Arranging food
For best results, distribute food evenly on the plate. You can do this in several ways:
l If you are cooking several items of the same food, such as baked potatoes, place them in a ring pattern for uniform cooking.
l When cooking foods of uneven shapes or thickness, such as chicken breasts, place the smaller or thinner area of the food towards the center of the dish where it will be heated last.
lLayer thin slices of meat on top of each other.
l When you cook or reheat whole fish, score the skin
lDo not let food or container touch the top or sides of the oven. This will prevent possible arcing.
Using aluminum foil
Metal containers should not be used in a microwave oven. There are, however, some exceptions. If you have purchased food which is prepackaged in an aluminum foil container, then refer to the instructions on the package. When using aluminum foil containers, cooking times may be longer because microwaves will only penetrate the top of the food.
If you use aluminum containers without package instructions, follow these guidelines:
lPlace container in a glass bowl and add some water so that it covers the bottom of the container, not more than l/4 inch high. This ensures even heating of the container bottom.
l Always remove the lid to avoid damage to the oven.
l Use only undamaged containers.
l Do not use containers taller than 3/4inch.
l Container must be half filled.
l To avoid arcing, there must be a mini- mum l/4 inch between the aluminum container and the walls of the oven and also between two aluminum containers.
l Reheating food in aluminum foil contain- ers usually takes up to double the time compared to reheating in plastic, glass, china, or paper containers. The time when food is ready will vary a great deal.
lLet food stand for
Cooking you should not do in
your microwave oven
l Do not do canning of foods in the oven. Closed glass jars may explode, resulting in damage to the oven or possible per- sonal injury.
l Do not use the microwave oven to sterilize objects (baby bottles, etc.). It is difficult to maintain the high temperature required for safe sterilization.
52
