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Understanding your microwave oven, Tips for microwave cooking – LG LMB0960ST User Manual

Page 10

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10

UNDERSTANDING YOUR MICROWAVE OVEN

TIPS FOR MICROWAVE COOKING

BROWNING

Meat and poultry with high fat content cooked for at

least 10 to 15 minutes will brown lightly. Foods cooked

a shorter time can be brushed with a browning agent,

such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or barbecue

sauce.

COVERING

A cover will trap heat and steam and cause the food to

cook more quickly. Use a lid or microwave-safe plastic

wrap with one corner folded back to vent the excess

steam. Lids on glass casseroles can become hot

during cooking; always handle carefully. Waxed paper

will prevent the food from splattering in the oven and

help retain heat. When warming bread items, use

waxed paper, napkins, or paper towels. To absorb extra

moisture, wrap sandwiches and fatty foods in paper

towels.

SPACING

Arrange individual foods, such as baked potatoes,

cupcakes, and hors d’oeuvres in a circle and at least

1 inch apart. This will help the food cook more evenly.

STIRRING

Stirring blends flavors and redistributes the heat in

foods. Always stir from the outside toward the center

of the dish. Food at the outside of the dish heats first.

TURNING

Large foods, such as roasts and whole poultry, should

be turned so that the top and bottom cook evenly. Also

turn over chicken pieces and chops.

ARRANGEMENT

Do not stack food. Arrange in a single layer in the dish

for more even cooking. Because dense foods cook

more slowly, place thicker portions of meat, poultry,

fish, and vegetables toward the outside of the dish.

TESTING FOR DONENESS

Foods cook quickly in a microwave oven; test frequently

for doneness.

STANDING TIME

Food often needs to stand from 2 to 15 minutes after

being removed from the oven. Usually, you need to

cover food during standing time to retain heat. Remove

most foods when they are slightly undercooked and

they will finish cooking during standing time. The

internal temperature of food will rise about 10°F during

standing time.

SHIELDING

To prevent some portions of rectangular or square

dishes from overcooking, you may need to shield

them with small strips of aluminum foil to block the

microwaves. You can also cover poultry legs and

wing tips with foil to keep them from overcooking.

Always keep foil at least 1 inch from oven walls

to prevent arcing.

PIERCING

Pierce the shell, skin, or membrane of foods before

cooking to prevent them from bursting. Foods that

require piercing include yolks and whites of eggs, hot

dogs, clams, oysters, and whole vegetables, such as

potatoes and squash.