Creative Cooking Tips - Microwave Cooking Utensils

Cooking Tips
Microwave Cooking Utensils

Cooking Utensils

Glass Utensils

Heat-resistant glass can be used as long as it has no metal trim or metal parts. Glass-ceramic cookware, is ideal for cooking in the microwave oven, as long as there is no metal trim or metal parts. Ordinary glass, china, and pottery can be used for short heating periods, as long as it can withstand the heat of the food. Some dishes have a metallic glaze or paint and should not be used in the oven. If in doubt, place the empty dish in the oven and heat for 30 seconds; if the dish is warm or hot do not use it in the oven. If the dish is lightly warm, use it only for short cooking periods.

Browning Grille

There are microwave browning grilles available. It is preheated in the oven for five minutes. The food is then added and the browning grille browns the food while the microwave energy cooks the food.

Plastic

Rigid, dishwasher-safe plastic can be used in the oven for heating food. Melamine plastics are not recommended. Plastic foam cups and dishes can also be used. Do not use freezer containers, Tupperware, or light-weight plastic containers, as heat from the food can cause them to melt.

Sealed plastic pouches can be used, be sure to cut a large X in the plastic pouch to allow steam to escape. Cooking bags can be used in the oven. Do not use the metal twist tie to secure the bag; tie the bag closed with string. When using cooking bags for meat, add one tablespoon flour to empty bag and shake, coating the bag; this will enable meat juices to bubble smoothly while cooking.

Plastic wrap can be used as a cover. When used as a tight-fitting cover, pierce the plastic before removing it to allow excess steam to escape.

Paper

Paper plates, cups, and napkins and waxed paper plates and cups can be used. The paper products should only be used for short cooking periods, as the paper could burn or the wax could melt if allowed to heat for too long. Paper towels, napkins, and waxed paper can be used over foods to prevent splattering. Paper towels can be used to wrap bread and rolls to absorb excess moisture. Glass cake pans can be lined with paper towels, cut to fit, to absorb moisture.

Straw and Wood

Straw and wood can be used for very short heating periods, such as when warming rolls in a straw basket.

Metal

The general rule is not to use metal in the oven; however, there are a few exceptions: Small pieces of aluminum foil can be used to shield areas that would overcook, such as leg tips and wing tips of chicken or turkey.

Metal skewers can be used when there is a large amount of food in proportion to the metal. Do not allow skewers to touch oven walls or one another.

The basic 3-section TV dinner can be cooked in the oven, as long as the aluminum foil cover is removed. For faster cooking, transfer the food to a nonmetal container. All other foods in metal containers should be transferred to a nonmetal container.

DO NOT USE:

Metal cooking utensils, i.e, pots, pans, cookie sheets, etc
Aluminum foil pans (exception, basic TV dinner)
Metal twist ties to secure plastic bags
Glass utensils with metal screws, handles, or bands
Centura dinnerware by Corning
Closed-handle cups from Corelle Livingware by Corning (all other Corelle Livingware is acceptable)
Melamine plastics
Metal thermometer in the oven

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