Microwave Cooking

What part of the microwave oven generates the microwaves?

1. Food is cooked by vibrations that create friction which produces the heat for the food.

Parts of a Microwave

1. Magnetron tube and fan disperse waves- from the ceiling or side of the oven.

2. Door and seal should not leak- can damage eyes, etc.

3. Rotating tray distributes waves better than turning and rotating food manually.

How do Microwaves Work?This heat starts on the

outside of the food and moves in. Microwaves penetrate food only ¾ to 1 ½ inches. Foods cook from the outside of the dish toward the center.

2. Why do foods NOT brown in the microwave?

Because there is no dry heat to pull the moisture away from the food.

VS.

3. Foods with high water content cook more quickly. This is good for foods like vegetables, but bad for thick skinned food likeEggsSquashPotatoesHot dogs

4. Microwaves are ATTRACTED to:

a. Sugar

b. Fatc. Water i.e. Water will heat faster than a burrito,

because a burrito is more dense than water. (The denser the food, the longer it takes to cook.)

BEWARE: These may cause Hot Spots!

5. What materials or containers are microwave safe?

Glass

Paper

Plastic

(Heat Tempered!)

6.

7. Microwaves are REPELLED by:a.METALS

***It will cause arcing electrical sparks that can damage the oven

or start a fire.***

8. Which container cooks more evenly…

ROUND or SQUARE

Why!?Because it allows the microwaves to

enter the food from as many sides as possible. They won’t “bounce off” the corners.

9. Circle it!A circle is the most effective

cooking shape. Foods, or the parts of foods, placed towards the center will cook more slowly.

-Arrange foods so the thickest parts are toward the side of the oven.

Why is it best to cover most foods when microwave cooking?

a. It holds in steam to shorten cooking time

b. Keeps food moistc. Keeps foods from splattering

10. Use these materials to cover the food:1. PAPER: absorbs moisture and

prevents foods from getting soggy.

2. WAX: retains heat and allows moisture to escape.

3. PLASTIC: holds in moisture for foods that might dry out.

11. How can you prevent burns when microwave cooking?

a. Use hot pads or oven mitts

b. Lift steamy lids away from you to shield you from the steam.

c. Use only microwave safe dishes

12. What part of the microwave will rotate the food WHILE it is cooking to distribute the heat evenly?

The Turntable

But even then….It’s not always an evenCook.

Stir or rotate foods ½ way through when microwave cooking

It helps the food cook more evenly by redistributing the heat.

(Foods cooked in the microwave will cook from the edges in.)

13. WHAT is Microwave time?

The actual time that food cooks with microwave energy.

WHAT is standing time and WHY is it important?

The amount of time food is allowed to sit AFTER microwave cooking in order to finish the cooking process.

WHY: If you don’t allow for standing time, you will overcook your food.

14. Use a food thermometer to be sure that meat, poultry, fish, and casseroles are thoroughly cooked.

A few safety tips . . .To prevent burning yourself from

microwave cooking, remember:Foods can create hot containersItems can explode (egg yolk, potato).

Pierce them with a fork.Lifting the cover or plastic from the

food can cause a burn.Hot steam escaping can cause a burn

Assignment # 5 AND LabMicrowave mishapsEach person has a Marshmallow

and will place it in each corner of the microwave, we are testing the hot spots!

Cook for ~10 seconds.Make a S’more!FINISH your notebook for next

lab

_____ 1. Dishes holding food stay cool in a microwave oven._____ 2. Only containers made especially for microwave ovens can be used for cooking in a microwave oven._____ 3. Food in a microwave oven cooks very evenly._____ 4. Stirring food while cooking will disturb the microwave energy._____ 5. Cover dishes tightly with plastic wrap to keep the steam in._____ 6. Cook food thoroughly before removing from the oven._____ 7. Two dishes of soup take the same time to cook as one dish of soup._____ 8. Defrosting is the only time to use less than high power._____ 9. All foods can be cooked successfully in a microwave oven._____ 10. You do not need to use potholders when cooking with a microwave.

_____ 11. Any containers used for regular cooking can be used in a microwave oven._____ 12. When cooking in a microwave oven, leave the dish in one position the whole cooking time._____ 13. Microwaves reach to the center of the food._____ 14. Do not put paper towels under rolls or bread, because the towels will absorb moisture._____ 15. Eat food immediately after cooking in a microwave so it will still be warm._____ 16. Washing potatoes is all you need to do before baking them in a microwave oven._____ 17. Microwave foods at 100 percent power to brown them._____ 18. If you learn to use a microwave oven properly, you will never need a conventional oven or stove top.