The rules and nuances of heating food in the microwave

With the advent of the microwave oven, the procedure for defrosting and heating products has been significantly simplified. Today it is not necessary to turn on the stove to warm the porridge, brown the chicken, cook pizza, melt the honey, and bake the egg. All these manipulations can be entrusted to the microwave, which will cope with the task in a few minutes and even seconds. Most often, this appliance is purchased to reheat cooked food.

Despite the simplicity of the process, there are specific points, compliance with which allows the manipulation to be carried out correctly and without negative consequences. In addition, it must be remembered that not all components and dishes can be processed in this way.

Important points to consider in order to warm up food in a high-quality and even manner:

1. Serve the dish to the table in the same bowl in which it was heated.
2. Casseroles, pizza and fresh baked goods are heated without a lid. It is also necessary to process meat and chicken with a crust.
3. It is better to cover milk, soup, water, products with sauces, porridge and other liquid substances. Thanks to this, it takes less time to warm up and the surfaces will not be splashed.
4. An egg directly in the shell or immersed in water cannot be heated in the microwave; the probability of its explosion is too high.
5. Thick liquids and food, poured in a large amount in a container, can be mixed a couple of times. Then it warms up more evenly.
6. Ready vegetables, noodles, porridge and similar side dishes are recommended to be pre-moistened. To do this, depending on the ingredient composition, you need to use water, wine or milk.
7. Warming up chicken, meat or fish, massive pieces need to be laid closer to the center, it is warmest there.
8. Canned foods need to be heated for just a few seconds, after having laid them out in a suitable glass container.

Tip: To make sure that the dishes can be used in the microwave, put them in the camera, close the door and set the standard mode for 10 seconds. If the product is heated from such an effect, then the food in it cannot be heated.

It is necessary to soberly assess the capabilities and dimensions of the microwave oven. Do not try to shove the whole pizza or chicken into it, it will not lead to anything good.

Can foil be used to heat food in the microwave?

It is strictly forbidden to heat food components or prepared meals in ordinary food or technical foil. Any experiments, even short-term ones, will lead to undesirable physical reactions. In the best case, sparks and smoke will fall out of the camera, in the worst case - the microwave will fail, while knocking out traffic jams in the apartment.

Even if the foil dish was heated without critical consequences, it is strictly forbidden to eat such food. Most likely, it is impregnated with decomposition molecules of aluminum compounds, which are very harmful to the human body and can provoke the development of a number of pathologies.

Today in hardware stores you can find specialized wrapping paper, the use of which allows you to quickly and efficiently heat food. Dense components, such as fish or meat, are heated by wrapping in foil.Liquid dishes are covered with an improvised lid made of material; it holds its shape perfectly. In this case, the standard exposure time must be reduced.

What happens if you heat baby food in the microwave?

Contrary to popular belief, baby food or breast milk should not be heated in this way. In the process of such processing, the products lose almost all useful components, so the child receives absolutely useless food. And expressed milk, having undergone a number of chemical changes, turns literally into poison, which has a negative effect on the kidneys. It is best to warm up baby food for the baby in the old fashioned way, using a pot or jar of hot water.

In extreme cases, it is allowed to heat ready-made baby food in a microwave oven in the form of vegetable or fruit puree. In this case, open the container, mix the contents and put in a deep container, which is covered with a plastic lid.

How to heat pots in the microwave?

Clay pots do not come into disrepair due to being in a microwave oven, but only if they are made of a matte material. Shiny products can crack even if they easily transfer the temperature of the oven. It is recommended to mix the dish and put in the microwave first for a couple of minutes. Then mix the product again and warm up for another three minutes. Mix again and send for warming up for another 2-3 minutes. All stages are carried out at medium power.

It is strictly forbidden to heat ceramic pots in the microwave! The material consists of pores, the penetration of warm air and electromagnetic waves into which can lead to their explosion.

Rules for heating milk and water in the microwave

It is quite realistic to heat milk and water in a small amount in the microwave to the desired temperature, the main thing is to approach the manipulation correctly.

• When warming up milk, you should not rush. If you immediately put the liquid on the maximum or prolonged heating, then it can run away, covering all the walls and the bottom of the device. It is better to pour milk into a deep container and warm it up for several short runs at medium power, each time checking the result.
• When working with water, especially if you need to add it to baby food, you need to act very carefully. Do not heat it in a glass or cup, they often have cracks that you can not notice. It is better to use specialized utensils, and act in the same way as with milk.

Covering containers is strictly forbidden, otherwise the emitted steam will provoke an explosion.

How can I heat food and dishes in the microwave?

Despite the fact that manufacturers allow the use of containers of various types, it is better to use special refractory dishes for specific manipulations. Usually it is made of refractory glass or plastic. Today on sale you can find flat and deep plates, cans, bottles, bowls and cups from similar raw materials. In addition, it is worth taking care of special foil, devices to mix and lay food. It is strictly forbidden to use any kind of metal, polyethylene, cardboard, non-core plastic during the heating process.

How to heat honey in the microwave?

Many people prefer to use sugared or thickened honey in liquid form. To obtain the product of the desired consistency, it is allowed to use a water bath, but the housewives can imagine how much trouble this will entail. The easiest way to melt honey is in the microwave.

To do this, put the product in a deep bowl, knead it with a spoon and heat it up in several passes with an average power of half a minute. At the same time, it is impossible for the temperature to rise above 60 ° C, from this all useful substances in the composition of the component will die.

True microwave oven professionals are able to turn an ordinary egg into an exquisite fried egg and effortlessly evenly heat a complex multi-component dish.