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11Microwave cooking advice
Cooking techniques
Arrange Place the thickest parts of food towards the outside of the dish. E.g. Chicken drumsticks.
Cover Use vented microwave cling film or a suitable lid.
Pierce Foods with a shell, skin or membrane must be pierced in several places before cooking or
reheating as steam will build up and may cause food to explode, e.g. Potatoes, Fish, Chicken,
Sausages.
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Eggs
should not be heated using microwave power as they may explode, even
after cooking has ended, e.g. poached, hard boiled.
Stir, turn and For even cooking it is essential to stir, turn and rearrange food during cooking. Always stir and
rearrange rearrange from the outside towards the centre.
Stand Standing time is necessary after cooking to enable the heat to disperse equally throughout
the food.
Shield Some areas of food being defrosted may become warm. Warm areas can be shielded with
small pieces of foil, which reflect microwaves, e.g. legs and wings on a chicken.
Paper - plates, cups ✔ Only use for warming or to absorb moisture. Care must be taken as
and kitchen paper overheating may cause fire.
Straw and wooden ✔ Always attend the oven when using these materials as overheating
containers may cause fire.
Recycled paper ✘ May contain extracts of metal which will cause ‘arcing’ and may lead
and newspaper to fire.
Microwave safe cookware
Cookware Microwave Comments
safe
Aluminium foil / ✔
//
✘ Small pieces of aluminium foil can be used to shield food from
foil containers overheating. Keep foil at least 2 cm from the oven walls, as arcing
may occur. Foil containers are not recommended unless specified by
the manufacturer, e.g. Microfoil ®, follow instructions carefully.
Browning dishes ✔ Always follow the manufacturers instructions. Do not exceed
heating times given. Be very careful as these dishes become very hot.
China and ceramics ✔
//
✘ Por
celain, pottery, glazed earthenware and bone china are usually
suitable, except for those with metallic decoration.
Glassware e.g. Pyrex ® ✔ Care should be taken if using fine glassware as it can break or crack if
heated suddenly.
Metal ✘ It is not recommended to use metal cookware when using micro-
wave power as it will arc, which can lead to fire.
Plastic / polystyrene ✔ Care must be taken as some containers warp, melt or discolour at
e.g. fast food containers high temperatures.
Cling film ✔ Should not touch the food and must be pierced to let the steam
escape.
Freezer / roasting bags ✔ Must be pierced to let steam escape. Ensure bags are suitable for
microwave use. Do not use plastic or metal ties, as they may melt or
catch fire due to the metal arcing.