Microwaves
What are microwaves
attracted to?
• Fat
• Sugar
• Water Molecules
How do Microwaves work?
• Microwaves cause molecules in food to
vibrate. This creates heat that cooks the
food.
Microwave Safe
Containers
• Plastic
• Paper
• Glass
Cooking Time
• The time it takes for the food molecules to
heat up. This varies by microwaves and the
amount of food in the microwave.
Why do we
allow
standing time
for foods?
Answer:
• Food continues to cook after
it is removed from
the microwave
Quantity and volume of food in
the microwave increases cooking
and standing time
Small plate of
pasta
Large plate of
pasta
•Heat for 2 minutes
•Heat for 4 minutes
•Let stand for 1 minute
•Let stand for 2 minutes
Preventing burns
• Lift cover or plastic
away from you –
escaping hot steam
can burn
• Open hot containers such
as microwave popcorn
Preventing burns
• Use hot pads to remove containers and
foods from the microwave.
What can
prevent certain
foods from
exploding or
splattering?
Cover with…
• Plastic wrap
• Paper towel
• Wax paper
• Lid
Quick Breads
• Quick breads can be cooked in the
microwave, but will need to cook at half
power for most of the time. A short time on
high will finish the cooking process.
– Examples are: cakes, muffins, waffles,
pancakes
Why do we cover food
before putting it in the
microwave?
Covering food…
• Holds in the moisture
• Helps foods to cook
more evenly
• Prevents food from
splattering in the
microwave
Two basic rules of Microwave
Cooking are:
• Rotate the pan
• Use round containers
Do round or
square containers
cook more evenly?
Round
OR
Square
Round
How can we
ensure even
cooking
in the
microwave
Answer:
• Stir and
rotate
foods
What types of Foods explode?
How can we prevent the
explosions?
Potatoes
Eggs
(Never cook eggs in the shell in the microwave.)
Piercing!
• Potatoes
• Yolks of
eggs