America's
Worst Breakfast Foods By David Zinczenko, with Matt
Goulding It’s hard to overestimate the
importance of eating breakfast. Studies show that people who take time
for a morning meal consume fewer calories over the course of the day...
More»
5
Essential Weight Loss Foods By Dr. MaoShing Ni There are many fad diets that promise
to help you lose weight in almost no time at all. After two or three
weeks on the diet you find yourself... More»
Bad
Foods that are Actually Great for Your Waist
By Camille Noe Pagán If you've been avoiding burgers, ice cream,
and pizza thinking you're doing your waistline a favor, don't. They
can actually help you lose weight -- and keep it off, too. More»
Source: "Microwave Cooking for
One," by Marie T Smith.
Cooking Tips
Know the wattage of your
oven. Most published recipes are for 700-watt ovens, so if
yours is less or more than 700 watts, learn how to increase
or decrease cooking times. See
wattage conversion charts.
When you try a new recipe,
jot down the results right on the recipe so that next time
you will know the changes or adjustments you need to make.
Cook frozen foods while still frozen unless a recipe gives
directions for defrosting.
Use only white paper towels
and use them carefully. Don't put one in an empty hot browning
dish or place the hot dish on one.
Remove plastic wrap carefully
from hot food. Lift up the farthest edge and pull it toward
you so the steam will be released away from you.
Use metal measuring cups
for both liquid and dry measurements. The glass measuring
cups normally used for liquid measurement allow too much variation
in amounts, producing variations in result.
Learn to use browning
utensils properly. Leave the heated utensil in the oven between
steps: it is safer, and heat is not lost by carrying the utensil
back and forth.
Cooking Safety
Do not turn your oven
on when it is empty because microwaves may damage the cavity.
If you accidentally turn an empty oven on, leave a cup of
water in it to absorb the microwaves.
Only use your microwave
oven to heat food. Do not use your oven to dry or heat clothing.
The only exceptions are a browning utensil, which is specifically
designed to be heated alone in the oven; and some non-food
products specifically designed to be heated in the microwave.
Microwaves can not pass
through metal. Do not use metal or aluminum utensils in your
microwave oven. This includes utensils with metallic decorations
around the rim as well as enameled cookware. The utensils
is still metal on the inside, despite the enameled coating.
(See the Equipment page for test to see if a dish is safe
for the microwave).
There are rare occasions
when a recipe will instruct you to use small pieces of aluminum
to shield part of your food to keep it from over cooking.
Follow the instructions carefully.
Cleaning Tips
One way to clean all that
stuff that sticks to your microwave is to put about 1-cup
of water and 1-Tablespoon of baking soda into a microwave-safe
bowl. Use large enough bowl so it does not boil over sides.
Do not cover. Microwave for about three minutes and the stuck-stuff
easily wipes right off. Another way is to boil a solution
of 1/4 cup vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will
loosen splattered on food and deodorize at the same time.
For complete Microwaving Tips, purchase:
Microwave Cooking for One
By Marie T Smith
Pelican Publishing Company (December 1985)
$17.95 Paperback
ISBN-10: 0882894560
