 

500g

6-6½

 

and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon

 

 

 

 

lemon juice.

Leeks

250g

4-4½

3

Cut leeks into thick slices.

 

500g

7½-8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mushrooms

125g

1½-2

3

Prepare small whole or sliced

 

250g

2½-3

 

mushrooms. Do not add any

 

 

 

 

water. Sprinkle with lemon juice.

 

 

 

 

Spice with salt and pepper.

 

 

 

 

Drain before serving.

Onions

250g

5-5½

3

Cut onions into slices or halves.

 

500g

8-8½

 

Add only 15 ml (1 tbsp.) water.

 

 

 

 

 

Pepper

250g

4½-5

3

Cut pepper into small slices.

 

500g

7-8½

 

 

Potatoes

250g

4½-5

3

Weigh the peeled potatoes and

 

500g

7½-8½

 

cut them into similar sized

 

 

 

 

halves or quarters.

 

 

 

 

 

Turnip

250g

5½-6

3

Cut turnip cabbage into small

Cabbage

500g

8½-9

 

cubes.

 

 

 

 

 

REHEATING

GB

Your microwave oven will reheat food in a fraction of the time that conventional ovens and 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 900 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.

REHEATING LIQUIDS

Always allow a standing time of at least 20 seconds after the oven has been switched off to allow the temperature to even out. Stir during heating, if necessary, and ALWAYS stir after heating. To prevent eruptive boiling and possible scalding, you should put a spoon or glass stick into the beverages and stir before, during and after heating.

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