The Red Microwave.com

Cooking With the Microwave Oven

Even the greatest chefs in the world turn to time and energy-saving equipment to make their beautiful and delicious foods come to life without having to spend all day doing it. If you are thinking that you cannot cook gourmet and incorporate the microwave oven into the process, then you are missing out on the opportunity to create, recreate and master recipes without killing yourself to do it.

In the old days of chocolate creation, for instance, the chocolate maker used the double boiler to melt his chocolate into a smooth and creamy texture, standing there stirring endlessly while waiting for it to be right. With the microwave, he can pop his chocolate in, set the timer and then just check frequently. Of course, there is a warning that goes with that: chocolate, especially chocolate chips will retain their shape even when fully melted, so always give them a bit of a stir before adding more time to the timer.

Making the Best of Your Recipe
A good chef knows his kitchen and his tools. He knows that his sauté pan may have a hot spot on the upper left corner and will be careful not to put foods there, if they are delicate or prone to burning. He knows how hot his oven gets and how to time foods for perfect baking, every time. It is important to get to know your microwave oven just as well. However:

• Microwaves can draw power at different levels, depending on their model and other circumstances
• Foods can react in the microwave differently than they might in a conventional oven.
• Timing cycles have to be plotted carefully so that there is no overcooking, undercooking or just complete disaster of the foods you are making.

Know Your Appliance’s Limitations
The microwave is great for saving time and effort, but do you really think you are going to zap a perfectly cooked duck a la orange in there? Perfect for heating side dishes or melting toppings and even for defrosting, the microwave is not good at cooking large cuts of meat, especially dense meats or whole birds and doesn’t brown without a browning pan. There are some microwave ovens that have a browning element, but they tend to be at the higher price range and may not be as efficient at even this task as some would like. Even a great chef knows the limits to the machines that he is working with and adapts accordingly.

Cook Safely
Before you ever start a meal, you should read the recipe so that you know that you have all of the ingredients and have enough time to actually create it correctly and safely. It is just as important that you know how to microwave safely as it is to be safe while using the conventional oven or other food preparation equipment in your kitchen. Know what can be cooked safely and what tools to use to do so and you will be more pleased with your results, every time.