Samsung SMH7178STF-XAC - Manual (Page 18)

18
Cooking Instructions
Cooking Techniques
Stirring
Stir foods such as casseroles and vegetables while cooking to
distribute heat evenly. Food at the outside of the dish absorbs more
energy and heats more quickly, so stir from the outside to the center.
The oven will turn off when you open the door to stir your food.
Arrangement
Arrange unevenly shaped foods, such as chicken pieces or chops, with
the thicker, meatier parts toward the outside of the turntable where they
receive more microwave energy. To prevent overcooking, place thin or
delicate parts toward the center of the turntable.
Shielding
Shield food with narrow strips of aluminum foil to prevent overcooking.
Areas that need shielding include poultry wing-tips, the ends of poultry
legs, and corners of square baking dishes. Use only small amounts of
aluminum foil. Larger amounts can damage your oven.
Turning
Turn foods over midway through cooking to expose all parts to
microwave energy. This is especially important with large items such as
roasts.
Standing
Foods cooked in the microwave build up internal heat and continue
to cook for a few minutes after the oven stops. Let foods stand
to complete cooking, especially foods such as roasts and whole
vegetables. Roasts need this time to complete cooking in the center
without overcooking the outer areas. All liquids, such as soup or hot
chocolate, should be shaken or stirred when cooking is complete. Let
liquids stand a moment before serving. When heating baby food, stir
well and test the temperature before serving.
Adding Moisture
Microwave energy is attracted to water molecules. Food that is uneven
in moisture content should be covered or allowed to stand so that the
heat disperses evenly. Add a small amount of water to dry food to help
it cook.
Venting
After covering dish with plastic wrap, you vent plastic wrap by turning
back one corner so excess steam can escape.
General microwave tips
• Dense foods, such as potatoes, take longer to heat than lighter
foods. Foods with a delicate texture should be heated at a low
power level to avoid becoming tough.
• Altitude and the type of cookware you are using can affect cooking
time. When using a new recipe, use the minimum cooking time
and check the food occasionally to prevent overcooking.
• Foods with a non-porous skin such as potatoes or hot dogs,
should be pierced to prevent bursting.
• Frying with heating oil or fat is not recommended. Fat and oil can
suddenly boil over and cause severe burns.
• Some ingredients heat faster than others. For example a jelly
doughnut will be hotter than the dough. Keep this in mind to avoid
burns.
• Home canning in the microwave oven is not recommended
because all harmful bacteria may not be destroyed by the
microwave heating process.
• Although microwaves do not heat the cookware, the heat from the
food is often transferred to the cookware. Always use pot holders
when removing food from the microwave and instruct children to
do the same.
• Making candy in the microwave is not recommended as candy can
be heated to very high temperatures. Keep this in mind to avoid
injury.
SMH7175_00356T.indb 18 2006-04-26 ｿﾀﾈﾄ 1:19:09