Chapter 12 Recipes and Work Plans
239
Using Microwave Recipes
Many people use their microwave ovens mainly for defrosting, reheating, and
making popcorn. However, you can also cook foods in a microwave oven if you have a
little specifi c knowledge.
Microwave cooking times vary, depending on the power of the microwave oven
being used. Cooking time in a microwave recipe refers to the total amount of time food
is exposed to microwave energy. Microwave cooking power is measured in units of
power called watts. Most oven models produce a maximum of 600 to 1,100 watts. More
watts mean faster cooking. For best results, you should always start with the shortest
microwave cooking time stated in a recipe. Then check to see if more time is needed.
Many microwave recipes specify standing time. This is the time during which
foods fi nish cooking by internal heat after being removed from a microwave oven. For
instance, a recipe for baked potatoes may specify four minutes of cooking time and fi ve
minutes of standing time. Failure to allow for standing time can result in foods being
overcooked. This can cause dehydration, or drying out. Wrapping foods in aluminum
foil will help hold in heat during standing time.
Covering Foods
Many microwave recipes state that you should cover foods during cooking.
Covering distributes heat more evenly and helps foods retain moisture so they will not
dry out. The steam held in by the cover can help speed cooking time and tenderize
foods. Covers are also useful for preventing spatters inside the microwave oven.
Several materials can be used to cover foods in a microwave oven. Tight fi tting
casserole lids and microwave cooking bags are excellent for foods that require steam
for cooking. Waxed paper works well as a loose covering. Covering foods with paper
towels will help absorb spatters. (Choose paper towels designed for microwave use, as
they are free of materials not approved for food contact.)
Covering food with plastic wrap will help retain moisture. (Plastic wraps designed
for the microwave oven work best because they will not melt during cooking.) Recipes
often recommend venting the plastic wrap. This means turning back a corner of the
wrap to form a vent so steam can escape and prevent a buildup of pressure.
Not all foods require a cover in the microwave oven. You may leave some foods
uncovered to allow excess moisture to evaporate. You may need to cover other foods
for only part of the cooking time. For best results, follow the directions in your recipe.
Evenness of Cooking
Microwaves are not always distributed evenly throughout the microwave oven
cavity. This can cause foods to cook unevenly. Stirring foods partway through cooking
will redistribute the heat and promote more even cooking. Many microwave recipes also
recommend rotating food at one or more intervals in the cooking period. (Turntables
included in many microwave ovens rotate food automatically during the entire cooking
cycle.)
Foods tend to cook more slowly in the center of a container in a microwave oven.
Therefore, recipes often suggest arranging individual foods, such as potatoes, in a
circular pattern. They recommend placing large or dense foods, such as meats, around
the edge of a dish. Arrange unevenly shaped foods, like chicken legs, with the thicker
parts toward the outside of the container.