Apr 01
10 Convenient Ways To Eliminate Food Poisoning With Your Microwave
Microwave ovens can play an important role at mealtime, butspecial care must be taken when cooking or reheating meat,poultry, fish, and eggs to make sure they are preparedsafely. Microwave ovens can cook unevenly and leave “coldspots,” where harmful bacteria can survive. For this reason,it is important to use the following safe microwaving tipsto prevent food-borne illness.
Microwave Cooking
1. Arrange food items evenly in a covered dish and add someliquid if needed. Cover the dish with a lid or plastic wrap;loosen or vent the lid or wrap to let steam escape.
2. Large cuts of meat should be cooked on medium power (50%)for longer periods. This allows heat to reach the centerwithout overcooking outer areas.
3. Stir or rotate food midway through the microwaving timeto eliminate cold spots where harmful bacteria can survive.
Microwave Defrosting
4. Remove food from packaging before defrosting. Do not usefoam trays and plastic wraps because they are not heatstable at high temperatures.
5. Cook meat, poultry, egg casseroles, and fish immediatelyafter defrosting in the microwave oven because some areas ofthe frozen food may begin to cook during the defrostingtime.
Reheating In The Microwave
6. Cover foods with a lid or a microwave-safe plastic wrapto hold in moisture and provide safe, even heating.
7. After reheating foods in the microwave oven, allowstanding time. Then, use a clean food thermometer to checkthat food has reached 165° F.
Proper Containers
8. Only use cookware that is specially manufactured for usein the microwave oven and that is labeled for microwave ovenuse.
9. Plastic storage containers such as margarine tubs, take-out containers, whipped topping bowls, and other one-timeuse containers should not be used in microwave ovens. Thesecontainers can warp or melt, possibly causing harmfulchemicals to migrate into the food.
10. Microwave plastic wraps, wax paper, cooking bags,parchment paper, and white microwave-safe paper towelsshould be safe to use. Do not let plastic wrap touch foodsduring microwaving.
