1
THERE ARE NOT TWO MICROWAVES ALIKE, so cooking times may
vary depending on the microwave. It is important to know how yours works
with every type of food and check the cooking every now and then, especially the first times, shortening or adding more time if necessary.
2
LEAVE A RESTING TIME to finish
cooking and to favour an even cooking,
especially meat and fish that need shorter cooking times.
3
NATIVE MICROWAVE
ADD ONE OR TWO TABLESPOONS
OF WATER or other liquids such as
wine or oil, to generate more steam and
/or aromatize; it will help you to improve
the cooking process with vegetables as
well as with meat and fish, which have
shorter cooking times. The Steam Case
tray is ideal for this function, because
it moisturizes the food without having it
soaked in water.
In each corner of the globe, cooking methods and ingredients are constantly changing and passing down from generation to generation: cooking is
an ever-changing activity. Therefore, Lékué works day in day out to provide
solutions for healthy, quick cooking for everyone.
Microwave cooking offers plenty of possibilities not yet exploited. In order
to explore them and unveil all the benefits, Lékué has carried out an intense research with Alícia Foundation (www.alicia.cat), which has led to the
launch of a full range of products under the name of Native Microwave;
products that have been conceived and designed with the specific aim of
giving the best of this cooking revolution.
Following this goal of helping people make the most of microwave potential,
Lékué has gathered all the information provided by the study into these 10
Golden Rules. As in traditional cuisine, microwave cooking is not an exact
science and knowledge is acquired from experience, but these 10 easy
tips will allow you to know the basics and succeed in microwave cooking.
Enjoy and bon appétit!
4
IF YOUR MICROWAVE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TURNTABLE, AVOID
FOOD CONCENTRATION IN THE
CENTER OF THE PLATE as far as
possible and place the thick part of the
food in the container ends. Distributing
the ingredients in a homogeneous way
will also help you to obtain a more even
cooking.
9
5
FATS NEED MORE ATTENTION, they absorb more temperature and
more quickly. It is important to control the cooking of foods that contain
more fat, avoid placing them in the center of the turntable. For example, we
recommend you to have special care with the egg, as the yolk has a large
concentration of fat.
VEGETABLES COOKING TIME WILL
VARY DEPENDING ON THE WATER
THAT THEY CONTAIN. For example,
spinach, tomatoes or mushrooms take
less to cook than eggplants or potatoes.
Also note that steamed vegetables have
a more intense colour but that does not
mean they are raw.
6
INITIAL TEMPERATURE INFLUENCES ON FOOD COOKING TIMES,
the cooler, the longer it takes to cook.
7
10
Steam Case
THE SMALLER THE FOOD, THE
LESS TIME YOU NEED; is better to
divide and cook in small portions to obtain a better result.
Waves
Steam
USE MICROWAVE-SAFE CONTAINERS, as not all materials are suitable.
Platinum silicone is ideal for microwave cooking, because it is transparent
to the waves, which means that the
parts not in contact with the food do
not burn.
Lékué utensils are specifically designed for microwave cooking. The steam
case, for example, allows a perfect
steam cooking of food due to its elliptical shape, which allows the waves impinge on all points and the steam is distributed evenly throughout the interior.
8
C
TIC TA
C
TIC TA
QUANTITY–TIME RELATION IS NOT
PROPORTIONAL; cooking time increases with the amount of food you want to
cook. For twice as much, calculate twice
as long minus 1 or 2 minutes.
AND REMEMBER: knowledge of microwave
cooking as well as traditional cuisine, it is not an
exact science, but is acquired from experience.
MYTHS AND LEGENDS
ADVANTAGES OF MICROWAVE COOKING
“MICROWAVE COOKING ISN’T SAFE.”
False: It emits low frequency radiation, also called non-ionizing radiation,
such as radio or infrared waves. The World Health Organization endorses
its safety.
Microwave cooking has many advantages and features that simplify the step
by step in the kitchen while favoring a healthy, balanced and fat free diet.
Ref. http://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/info_microwaves/en/
“FOOD COOKS FROM THE INSIDE OUT.”
False: Emitted microwaves interact with the polar molecules in food, mostly
water and fat, which begin to vibrate and generate heat, getting all the food
properly cooked. Waves penetrate approximately 2 cm deep into the food.
Ref1. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048953.htm#HowMicrowavesCook
Ref2.http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Microwave_Ovens_and_Food_Safety/index.asp#3
“MICROWAVE COOKING CAUSES A GREATER LOSS OF VITAMINS”
False: Microwaves don’t have the ability to change the molecular structure
of food. Moreover, microwave cooking retains better the essential vitamins
and minerals, especially water-soluble vitamins (which are dissolved in water,
such as Vitamin C), as it is not necessary to soak the food in water to cook
and it requires shorter cooking times.
Ref 1. E. Lesková et al. Vitamin losses: Retention during heat treatment and continual
changes expressed by mathematical model. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2006; 252–276
Ref. 2. P. Castells. Cocinar con microondas: una opción cada vez más habitual para
las nuevas generaciones. Investigación y ciencia. 2012. Nº 432
“IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE IN FRONT OF A MICROWAVE OVEN WHEN
IT’S WORKING.”
False: Waves cannot pass through the metal walls of the microwave oven.
The door has a metal mesh with holes between 1-1.5 mm in diameter, while
the wavelength of the microwaves is 12 cm, so it is impossible for the waves
to get through the microwave and it is completely safe for health.
Ref.http://www.angel.qui.ub.es/mans/Documents/Textos/2013%20Els%20i%20
les%20microones.pdf
HEALTH. Steam cooking allows food to retain better their nutrients and
avoids the use of added fats.
CLEANNESS. As it uses very few utensils and since it is almost grease-free
cooking method, it is easier to wash.
SPEED. Cooking times are shorter than in other cooking techniques,
allowing you to save and gain time.
SAFETY. There is no direct fire flame and the cooking stops at the established time, so it’s a cooking method safe for anyone, even for children and
elderly people.
FOL00965
Barcelona 16, 08120 La Llagosta / SPAIN
T. +34 93 574 26 40 · [email protected]
www.lekuecooking.com