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Food Characteristics
Bone and Fat
Both bone and fat affect cook-
ing. Bones may cause irregular
cooking. Meat next to the tips
of bones may overcook while
meat positioned under a large bone, such
as a ham bone, may be undercooked.
Large amounts of fat absorb microwave
energy and the meat next to these areas
may overcook.
Density
Porous, airy foods such as
breads, cakes or rolls take
less time to cook than heavy,
dense foods such as potatoes
and roasts. When reheating donuts or
other foods with different centers be very
careful. Certain foods have centers made
with sugar, water, or fat and these centers
attract microwaves (For example, jelly do-
nuts). When a jelly donut is heated, the jelly
can become extremely hot while the exte-
rior remains warm to the touch. This could
result in a burn if the food is not allowed to
cool properly in the center.
Quantity
Two potatoes take longer to cook
than one potato. As the quantity
of the food decreases so does
the cooking time. Overcooking
will cause the moisture content
in the food to decrease and a fi re
could result. Never leave microwave unat-
tended while in use.
Shape
Uniform sizes heat more
evenly. The thin end of a
drumstick will cook more
quickly than the meaty
end. To compensate for irregular shapes,
place thin parts toward the center of the
dish and thick pieces toward the edge.
Size
Thin pieces cook more
quickly than thick pieces.
Starting Temperature
Foods that are at room temperature
take less time to cook than if they
are chilled, refrigerated, or frozen.
Cooking Techniques
Piercing
Foods with skins or mem-
branes must be pierced
scored or have a strip of skin
peeled before cooking to al-
low steam to escape. Pierce clams, oysters,
chicken livers, whole potatoes and whole
vegetables. Whole apples or new potatoes
should have a 1-inch strip of skin peeled
before cooking. Score sausages and frank-
furters. Do not Cook/Reheat whole eggs
with or without the shell. Steam build up in
whole eggs may cause them to explode,
and possibly damage the oven or cause
injury. Reheating SLICED hard-boiled eggs
and cooking SCRAMBLED eggs is safe.
Browning
Foods will not have the
same brown appearance
as conventionally cooked
foods or those foods which
are cooked utilizing a browning feature.
Meats and poultry may be coated with
browning sauce, Worcestershire sauce,
barbecue sauce or shake-on browning
sauce. To use, combine browning sauce
with melted butter or margarine and brush
on before cooking. For quick breads or muf-
fi ns, brown sugar can be used in the recipe
in place of granulated sugar, or the surface
can be sprinkled with dark spices before
baking.
Spacing
Individual foods, such as
baked potatoes, cupcakes
and appetizers, will cook
more evenly if placed in
the oven equal distances
apart. When possible, arrange foods in a
circular pattern.