17
Cooking Charts
Ÿ When cooking cut vegetables, always cover the dish with
a lid or vented microwavable plastic wrap.
Ÿ Whole, unpeeled vegetables such as potatoes, squash,
eggplant, etc., should have their skin pricked in several
locations before cooking to prevent them from bursting.
Ÿ For more even cooking, stir or rearrange whole
vegetables halfway through the cook time.
Ÿ Most of the time, the denser the food the longer the
required standing time. For example, a baked potato
should stand for 5 minutes before serving, while a dish of
peas may be served immediately.
Place fish on a microwave-safe roasting rack in a microwave-safe dish. Be sure to always cook fish until it flakes easily
with a fork. Use a tight cover to steam fish; a lighter cover of wax paper or paper towel provides less steaming. And be
sure not to overcook fish; check it for doneness at a minimum cooking time before cooking longer.
Cooking vegetables in your microwave
Ÿ Vegetables should be washed just before cooking.
Rarely is extra water needed. If dense vegetables such
as potatoes, carrots and greens are being cooked, add
about ¼ cup of water.
Ÿ Small vegetables (sliced carrots, peas, lima beans, etc.)
will cook faster than larger vegetables.
Ÿ Whole vegetables, such as potatoes, acorn squash or
corn on the cob, should be arranged in a circle on the
turntable before cooking. The will cook more evenly if
turned over halfway through cooking.
Ÿ Always place vegetables like asparagus and broccoli with
the stem ends pointing towards the edge of the dish and
the tips toward the center.
Cooking seafood in your microwave
Seafood Cook time/power level Directions
Fish steaks
Up to 1½ lbs.
Cook time: 7-11 min./lb.
Power level: med-high
(7)
Arrange fish on roasting rack with meaty portions towards the outside of rack.
Cover with wax paper. Turn over and rearrange halfway through cook time.
Cook until fish flakes easily with fork. Let stand 3-5 mins.
Fish fillets
Up to 1½ lbs.
Cook time: 4-8 min./lb.
Power level: med-high
(7)
Arrange fillets in a baking dish, turning any thin pieces under. Cover with wax
paper. If over ½ inch thick, turn over and rearrange halfway through cook
time. Cook until fish flakes easily with fork. Let stand 2-3 mins.
Shrimp
Up to 1½ lbs.
Cook time: 4-6½ min./lb.
Power level: med-high
(7)
Arrange shrimp in a baking dish without overlapping or layering. Cover with
wax paper. Cook until firm and opaque, stirring 2 or 3 times. Let stand 5
mins.