Wait time
Microwaves do not usually completely penetrate the food on the rotary plate. The
wait time allows the food to continue cooking even after the oven has switched off.
The temperature can rise by up to 8° C inside the food.
After heating food in the microwave, let it stand in the oven for a short time to allow
the temperature to equalise. The wait time depends on the weight, volume and
density of the food (and can be up to 10 minutes).
How to cook food without overcooking (drying, charring etc.)
◆ Select the right cooking level.
◆ Select the right cooking time. Times quoted in recipes are approximate and
depend upon initial temperature, weight, density of food etc.
◆ Always use microwave-suitable dishes.
Defrosting
◆ Defrosting is faster in flatter dishes than in higher dishes.
◆ Divide large pieces of food into smaller pieces for faster defrosting.
◆ Cover the smaller pieces when they start to warm up.
◆ Do not defrost completely under power, let the food stand for a while.
Amount
To warm up more food you need more time. Rule of thumb:
double the food, double the time (almost).
Initial temperature
The colder the food, the more time is needed.
Different foods
When cooking a meal with various ingredients remember that fat and sugar heat up
faster than water.
This means that ingredients with higher fat and sugar contents will have higher
temperatures after cooking than those containing water.
The more dense a food, the longer it takes to cook/defrost. Very dense foods, like
meat, take much longer to warm up than say sponge cake.
Micro heating of beverages can result in delayed eruptive boiling, therefore care has
to be taken when handling the container.
Skins, peels, shells ...
Some foods have a skin, peel or a shell (eggs, potatoes, apples, liver, sausages).
Puncture the skin or peel with for example a fork to allow steam to escape and the
food to expand - this releases pressure and prevents the food from bursting.
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