Steps for Cooking in a Microwave Oven

Remove Any Metal

• If you're cooking a pre-packaged, microwavable product in the microwave, then you don't have to worry about any dangerous packaging material. Many people use microwaves to warm leftovers, thaw meats or cook homemade foods, however. Do not place any metal items in the microwave, as metal can be a fire or explosion hazard. Do not use foil or leave silverware on a dish that is going in the microwave.

Arrange Foods

• Arrange the foods you want to cook or warm on the plate so that they receive equal cooking radiation. The thickest parts of the food should face out toward the walls of the microwave; arrange foods of equal size in a circle and never in the middle of the plate, if possible. Stop the microwave regularly and stir, turn or rotate foods to ensure equal heating.

Cut Into Small Pieces

• If you have a food that is in large chunks it may be difficult to get it to cook evenly. If possible, cut foods into smaller pieces for faster and more even cooking throughout. This is especially effective when cooking or heating thick cuts of meat or poultry.

Cover It

• Microwaves raise the temperature of the foods by causing the liquids within them to heat up. This can cause considerable splattering during the heating process. To keep your microwave clean, cover your food with a paper towel or a vented, microwave-safe cover. The cover also traps heat near the food and aids in cooking.

Set Power and Time

• For most foods, you will set the microwave to high power. Over time you will get used to the length of time it takes your particular oven to heat foods. Some models have multiple power settings. Pre-packaged microwavable foods will include directions for microwave cooking to tell you what power setting to use and how long to cook your dish.

Start And Listen

• Press the start button to turn the microwave oven on. While you might want to keep an eye on the food to make sure you haven't selected too much time, most ovens will chime to let you know when they are finished. Remove the food, being careful not to burn yourself, and enjoy your quickly prepared dish.