HOW TO MICROWAVE
SAFELY
The popularity of microwave
cooking continues to grow.
Almost every American home pos
sesses at least one oven. However,
concerns about the safety of cook
ing meat and poultry products in
the microwave persist Even the
cookware and plastic wraps used
in the ovens have come under
question.
In addition, there are traits,
unique to microwave cooking, that
affect how completely food is
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Heard?
By Doris Thomas
Lancaster Extension
Home Economist!
cooked. "Cold spots" can occur
because of the irregular way the
microwaves enter the oven and are
absorbed by the food.
Since we have traditionally
relied on thorough cooking to kill
bacteria that may be present in
food, we should take simple, yet
effective steps to ensure even
cooking when using a microwave.
If you have a microwave, care
fully read the following tips on
how to microwave safely.
* When using the microwave to
DEFROSTING
defrost foods, plan to finish the
cooking immediately. Some areas
of larger food items may begin to
cook during the defrost cycle, rais
ing the temperature to a point
where bacteria can flourish.
* Remove food from store wrap
prior to thawing. Foam insulated
trays and plastic wraps are not heat
stable at high temperatures. They
can melt or warp from the food's
heat, possible causing chemicals to
migrate into the food.
* Do not defrost or hold food at
room temperature for more than
two hours. It is easy to forget all
about a food item thawing in the
microwave oven. Set a timer to
sound an alert when the thawing
time is complete.
COOKING
* Have large pieces of meat
deboned. Bone can shield the meat
around it from thorough cooking.
* Arrange food items uniformly
in a covered dish, and add a little
liquid. Under the cover, steam
helps kill bacteria and ensure uni
form heating. Either plastic wrap
or a glass cover works well. Many
a
to
arming
recipes suggest venting a small
area, allowing some steam to
escape. Plastic wrap should not
touch the food.
* Cook large pieces of meat at
50% power for longer periods of
time. This allows the heat to reach
deeper portions without overcook
ing outer areas. Commercial oven
cooking bags can also help even
out cooking and provide a tender
product.
♦ Move the food inside the dish
several times during cooking. Stir
soups and stews. If you do not have
a turntable, turn the entire dish dur
ing cooking. This is especially
important for foods like casseroles
that cannot be stirred.
*Do not cook whole, stuffed . * Observe the standing time
poultry in the microwave. The B*ven in the recipe. It is necessary
bones and density of the bird do coroplct® cooking process.
Ball Players Join Promotion
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
Jay Bell, the Pittsburgh Pirates
shortstop, will again be serving as
a spokesperson for Pennsylvania’s
dairy fanners. Bell joined the
Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion
Program’s promotion efforts in
1991, and will continue through
out the 1992 baseball season to
promote milk and dairy products
to consumers and sports fans.
A major portion of Bell’s in
volvement will be on the Pitts
burgh Pirates Radio Network. Bell
has created two advertisements, ti
tled “Jay Bell Cliches” and “More
Cliches.” These catchy advertise
ments focus on Bell’s hard hitting
baseball experience and his con
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LmcMttr Fanrtng, Saturday, Hay 16, 1992-B3
not allow even cooking. Micro
waves may not thoroughly cook
the moist stuffing deep inside the
bird either.
* Never partially cook food. If
planning to combine microwave
cooking with conventional roast
ing, broiling or grilling, transfer
the microwaved foods to conven
tional heat immediately.
* Use a temperature probe or
meat themmometer to verify the
food has reached a safe tempera
ture. Check the temperature in sev
eral places, avoiding fat and bone.
It should reach 160 degrees F. for
red meat and 180 degrees for
poultry.
tinued need for milk.
As an addition to Bell’s efforts,
a limited number of the 1991 Jay
Bell Growth Charts are available
from the dairy farmers. Children
interested in receiving a growth
chart should prepare a story about
why kids need to drink their milk
and how milk helps Jay Bell play
his game. These stories should be
handwritten and one page or less.
AH entries should be sent to
“Growth Chart Offer,” the Penn
sylvania Dairy Promotion Pro
gram, 2301 N. Cameron Street,
Harrisburg, PA 17110. Offer ap
plies while supplies last. Further
information is available by calling
(717) 787-6903.