Microwave Oven Myths and Miracles!!!

Hi this post is about the MW facts and general doubts we get in using MW oven. I am going to update this post as often as i know something about MW. Friends you are also invited to share your knowledge about MW and easy tips and myths about MW cooking.

1. How food is heated in MW?
In MW oven food absorbs microwaves and due to molecular motion food gets heated.Main thing is here heat is generated within the food and it moves from inside to outside.ie. First the inner part of the food get heated and later the heat tranfers from inside to outside.
2.Why standing time needed?
Standing time is the time we need to keep aside the food after the food is cooked in MW.
Food in MW is extremely hot and the actual cooking is completed in the standing time only. Hence ideally food cooked in MW is kept aside for 3-5 minutes so that the heat is evenly distributed within the food.
3. Why the glass/ceramic vessels get hot after cooking in MW oven?
Yes they wont absorb MWs but still they get heat from the cooked food by conduction.
4. Why cover cooking is recommended?
For cooking vegetables cover cooking is recommended because it enables even distribution of heat. Also it retains moisture of the food contents and thereby enables the food to abosrb more MWs and makes cooking faster than in uncovered.
5. Can all the MW safe plastics be used for cooking?
No. If we carefully read the instruction manual that is provided with the plastic containers it will clearly say that some are acually suited for reheating in MW only. So dont use that for cooking. Also dont heat oil in MW safe plastics since oil easily reaches high temperature there by melting the plastic which is unsafe.
6. Why metals/metal foils must not be used in MW?
Metals reflect Microwaves and hence there is a possibility of short circuit. Also due to reflection of waves the food may not absorb the waves effectively.
7. Can the refrigerated items be heated in MW immediately?
No. We have to keep the food sometime in room temp so that it melts some ice formed
on the food and then heat it in oven to prevent uneven heating and also to prevent coldspot formation.
8.What is High in MW?
It is the maximum output power mode of the MW. In High mode the full output power of the MW Oven is used to heat/cook the food. Depending on the power mode the cooking time differs.

9. Will the microwaves remain in food after MW is stopped or switched off?

No. Once the MW is stopped or switched off there will be no waves. Only the heat 

already produced by the waves will be there in food.

10. What is the potential damage that may cause with a MW?

Food cooked in MW reaches very high temperature quickly. Also the heat is not 

apparent as in conventional cooking. So the max risk is we may get burns on 

touching or eating the hot food.

Precaution:Fluids and food contents should be stirred once in every 2 mins if the

 total cooking time exceeds two minutes for even cooking and to prevent splashing

 of hot fluid when taken out of the oven. 

Do you know how to make Pizza in MW

Other recipes:

Dhal

Paneer Peas Masala

Pizza making in MW oven

Let me tell you what i did…

1. I kept the pizza base in a glass plate

2. Spread the tomato ketchup with a spoon over the base

3. sprinkled some grated cheese over the spread ketchup

4.  evenly spread the finely chopped vegetables(onion, capsicum, tomato)

5. again a topping of grated cheese.
6. set the pizza program in MW. I pressed twice so that the baking/cooking time is 3.56 mins(Cooking time differs for different MW ovens based on Watts.Pls follow your Oven manual instructions)

7. Placed the glass plate having pizza base with the toppings just made and close the door.Pressed start.

8. After the process end, took the glass plate from oven and left the pizza undisturbed for 3mins.(known as standing time)

The result:

I found that the shredded mozerella cheese remains as it is . the veggies are half cooked as it is in traditional pizza. the base is soft not crispy.

To make the base crispy i baked the whole thing again for 2 mins in high. Now the base

has become crispy. The cheese is still rubbery not melt as we get in pizza hut or

dommino’s pizza.The funny part is the centre of the pizza is like a biscuit.

To get the best Pizza follow the below method after following steps 1 to 8 .

Further heating/baking in Skillet: 

Baking initially in pizza mode in MW (Use a cheese slice(tear it into pieces) instead of shredded mozerella cheese) and then after standing time heat the pizza in a skillet still you feel the base is crispy and not carbonated.

Now the cheese is as we see in shop pizzas and the base has also become crispy.

Hi I want to know if anybody has succeeded in making a better pizza in microwave oven alone?

If so please do provide your techniques.

Click here to read MW facts

Paneer Peas Masala

Ingredients:

Peas -1 cup (i’ve used frozen peas, thawed)

Paneer- 100 gms(cut into cubes)

Simple Dhal

Ingredients:

Bengal gram dal- 1/2 cup (soaked in water for 2 hours)

Coconut oil - 1 tbsp for flavor.