En-6
DISH SIZE
Follow the dish sizes given in the
recipes, as these affect the cooking
and reheating times. A quantity of
food spread in a bigger dish
cooks and reheats more quickly.
QUANTITY
Small quantities cook faster than
large quantities, also small meals
will reheat more quickly than
large portions.
DENSITY
Porous airy foods heat more
quickly than dense heavy foods.
SHAPE
Even shapes cook evenly. Food
cooks better by microwave when
in a round container rather than
square.
ARRANGING
Individual foods e.g. chicken
portions or chops, should be
placed on a dish so that the
thicker parts are to the outside.
SPACING
Foods cook more quickly and
evenly if spaced apart. NEVER
pile foods on top of each other.
INGREDIENTS
Foods containing fat, sugar or salt
heat up very quickly. The filling
may be much hotter than the
pastry. Take care when eating. Do
not overheat even if the pastry
does not appear to be very hot.
STARTING TEMPERATURE
The colder the food, the longer it
takes to heat up. Food from a
fridge takes longer to reheat than
food at room temperature.
General Guidelines
COVERING
Cover foods with microwave cling
film or a self-fitting lid. Cover fish,
vegetables, casseroles, soups.
Do not cover cakes, sauces,
jacket potatoes, pastry items.
TURNING AND STIRRING
Some foods require stirring during
cooking. Meat and poultry should
be turned after half the cooking
time.
LIQUIDS
All liquids must be stirred before
and during heating. Water
especially must be stirred before
and during heating, to avoid
eruption. Do not heat liquids that
have previously been boiled. DO
NOT OVERHEAT.
CLEANING
As microwaves work on food
particles, keep your oven clean at
all times. Stubborn spots of food
can be removed by using a branded
oven cleaner, sprayed onto a soft
cloth. Always wipe the oven dry
after cleaning. Avoid any plastic
parts and door area.
